In order to further facilitate the travel process and help European industries to recuperate from the damages caused by the Coronavirus, authorities in many European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries have decided to lift their entry rules for internationals.
At present, the majority of EU and EEA countries have abolished their preventive measures, such as testing requirements or the requirement to wear a face mask. The latter requirement has also been removed in several EU airlines; however, rules differ among European countries, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Austria
Austria’s government announced that it would remove all COVID-19domestic restrictions on April 16. The authorities stressed that the face mask requirement would also be lifted.
The abolishment of COVID-19 measures by Austrian authorities means that travellers are no longer required to present a valid vaccination or recovery certificate when planning to enter restaurants, bars, museums, or other public places and events.
Belgium
Belgium’s government previously announced that it switched to code yellow on the COVID-19 barometer, which among others, means the end of the face mask requirement in all of Belgium.
However, the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean last month announced that it would reintroduce face mask requirements in public places.
Recently, Belgium’s airline Brussels Airlines announced that it removed the requirement to wear a face mask inside the cabin of planes as part of efforts to ease the travel process.
Bulgaria
The Bulgarian government previously announced that it lifted the mandatory face mask requirement when accessing public spaces, healthcare facilities, or events.
Besides, since the beginning of this month, arrivals from other countries are no longer required to follow additional entry requirements when willing to visit this Balkan country.
Croatia
Travellers from other countries can visit Croatia freely, without having to follow COVID-19 entry rules after they have been lifted by the country’s government.
Travellers are neither required to wear a face-covering while staying in Croatia after the country’s authorities announced that they lifted such a requirement.
Czech Republic
Authorities in Czechia have abolished almost all the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 and its new variants.
Besides being permitted to enter this country without being obliged to present a vaccination recovery or proof they have tested negative for the virus, travellers are also exempted from the mandatory face mask requirement.
Cyprus
Internationals are now eligible to visit Cyprus without being obliged to wear a face mask after such a requirement has been abolished.
The Cyprus government last month announced that they updated their entry rules for travellers, focusing more on travellers’ vaccination and recovery status than the epidemiological situation in their country of origin.
Denmark
Denmark became among the first European countries to lift all the entry rules for travellers from the EU and third countries, permitting them to enter this territory freely.
Besides, authorities in Denmark previously confirmed that passengers are no longer obliged to wear a face mask when reaching Denmark.
Estonia
Authorities in Estonia no longer require travellers to wear a face mask when attending indoor and outdoor spaces.
Besides, from April 1, arrivals from other countries are subject to easier entry rules. The country’s government announced that travellers from the European Union, European Economic Area, as well as those from Monaco, Andorra, Switzerland, San Marino, the Vatican City State as well as the United Kingdom, would no longer be obliged to present a COVID-19 certificate when reaching this Baltic state.
Finland
Last month, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced that it would lift the mandatory face mask requirement after, according to THL, such provision does not significantly reduce the spread of the COVID-19 and its new variants.
Still, THL stressed that it continues to urge the use of face coverings on public transport, as well as in indoor public spaces, at COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and treatment facilities for persons who suspect they might be infected with COVID.
France
Authorities in France oblige all persons aged six and over to wear a face mask as a protective measure against the virus. Besides, covers are also required in specific places, such as health establishments, nursing homes, as well as assisted living and establishments for a person with disabilities.
“There are no internal travel restrictions in France; however, measures may change at short notice either at the national or at a local level. Therefore, you should visit the French Government Coronavirus Information page or use the ‘TousAntiCovid’ digital app for further information and to stay up to date on restrictions,” the announcement published by Foreign Office guidance notes.
Germany
Authorities in Germany announced that from April 4, travellers planning to enter the country would be subject to milder entry rules.
Besides, authorities in Germany announced that they had abolished the COVID-19 face mask requirement. However, they clarified that such provisions would continue to remain in place for all persons when accessing public transport, as well as healthcare facilities and in specific shared accommodations.
Greece
Greece’s Ministry of Health announced that from May 1, all passengers are eligible to enter the country without being required to provide a COVID-19 proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative result of the COVID-19 test.
However, according to the announcement of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority, the requirement to wear a face mask continues to be kept in place during flights and airports, despite the fact that the majority of the COVID-19 restrictions have been removed.
Hungary
The Hungarian government in March announced that it lifted the compulsory face mask requirement, including in public transport, as part of efforts to gradually get back to normal life.
Besides, back in March, authorities in Hungary announced that travellers from other countries would no longer be subject to entry rules after they were all lifted.
Iceland
Iceland has also removed all the COVID-19 preventive measures, including the requirement to wear a face mask, as a protective measure against the virus.
Authorities in Iceland abolished all the COVID-19 entry rules on February 25. Such a decision, back then, was confirmed by the Minister of Health Willum Þór Þórsson.
“Thereby, all rules regarding limitations on social gatherings and school operations as well as the quarantine requirement for those infected by COVID-19 are removed. Additionally, no disease prevention measures will be in place at the border, regardless of whether individuals are vaccinated or unvaccinated,” the Ministry of Health confirmed through a statement.
Ireland
Another European country, Ireland, has lifted all the restrictions imposed on arrivals from other countries as part of efforts to contain the further spread of the Coronavirus.
Travellers from other countries are no longer obliged to wear a face mask when planning to travel to this country.
Italy
Italy’s government announced that travellers from other countries are no longer required to wear a face mask when accessing different places such as supermarkets, bars, restaurants, and museums.
However, the country’s authorities have confirmed that the requirement to wear a face mask will continue to be effective in specific places such as hospitals and care homes.
According to the recommendation of the Directorate-General for Health Prevention sent to the Ministry last month, there is still a need to fight the spread of the COVID-19 and its new variants.
“The global epidemiological situation which still calls for keeping the precautionary measures as in some EU and non-EU countries (including Italy) the notification rates continue to remain high, and as such represents the need to maintain the current regime of measures for entry into Italy,” the recommendation notes.
Latvia
Latvia has also eased its entry rules for arrivals from other countries. Authorities in Latvia announced that travellers are no longer required to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival. Besides, they are also exempted from the mandatory face mask requirement.
Lithuania
Authorities in Lithuania also announced that they abolished the face mask requirement, following the further easing of the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus.
Lithuania’s Ministry of Health previously announced that since the beginning of this month, all people would be exempted from the COVID-19 entry rules after no longer being valid.
Luxembourg
Authorities in Luxembourg dropped the majority of restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus.
In addition, the government previously confirmed that the face mask requirement is no longer obligatory.
The decision to abolish the majority of restrictions imposed to contain the further spread of the virus was previously confirmed by the country’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
Malta
Since the beginning of this year, travellers planning to enter Malta have been subject to milder entry rules after the government announced that since May 2, internationals are no longer required to wear a face mask or complete the Passenger Locator Form.
Netherlands
Netherlands’ Health Minister, Ernst Kuipers, previously announced that the country lifted the requirement to wear a face mask, as well as the requirement to present a vaccination proof when attending different events as well as public spaces.
Besides, authorities in the Netherlands previously announced that eh country removed the entry rules for all arrivals from EU, as well as Schengen countries, as part of efforts to ease the travel process.
Norway
In order to ease the travel process, authorities in Norway previously announced that they abolished quarantine, testing, and registration requirements, permitting a larger number of travellers to reach the country.
Besides, travellers are also excluded from the face mask requirement when entering the country.
Poland
Internationals reaching Poland are no longer required to keep a covering for mouth and nose as a protective measure against the Coronavirus and its new variants after the same has been abolished.
In addition, in March, the country’s government announced that it abolished the requirement to present a valid proof of vaccination or recovery or a negative result of the Coronavirus test.
Portugal
Since April 21, travellers from other countries are no longer obliged to wear a face mask. The decision to abolish such a requirement was previously confirmed by the country’s Minister of Health, Marta Temido.
The Minister confirmed that citizens of the country, as well as internationals, would no longer be required to keep a face mask on when accessing different public spaces as well as events, including bars, restaurants, museums, and shopping centres.
Romania
Romania’s Ministry of Interior has announced that it lifted all the preventive measures imposed due to the Coronavirus, including the requirement to wear a mask.
The easing of restrictions by Romanian authorities came after the epidemiological situation in this country started to ameliorate.
Romania’s government also confirmed that it lifted the requirement to present a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) for arrivals from other countries.
Slovakia
Authorities in Slovakia have also lifted the face mask requirement. Besides, they also abolished the registration and quarantine requirement.
Such a decision was confirmed through a statement published by Slovakia’s Ministry of Interior while stressing that the decision would become effective on April 6.
“However, we still recommend caution, monitor your health status and in case of COVID-19 symptoms,” the same Ministry pointed out in this regard.
Slovenia
Authorities in Slovenia have also abolished the requirement to wear a face mask.
Besides, the country’s Ministry of Interior announced that the requirement to present a vaccination certificate, a negative result of the COVID-19 test, or a valid proof of recovery has also been lifted.
Spain
Spain’s tourism website, Travel Safe, announced last month that the country would lift the face mask requirement for its citizens as well as internationals reaching the country.
“As of today (April 20), it is no longer mandatory to wear a face mask outdoors or indoors in Spain,” the Spanish tourism website previously confirmed through a statement.
Sweden
Travellers from other countries can attend different spaces without being required to wear a face-covering at first.
Authorities in Sweden also announced that they lifted the entry rules for arrivals from third countries, thus opening its doors to a larger number of internationals.
Switzerland
The Swiss government previously announced that the country would lift all the COVID-19 measures on May 2 after confirming that the epidemiological situation permits such a decision to be taken.
This means that the mandatory face mask requirement has also been abolished and travellers are no longer obliged to wear a mask when attending different indoor and outdoor spaces.
“The entry restrictions currently in place will be lifted from May 2. As of that date, the usual rules for entering Switzerland will apply,” the State Secretariat for Migration pointed out in this regard.
List of EU Travel Destinations That Still Require Tourists to Wear a Mask