What are the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions in Europe?

Many countries have travel restrictions in place in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19.

The latest changes include:

Germany has banned all but essential travel to the UK over concerns about the infectious Indian variant.
European Parliament have agreed on a EU Digital COVID Certificate (previously called the Digital Green Certificate) that will enter regulation on 1 July.
Hotels and other hospitality services in Austria have been allowed to reopen for summer tourism.
Switzerland is anticipating loosening some restrictions on June, 2 along with Spain, Moldova, and Bulgaria to a lesser extent.
Strict border restrictions in Finland have been extended until June.

This article is updated regularly.

Here’s a summary of the travel restrictions being enforced across Europe and beyond:

Albania

Albania has a curfew from 10 pm – 6 am, but in general restrictions are low.
Passengers arriving from the UK on indirect flights have to quarantine for 14 days.
All travellers entering directly from Greece or North Macedonia must do the same.

More information here.

Andorra

The state of Andorra remains under strict travel restrictions with officials advising against all but essential travel. Travel for tourism is currently on hold.
Safety measures include restrictions around leisure, culture, sport and skiing.
Travellers who intend to stay in Andorra for more than three nights need to present a negative PCR test result.
Up to 60 per cent of the population will be vaccinated by the end of June if targets are met.

More information here.

Austria

Hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities are now open for summer tourism.
India joins South Africa and Brazil in the list of countries currently banned due to the new COVID-19 variant. Flights from the UK are also be banned since 1 June.
Arrivals from low infection countries no longer need to quarantine. Instead, travellers will need to show a pre-travel clearance and either a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination.

More information here.

Belarus

There has been a temporary suspension of entry into Belarus as COVID-19 cases reached their highest since February. People travelling for work, medical reasons, and relations of Belarus citizens are exempt from this.
Throughout the pandemic, President Aleksander Lukashenko opted against following the lockdown strategy sweeping the rest of the globe.
The UK has suspended all travel to the country after the alleged hijacking of a Ryanair flight.

More information here.

Belgium

Belgium’s borders are no longer closed to travellers from India, South Africa and Brazil. Instead, those travelling in from these locations must quarantine, along with arrivals from the UK.
Bars and restaurants in Belgium have reopened for outdoor dining, which must close at 10pm.
Masks must be worn in every place where social distancing can not be observed including busy streets, public transport and indoors.
Belgium has adopted the traffic light system to determine travel restrictions, which is based on the COVID-19 threat level of the country you’re travelling from.

More information here.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina are open to tourists as long as they can present a negative PCR result, issued no less than 48 hours before travel.
Only nationals from neighbours Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia can enter the country without a negative COVID-19 test.
Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and cafes are open, along with most other businesses, but a curfew is in place between 11pm and 5am.
People must wear masks in outdoor and indoor public spaces and on public transport.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina border police are publishing regular updates about foreign travel here.

Bulgaria

A negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel is necessary for entry.
People from India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives Islands, Pakistan and some countries and territories in Africa are prohibited from arriving into Bulgaria – this is due for review at the end of July.
Bulgarian residents and those with residency permits, and their families, can choose to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival, in place of a negative PCR test.
There are no restrictions on travel between cities, and police operated checkpoints have ceased. The leisure and entertainment sector is either on lockdown or operating at reduced capacity.

More information here.

Croatia

All passengers coming from an EU/EEA country on the ‘green list’ are allowed into Croatia, as long as they can show a negative PCR test taken 48 hours before departing, or a vaccination certificate showing that at least 14 days have passed since their first or second injection.
Failing to provide any of the above documents, travellers have the obligation to isolate themselves for 10 days on arrival in Croatia. this isolation can be shortened by obtaining a negative result in a PCR test or rapid antigenic carried out in Croatia.
People from the UK or any other non-EU/EEA country are permitted to enter for essential travel.

More information here.

Cyprus

Cyprus has a colour-coded system in place, with requirements for travellers depending on their country of origin.
The list has seven countries coded green and ten countries coded orange. The countries list is here and it is updated weekly.
There are no requirements for a vaccine certificate, but a Cyprus Flight Pass must be obtained in all cases, along with a negative PCR test for orange and red list arrivals.
There is a curfew in place which restricts movement between 9pm and 5am and face masks are required in all public spaces.

More information here.

Czech Republic

A state of emergency was lifted in the Czech Republic on 17 May.
Travel to the country is curtailed except for essential reasons, such as work, medical care or to reunite with family. Some scheduled flights between the UK and the Czech Republic have also been cancelled.
Travellers are also required to fill in the Passenger Locator Form and present it upon arrival.

More information here.

Denmark

Denmark is open to essential travel providing travellers have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 24 hours before entry. There is also a 10-day quarantine in place.
Special exemptions for entering Denmark have also been tightened.
The country will be introducing an exemption for travellers who hold a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
The country is slowly opening up as they have controlled the virus well. Restaurants can serve customers indoors if they have been vaccinated, or can show a negative test result.
A negative test is also needed if people wish to enter indoor businesses such as tattoo parlours and shopping malls.

More information here.

Estonia

Estonia admits people with no COVID-19 symptoms arriving from the EU or EEA.
A 10-day quarantine period will be applied if you are arriving from an EU/EEA country with an infection rate higher than 150 cases per 100,000 of the population in the last 14 days.
Travel documents and medical symptoms are checked at the borders.
The government is also looking to waiver restrictions for travellers who have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

More information here.

Finland

Border restrictions in Finland have been extended until June.
Currently, entry into Finland is restricted to returning or transiting passengers to the country or other EU or Schengen countries. More details here.
A 14-day quarantine period is being enforced.
Finnish health authorities may enforce mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival from restricted states.
Visitors from the Vatican, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, South Korea and Rwanda are allowed entry without restrictions.

More information here.

France

France has tight restrictions in place in a bid to control the virus, including an overnight curfew across the country from 9 pm to 6 am.
Regional lockdowns are in place to stem the localised spread of the virus, allowing people to leave their homes only for essential reasons.
Bars and restaurants, as well as cultural sites and non-essential shops, were allowed to reopen on 19 May.
All travel to and from countries outside the EU is banned unless there are pressing grounds for travel.
Arrivals from European Union countries are welcomed, but must present a negative PCR test within 72 hours, with the exception of cross-border workers.
Incoming flights from the UK are required to quarantine due to concerns about the Indian variant.

More information here.

Germany

Germany currently has tight restrictions in place for regions where cases are very high.
Germany has banned all but essential travel to the UK over concerns about the more infectious Indian variant.
Travellers entering the country need to fill out a digital registration form before they travel and must have proof of a negative COVID test.
Arrivals from other “areas of variant of concern” are expected to head straight home to quarantine domestically for ten days. A negative PCR test cuts this to five.
Quarantine rules for those allowed entry vary by region. Check for the region you are travelling to here. A potential curtailing of these rules is being considered on 30 June.

Find out more here.

Greece

Greece has officially launched its tourism season, meaning restrictions have also lessened.
Beaches are open but people must socially distance.
Restaurants and bars can stay open until midnight.
Visitors from the EU, UK, US, Serbia and Israel are allowed to visit as long as they have been vaccinated or can show negative COVID-19 test results. They do not have to quarantine.
All arrivals must fill in a Passenger Locator Form.

More information here.

Hungary

As a general rule, only Hungarian citizens have been allowed to enter Hungary since 1 September 2020.
Foreigners travelling on business or to take part in sport or cultural events are allowed to enter Hungary, providing they have two negative COVID-19 tests or quarantine on their arrival.
A nightly curfew is in place between 11 pm – 5 am. Bars and restaurants reopened at the end of April, but only for customers to be served on open-air terraces.

More information here.

Iceland

Iceland is welcoming vaccinated visitors from outside the Schengen zone, but further travel from Iceland to the rest of Europe is currently not permitted for non-Schengen residents.
Other visitors are eligible to travel to Iceland so long as they have evidence of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to boarding your flight. Passengers will also undergo screening on arrival and will need to quarantine for five to six days between tests.

More information here.

Ireland

A negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel is necessary for entry.
Mandatory 14-day quarantine periods at designated hotels has been in force since 26 March for travellers arriving from 50 countries deemed high-risk – including South Africa and all countries in South Africa – even with a negative test.
This has been lifted for arrivals from Andorra, Georgia, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nigeria and Puerto Rico.
Travellers from all other countries can quarantine at home for 14 days or 5 after a negative test.

More information here.

Italy

Travellers arriving by air must present a negative COVID-19 rapid antigenic or molecular swab test taken no more than 48 hours before travelling.
No quarantine for travellers arriving from EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries who are able to provide a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test.
Italy classifies regions into yellow, orange and red zones, depending on infection rates. They are updated every few weeks. Check current classifications here.
Most of the country is currently in yellow zones, meaning outdoor dining is allowed.

More information here.

Kosovo

Kosovo is currently under a tiered system of three COVID-19 alert levels.
All but essential travel to and from Kosovo is generally advised against.
Shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels are all allowed to be open during the day, but are subject to evening curfews between 8pm and 5am.
A negative PCR test less than 72 hours old is required by all foreign travellers entering Kosovo from countries with a high number of COVID-19 cases.
These countries are marked as red or orange on the official ECDC map here.

Latvia

Entry to Latvia is permitted for essential purposes only.
A 10-day self-isolation must be observed upon arrival in Latvia from countries with more than 50 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days.
All arrivals must show a negative PCR test performed no more than 72 hours before flying to be allowed to enter Latvia.
Travellers who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 are exempted from providing a negative PCR test (a certificate of vaccination is needed).

More information here.

Liechtenstein

Anybody travelling to Liechtenstein from a ‘high risk’ country must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival.
For the most part, the tourism industry is operating and the usual COVID-19 measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing apply in public spaces.
Liechtenstein follows Switzerland’s travel advice, so information about travel in either country can be found here.

Lithuania

As of Monday, 31 May, the regular self-isolation requirements will apply to arrivals from Cyprus and Sweden.
The borders remain open to EU and EEA citizens but movement within the country is extremely restricted.
Anyone arriving in Lithuania will need to present a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours or submit to being tested on arrival at the airport. All travellers are required to then quarantine for 10 days.
As well as evidence of a negative test, all passengers must fill out an online declaration form before travelling.

More information here.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is welcoming tourists from EU/Schengen Area countries and Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
All arrivals to Luxembourg will be required to present a negative PCR or antigen test no older than 72 hours.
There is no requirement to quarantine when entering Luxembourg. However, if you do not have evidence of a negative test or submit to a rapid antigen test at the airport (which costs €10), you will need to self-isolate for 14 days or until you can show a negative test.
A nightly curfew is in place between 11 pm – 6 am.

More information here.

North Macedonia

The borders are open in North Macedonia.
Bars, restaurants and cafes are open for business with social distancing and extra hygiene measures in place.
Other businesses including shops and hairdressers are open.

More information here.

Malta

Malta is operating by a traffic light system which will determine which restrictions you will be subject to when you arrive.
All arrivals from countries not on the green list will be required to present a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours. Failure to provide a test result may result in testing on arrival.
There is no requirement to quarantine when arriving to Malta currently in place.

More information here.

Moldova

Moldova is under a state of emergency, during which time bars, restaurants and cafes must close between 10 pm and 7 am.
This will be reassessed on 30 May.
Public events with less than 50 people are allowed, but not near areas with a high risk of infection.
Regular updates on travel restrictions, which depend on where you’re travelling from, come from the border police website here.

Monaco

Monaco is open for tourists and is following the EU traffic light system to determine restrictions for arrivals.
If you’re travelling from an EU country with more than 60 cases per 100,000 in the last two weeks OR a non-EU country, you’ll need to give your details to the COVID-19 call centre and quarantine when you arrive.

More information here.

Montenegro

Travellers from all countries – except Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania – require evidence of a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to travel.
In most cases, arrivals to Montenegro will need to isolate for 14 days.
An evening curfew between 10 pm and 5 am is in place.

More information here.

Netherlands

All arrivals must present a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours and fill in a health declaration form.
Anyone arriving in the Netherlands from highly impacted areas is required to undergo 10 days self-quarantine.
No negative test or quarantine period is required for visitors arriving from “safe” countries across the EU, Asia, and Oceania. A full list can be found here.
There is currently a ban in place on flights from South Africa and countries in Central and South America.
As of 15 May, Dutch citizens and residents can visit ‘code yellow’ countries without having to quarantine on their return. These countries are Portugal, Malta, Ireland, Thailand, Rwanda, the former Dutch colonies of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten and a large group of Greek islands. Mainland Greece and the island of Crete, however, remain designated code orange, meaning travel is only advised if absolutely necessary.

More information here.

Norway

All arrivals to Norway will need to provide evidence of a negative PCR test carried out 24 hours prior to travel.
Norway has closed its borders for non-essential travel to all except Norwegians and foreign residents.
Anyone arriving in Norway for non-essential reasons is required to quarantine in an approved hotel for 10 days.
The rules will apply to all travellers, regardless of certificates of vaccination and prior infection.
It is possible to shorten the quarantine period if testing negative on day 7.
All travellers to Norway must also have filled out an online registration form prior to arrival.

More information here.

Poland

Borders are open to travellers from the majority of EU/EEA countries.
All arrivals to Poland must self-isolate for 10 days with some exceptions related to work or residency in Poland, or present a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours.
Poland now allows travellers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate to enter without the need to quarantine.

More information here.

Portugal

As of 17 May, travellers from most European countries are welcome in Portugal, including for non-essential travel. All arrivals over age 2 must show a negative PCR test and will be subject to health screening when they land. There is no requirement to quarantine.
However travel restrictions remain in place for Brazil, Cyprus, India, Lithuania, South Africa and Sweden.
The UK has lifted its flight ban and is removing Portugal – including the Azores and Madeira – from its COVID-19 “red list”, meaning those returning to the UK will need to quarantine at home rather than a hotel.
Madeira is now allowing any passengers who can prove they have been vaccinated or recently recovered from coronavirus to visit as part of a “green travel corridor”.
Face masks must be worn in public and social distancing and extra hygiene measures are in force in all public settings. Restaurants and event spaces must close at 10:30pm.
Similar measures have been adopted in the archipelago regions of Azores and Madeira.

More information here.

Romania

Hotels, guesthouses and other tourist accommodation are open and subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
A curfew is in place between 10 pm and 5 am, during which time you will need to prove your reason for travelling.
Only essential travel is allowed for people coming from non EU/EEA countries, which includes the UK.
UK passengers must provide a negative PCR test result upon arrival.

More information here.

Russia

Temporary restrictions on entry and exit via Russia’s land borders were enforced at the end of March, to be reviewed in June.
All arrivals into Russia will be temperature checked and will be required to provide a negative PCR test result upon arrival.

More information about Russia’s COVID-19 response here.

San Marino

San Marino is open to tourists and has virtually no entry restrictions in place.
If you are accessing San Marino through Italy, you’ll need to check Italy’s travel advice before you set off.
Restaurants, bars, cafes and other leisure facilities are open with social distancing measures and face mask requirements in place.

You can check the Re-open EU website for more information.

Serbia

All arrivals to Serbia must provide a negative PCR test performed no more than 48 hours before departure to be allowed entry. You may also be subject to a 10-day quarantine.
The usual COVID-19 safety measures apply once you’re there.
Restaurants, cafes and bars are allowed to serve customers in their outdoor spaces, and indoors at reduced capacity, until 10pm.

More information here.

Slovakia

Most travellers are subject to entry restrictions in Slovakia as the virus continues to spread.
All arrivals, including from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, will need to provide a negative PCR test result upon arrival and undertake a period of self-isolation. They will also need to register their arrival in an online form.

More information here.

Slovenia

The Slovenian borders are open and health checks may be carried out upon your arrival.
A new list of red list countries was announced last week. If you’re coming from a ‘red list’ country, you’ll be asked to quarantine for 10 days when you arrive.
COVID-19 restrictions vary between municipalities, which have been categorised based on a traffic light system.

More information here.

Spain

Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries by COVID-19 and continues to battle the virus with social distancing and hygiene measures in place.
Travellers coming from India must remain quarantine for 10 days. It may end on the seventh day if the person doesn’t show syndromes of COVID-19.
Restrictions on air travel have been extended to 31 May, with all non-essential travel banned from countries outside of the EU and Schengen zone.
The tourism minister announced on 27 April that Spain could soon be introducing exemptions for those who hold a COVID-19 vaccine certificate and negative test results. He wishes to reopen borders in June.
On 1 May the border between Spain and Portugal was reopened, as part of the Portuguese easing of COVID restrictions.
Travellers from India must quarantine for 10 days on arrival.
National lockdown restrictions have been replaced by regional measures, decided by each of the 17 autonomous communities and two city enclaves.
Spain’s Tourism Minister has announced the country plans to allow visitors from the UK from June onwards.

More information here.

Sweden

Non-essential travel to Sweden from outside of the EU is currently banned.
International flights to and from Sweden remain limited and you may be subject to entry restrictions.
All arrivals must show a negative PCR test performed no more than 48 hours before arrival.
Most of the economy remains open with social distancing, face masks and extra hygiene measures in force.
The government has advised Swedish citizens to avoid all but essential travel outside the EU/EEA and Schengen Area.

More information here.

Switzerland

Bars and restaurants have been allowed to reopen for outdoor service and cultural activities can resume. Greater steps will be taken on 31 May to enter a “stabilisation” period where significant steps will be taken to increase the capacity for events and socialising.
Visiting countries have been divided into three categories: low risk, countries with a worrying variant, and neighbouring countries.
Switzerland has a larger permitted list of countries than most European countries. It is updated regularly here.
The usual requirements are in place, including negative PCR test results and a completed online entry form.
Arrivals who have visited high-risk countries within 10 days of travel will still need to self-isolate.

More information here.

Turkey

Most travellers to Turkey aged 6 years and above will be required to show a negative PCR test result before they can enter the country and may be subject to health screening when they arrive.
Arrivals from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine and Estonia are exempt from this.
Turkey has currently banned flights from the UK, Denmark and South Africa due to the new COVID-19 variants.
Public and hospitality services are open but subject to curfews from 9pm to 5am.
Fully vaccinated permit holders under 18 and over 65 years of age are not subject to these curfews.
Smoking in public is banned for the time being.
Outdoor mask wearing is mandatory.

Turkish Airlines have published a country-by-country breakdown of flight restrictions to Turkey.

Ukraine

Country divided into yellow, orange, and red zones, with the view of all turning green through vaccination efforts.
Strict measures in red zones with zero hospitality and no public events. Other zones allow for hospitality and events with social distancing and a curfew of midnight-7am.
Indefinite ban on arrivals from India due to the spread of a new variant.
Arrivals from elsewhere must have proof of health insurance that covers COVID-19 observation and treatment for the duration of their stay.
Entry restrictions depend on whether you’re travelling from a ‘green’ or ‘red’ zone country.
Anyone entering Ukraine from high-risk countries will be required to undergo 14 days supervised quarantine.
It is possible to take a PCR test in Ukraine, and if it is negative, quarantine will not be needed.

More information here.

United Kingdom

The UK has updated its travel restrictions to a traffic light system which includes green, amber and red. Travel restrictions vary for each, more information here.
There are no longer any legal restrictions for international travel but people are strongly discouraged from travelling to countries on the red/amber list. More information here.
All arrivals into the UK must show a negative PCR test, fill in a passenger locator form and quarantine for 10 days.
Arrivals from high-risk countries will have to quarantine in government-managed hotels for 10 days at a personal cost of £1,750 (€2,000) per person. More information, including the list of high-risk countries, here.
There are fines of up to £10,000 (€11,450) and prison time if quarantine rules are not followed.

Scotland is strongly discouraging arrivals into the country. From 15 February, all arrivals, regardless of what country they travelled from, will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, at a cost of £1,750 (€2,000).
Travellers who arrive in England whose final destination is Scotland will have to quarantine in England.

More information here.

Vatican City

Vatican City has reopened its doors to tourists following the easing of Italy’s travel restrictions.

More information here.