What are the latest travel restrictions?

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

Here”s a summary of the travel restrictions being enforced across Europe and beyond.

This article is updated regularly.

Albania

• Albania has a curfew from 10pm-6am, but in general restrictions are low.

• Flights from the UK are banned until the end of February, due to the UK COVID-19 variant. Passengers arriving from the UK on indirect flights have to quarantine for 14 days. Other nationalities do not have to quarantine.

More information here.

Andorra

• Andorra has seen over 9,000 coronavirus cases throughout the pandemic.
• The state is currently recognised as a high-risk area, and officials advise against all but essential travel.
• Safety measures include restrictions around leisure, culture, sport and skiing.
• Most travellers will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Andorra.

More information here.

Austria

• Austria is currently in lockdown and not open to tourists. Hotels and restaurants are closed.

• Flights from the UK, South Africa and Brazil are currently banned due to the new COVID-19 variant.

• Upon arrival, most travellers need to show a pre-travel clearance and quarantine.

More information here.

Belarus

• Back in September, Belarus recorded one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the whole of Europe, and at that point saw only 73,000 infections.
• Throughout the pandemic, President Aleksander Lukashenko opted against following the lockdown strategy sweeping the rest of the globe.
• However, as infection rates around the world continue to rise, Belarus is only allowing for essential travel at this time.
• Anyone arriving to Belarus from an infected country, or that is showing symptoms, will be required to quarantine for 10 days.

More information here.

Belgium

• Authorities in Belgium have recently extended coronavirus restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. Only essential shops are open and curfews are in place across major towns and cities.
• 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

• Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is open to tourists, a recent rise in COVID-19 cases has seen tighter measures introduced.

• Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and cafes are open, along with most other businesses, but a curfew is in place between 11pm and 5am.

• A negative PCR test is required for entry.

• 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.

• 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.

• International flights continue as normal for most essential travellers.

More information here.

Croatia

• On 30 November last year, Croatia introduced new measures temporarily restricting border crossing. However, some exemptions have been made.
• Croatia is following a traffic light system for travel restrictions and anybody coming from an EU country on the ‘green list’ can enter the country without any restrictions.That’s providing they show no symptoms and haven’t been in close proximity to an infected person.

More information here.

Cyprus

• Cyprus is operating a category list which outlines the measures travellers must take depending on their country of origin.
• Generally, the island is back open for international travellers from the A and B categories.
• There is a curfew in place which restricts movement between 9pm and 5am.

More information here.

Czech Republic

• A state of emergency is currently in place in the Czech Republic.
• Everyone entering the Czech Republic is subject to a medical examination to check for COVID-19 infection.
• The country remains open to those travelling from low-risk areas.

More information here.

Denmark

• Denmark currently has a national lockdown in place. This includes the closure of all non-essential shops.
• Only essential travel is allowed to Denmark and you must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 24 hours before travel.
• 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.

More information here.

Estonia

• Estonia admits people with no COVID-19 symptoms arriving from the EU.
• Travel documents and medical symptoms are checked at the borders.
• The government is also looking to waver restrictions for travellers who have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

More information here.

Finland

• Flights from the UK, Ireland and South Africa are currently banned.

• Other entry restrictions depend on whether a country is in the green, red or grey category. More details here.

• Finnish health authorities may enforce mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival from restricted states.

More information here.

France

• France was the first European country to report a case of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic.
• France now has tight restrictions in place to help control the virus as cases are on the rise.

• All travel to and from countries outside the EU is banned unless there are pressing grounds for travel.

• Arrivals from European Union countries must present a negative PCR test, with the exception of cross-border workers.

More information here.

Germany

• Germany is currently in partial lockdown. The restrictions will be reviewed in March.

• Hotels and other accommodation are currently not allowed to offer rooms for tourist purposes; only business purposes.

• For entry into Germany, restrictions apply for many countries. In principle, entry is possible from EU member states and Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

• No arrivals are allowed from “areas of variant of concern”.

• As of 11th February, no travel is allowed from the Czech border regions and Austria’s Tyrol, to control the spread of variants present in those regions.

• Quarantine rules for those allowed entry vary by region. Check for the region you are travelling to here.

Greece

• Greece was one of the first countries to open back up to tourism last summer. But since November, anyone travelling to Greece is required to present a negative PCR test ahead of arrival.
• The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is pushing for the EU to design a vaccine passport.
• Only those displaying negative results will be able to enter the country.
• All arrivals must fill in a Passenger Locator Form and are required to self-isolate for seven days upon their arrival.

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.

More information here.

Iceland

• Iceland is open to tourists from EU/EEA countries only. Travel between the UK and Iceland was banned from 1 January due to the new COVID-19 variant.
• Arrivals to Iceland will need to have two PCR tests: one immediately upon arrival and another five days later. Until both tests come back negative, arrivals must stay in quarantine for up to 14 days.
• Exceptions apply to those who: are transiting the country, have a certificate to show they have had COVID-19; have a certificate to prove they have been vaccinated against the virus; or those who for medical reasons cannot have the COVID-19 test.

More information here.

Ireland

• Ireland is currently under a national lockdown.
• A negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel is necessary for entry.
• The Irish government advises against all but essential travel and it has adopted the EU traffic light system for travel restrictions in relation to COVID-19.
• Arrivals from green zones will not be subject to any entry restrictions.
• Passengers from red, orange or grey zones or from countries outside the EU/EEA will be subject to tighter restrictions – including a 14 day quarantine on arrival.

More information here.

Italy

• The government has recently tightened restrictions in the country and extended the state of emergency until April.
• Movement between regions is limited to essential journeys only.
• Tourists arriving in Italy will have to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival or present a negative test result.

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

• A state of emergency has been declared in Latvia until 6 April.

• Flights from the UK, Ireland and Portugal are currently banned.

• 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.

Lietchenstein

• 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

• Lithuania is under a nationwide lockdown until the end of February.
• The borders remain open, but movement within the country is extremely restricted.
• Anyone arriving to Lithuania from countries with high infection rates will be required to self-quarantine for 10 days, or present a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours.

More information here.

Luxembourg

• Luxembourg is welcoming tourists from EU/Schengen Area countries and Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea andThailand.

• There is no requirement to quarantine when entering Luxembourg currently in place.

• All arrivals to Luxembourg will be required to present a negative PCR or antigen test, no older than 72 hours.

• A nightly curfew is in place between 23:00-6:00.

More information here.

North Macedonia

• The borders are open in North Macedonia and on 30 December, the government cancelled its travel ban on people coming from the UK.
• 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

• Commercial flights to and from Malta resumed from 1 July 2020.
• 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.

• 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 10pm and 7am.
• 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

• Ski resorts are open in Montenegro as long as the 2m social distancing rule is followed.
• In most cases, arrivals to Montenegro will need to isolate for 14 days.
• An evening curfew between 10pm and 5am is in place.

More information here.

Netherlands

• The Netherlands is currently responding to a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.
• All but essential travel to the Netherlands is advised against.

• Foreign tourists must reserve their holiday accommodation before they travel to the Netherlands.

• All arrivals must present a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours and fill in a health declaration form.

• Anyone arriving to the Netherlands from highly impacted areas is required to undergo 10 days self-quarantine.

• Arrivals from the UK, Ireland and South Africa must also present negative rapid test results, taken right before departure.

More information here.

Norway

• All arrivals to Norway will now have to take a (free) COVID-19 test upon arrival.

• Norway has closed its borders for non-essential travel. Domestically, restrictions are gradually being lifted.

• Anyone arriving to Norway from a high-risk country is required to self-quarantine, or quarantine in an approved hotel, for 10 days.

• It is possible to shorten the quarantine period if testing negative on day 7.

• At the moment, all countries except for Greenland and parts of Finland, are designated as high-risk.

More information here.

Poland

• Poland is opening for international travel, and domestic restrictions are gradually being lifted.

• The 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

• The state of emergency has been extended until March.

• Travel to Portugal for non-essential reasons is limited to EU/EEA citizens only and countries deemed low risk.

• All arrivals from age 2 and above must provide a negative result from a PCR test and will be subject to health screening when they land in Portugal. There is no requirement to quarantine when arriving to mainland Portugal.

• Face masks must be worn in public and social distancing and extra hygiene measures are in force in all public settings.

• Similar measures have been adopted in the archipelago regions of Azores and Madeira.

More information here.

Romania

• Hotels, guest houses and other tourist accommodations are open and subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
• A curfew is in place between 11pm and 5am, 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

• From 18 March 2020, the Russian government introduced restrictions on entry into the whole country for almost all foreign citizens. And from 30 March, temporary restrictions on entry and exit via Russia’s land borders were enforced.
• 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

• The first case of COVID-19 in Serbia was reported on 6 March 2020. The Government website reports that the situation is currently stable.
• 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.

More information here.

Slovakia

• Most travellers are subject to entry restrictions in Slovakia as the virus continues to spread.
• Travellers from the EU/EEA or Switzerland will need to provide a negative PCR test result upon arrival, but they won’t need to self-isolate.
• Arrivals from other countries including the UK will need to self-isolate upon arrival and take a second PCR test.

More information here.

Slovenia

• The Slovenian borders are open and health checks may be carried out upon your arrival.
• 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.
• Spain’s borders are open to most tourists and the restrictions depend on where you’re travelling from.

• Flights and ships from the UK are currently banned, due to the new variant of COVID-19 which originated in the UK.

• The tourism minister announced on 19 January that Spain could soon be introducing exemptions for those who hold a COVID-19 vaccine certificate.

• Most travel from Brazil and South Africa has been suspended.

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

• If you’re travelling from a country deemed to be ‘high risk’, you might be asked to quarantine upon arrival.
• There is currently a ban on non-essential travel from the UK and South Africa due to the new COVID-19 variant.

More information here.

Turkey

• All 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.
• Turkey has currently banned flights from the UK due to the new COVID-19 variant.
• Shopping centres, markets, restaurants and hairdressers are open from 10am to 8pm throughout the week, with restaurants only providing takeaway services.
• Smoking in public is banned for the time being.

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

Ukraine

• Arrivals must have proof of health insurance that covers COVID-19 observation and treatment for the duration of their stay.

• Stricter COVID-19 measures are in place to curb the spread of the virus. This includes the closure of bars, restaurants and cafes, and non-essential shops. All events during this period are banned.

• 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 United Kingdom is currently in a full national lockdown, with restrictions expected to start lifting in March, and full lockdown eased by June.

• 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 Euros) per person. More information, including the list of high-risk countries, here.

• There are fines of up to £10,000 (11,450 Euros) 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 Euros) .
• Travellers who arrive in England whose final destination is Scotland will have to quarantine in England.

More information here.

Vatican City

• While Italy is open for some, Vatican City remains closed to tourists.

More information here.

Beyond Europe

USA

• The USA has banned non-essential travel from the UK, Ireland, the Schengen Area, Iran, Brazil and China.
• If you are travelling to the USA, you’ll need to show evidence of a negative PCR test before departure and be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days.
• COVID-19 restrictions and penalties for not following government guidelines vary from state to state, so the best thing to do is check the CDC website before you travel.

Canada

• To travel to Canada you need to have a negative COVID-19 test before departing.
• International arrivals to Toronto Pearson Airport will now also be offered a free COVID-19 test as part of a pilot scheme to add an extra layer of protection.
• You’ll still need to self-isolate for 14 days even if you take the test in Toronto, but the government says it’s working on this.

More information here.

Australia

• Australia’s borders are, for the most part, closed.
• You can only enter Australia if you are an Australian citizen, have permanent residence or have an exceptional reason.
• If you are allowed to enter Australia, you’ll need to enter a government-managed quarantine hotel for 14 days when you arrive.

More information here.

New Zealand

• New Zealand’s borders are closed and you can only enter if you have citizenship, permanent residence or an exceptional circumstance.
• If you are entering New Zealand, you need to undergo quarantine or managed isolation in an approved facility for a minimum of 14 days.
• Restrictions in the Auckland region have just been relaxed to COVID alert level 1, putting it on the same level as the rest of the country.

More information here.