The summer holidays are just around the corner, so travellers worldwide are planning their trips to Europe – as many European countries have already removed many of their COVID-19 entry rules.
While many European Union (EU) and European Economic Areas (EEA) have lifted all of their COVID-19 entry requirements for travellers, others have just slightly eased some.
The EU/EEA countries that have dropped all of their COVID-19 restrictions and are permitting travellers to enter restriction-free are:
- Bulgaria
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
The other countries in the EU/EEA still require travellers to meet specific entry rules.
Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe which still have entry rules relating to COVID include:
#Austria
Austria still requires travellers to present either:
- a negative test certificate
- a vaccination certitificate
- proof of recovery certificate
on their arrival.
If you can present one of these three certificates, you are permitted restriction-free entry and do not need to undergo any additional entry rules.
Austria only accepts vaccination certificates that prove the holder has completed their vaccination in the last 270 days – or has received an additional dose in the meantime.
The proof of recovery certificate must be from within the last 180 days.
As for the negative COVID-19 tests, Austria accepts either rapid antigen or PCR. The rapid antigen and PCR tests must be taken within 72 hours before arrival in Austria.
Austria has dropped most of its domestic COVID-19 rules meaning travellers are not required to present COVID-19 proof when accessing public places and events.
#Belgium
Belgium still requires travellers to present proof relating to COVID-19, similar to Austria, upon arrival.
In February 2022, Belgium announced they would no longer apply entry rules based on travellers’ country of origin; it would be based on their vaccination status instead.
Travellers who have completed vaccination and have a valid certificate can now enter Belgium without following additional entry requirements.
Recovery and vaccination certificates are accepted in Belgium as long as they have been issued in the last six months.
Travellers who have not been vaccinated must take a COVID-19 test before entering Belgium – this can be a rapid antigen or PCR test. The rapid antigen test must be taken within 24 hours of arrival in Belgium, and the PCR test within 72 hours.
Passengers can now enter Belgium without filling in the Passenger Locator Form; however, most national restrictions have also been lifted.
Croatia
Croatia has relaxed its entry rules, but only for people travelling from an EU/EEA country. They are not required to provide a vaccination, test or recovery certificate, regardless of their citizenship.
However, stricter rules still apply to those entering from outside the EU/EEA, similar to Austria and Belgium.
Cyprus
Cyprus updated its entry rules for travellers in March 2022, and they are now based on travellers’ vaccinations and recovery status rather than country of origin.
Travellers with an entire course of vaccinations and those who can prove they have recovered from the virus can enter Cyprus without being subject to additional restrictions – as long as they hold a recovery or vaccination certificate.
PCR Fit to Fly Test (digital certificate included)
A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is a viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids). NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 specifically identify the RNA (ribonucleic acid) sequences that comprise the genetic material of the virus.
The pre-flight gold standard RT-PCR Fit to Fly test available from Fit2FlyTest is a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) NAAT test. This is the most common test for detecting nucleic acid in a sample. When analysed by Public Health England and Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust our test correctly identified all positive and negative samples without exception. With 100% specificity toward the Sars-Cov-2 Virus, this kit will only detect the presence of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Our RT-PCR Fit to Fly test can be self-administered at home via a swab sample, which is then returned to our labs using the prepaid return label. We will have your results within 24 hours of your sample arriving at our laboratories, giving you peace of mind that you can travel safely
