New EU travel rules
from 1 February
2 February 2022
The EU Council has recommended that starting from 1 February, all European Union member states should remove the current COVID-19 travel restrictions and replace them with new restrictions based on the individual traveller’s situation rather than the traveller’s country of departure.
The Council advises that all restrictions to free movement should be lifted for travellers in possession of a valid EU digital COVID certificate. Up until now, travel restrictions have been based upon the current epidemiological situation in the region of departure. The recommendation is in response to a significant increase in vaccine uptake and the rapid roll-out of the EU digital COVID certificate.
On the same day the recommendation comes into effect, the member states will also shorten the validity period of vaccination certificates to 270 days (nine months) at most, whilst some countries are set to make the validity period even shorter.
Announcing the recommendation, the EU Council said: “This means that a traveller’s COVID-19 vaccination, test or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant. A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travellers.”
What is the EU Digital COVID certificate?
Since July 2021, EU citizens and residents can verify their COVID status using the digital COVID Certificate programme. An EU digital COVID Certificate provides proof that the holder has either:
- Been vaccinated against COVID-19
- Received a negative test result
- Recovered from COVID-19.
The certificate is available in either digital or paper format, and includes a QR code that is acceptable within all EU countries as proof of COVID status. Obtaining a certificate is free of charge, and can be used for travel purposes or locally to verify testing and / or vaccination status for events. More information on obtaining a certificate can be found on the European Commission website here.
Overview of the new EU travel rules
Effective 1 February 2022, the EU Council recommends that member states exempt all travellers with a valid EU digital COVID certificate from testing and quarantine / self-isolation. An EU digital COVID certificate is valid if the person concerned has:
- Completed the full primary vaccination series with an EU-approved COVID-19 vaccine and more than 14 days and less than 9 months have passed since the last dose; OR:
- received a booster of an EU-approved COVID-19 vaccine; OR
- recovered from COVID-19 and less than 180 days have passed since the date of the positive test; OR
- obtained a negative PCR test result not more than 72 hours before arrival or a negative rapid antigen test result not more than 24 hours before arrival.
EU countries could also accept vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Travellers who do not hold a valid EU digital COVID certificate could be required to take a test prior to or no later than 24 hours after arrival. However, the Council also advises that certain travelers should be exempt, including:
- Children under 12 years old
- Transport workers
- Patients travelling for imperative medical reasons
- Seafarers
- Persons living in border regions and travelling frequently.
Despite the adoption of a person-based approach, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will continue to publish a map of member states’ regions according to a traffic light system (green, orange, red, dark red). The map will be based on the 14-day case notification rate, vaccine uptake and testing rate.
Non-vaccinated or non-recovered travelers arriving from areas marked dark red by the ECDC could face possible additional measures, such as pre-arrival testing and quarantine / self-isolation. The Council recommends that non-essential travel to and from dark red countries should be discouraged.
Advice on European immigration
Given the constantly changing nature of global restrictions and closures, Smith Stone Walters strongly recommends seeking advice on the current entry rules for your destination country before travelling.
The SSW Global Immigration team are on hand to provide up to date advice on the latest restrictions in Europe and the rest of the world in advance of your international travel. To speak to an immigration advisor, please contact us today.
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