Following a review under the Recommendation on the gradual removal of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU, the Council updated the list of countries from which travel restrictions should be lifted to add Japan. As foreseen in the Council Recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and updated as necessary.

On the basis of the criteria and conditions set out in the Recommendation, from 3 June 2021 Gradually lift travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

  • Australia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Rwanda
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Thailand
  • China, subject to mutual confirmation

Travel restrictions are also to be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered EU residents for the purposes of this recommendation.

That criteria determining the third countries for which the current travel restrictions are to be lifted were updated on May 20, 2021. They include the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the information and data sources available. Reciprocity should also be taken into account on a case-by-case basis.

The associated Schengen countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

background

On June 30, 2020, the Council adopted a recommendation to gradually lift temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU. This recommendation included an initial list of countries for which Member States should start lifting travel restrictions at the external borders. The list is checked every two weeks and updated if necessary.

On May 20, the Council adopted an amendment to respond to the ongoing vaccination campaigns by introducing certain exemptions for vaccinated people and relaxing the criteria for lifting restrictions for third countries. At the same time, the changes take into account the possible risks of new variants by providing an emergency braking mechanism in order to react quickly to the emergence of an interesting or worrying variant in a third country.

The Council recommendation is not a legally binding instrument. The authorities of the member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation. You can only gradually lift travel restrictions to the countries listed in full transparency.

A Member State should not decide to lift travel restrictions for unlisted third countries until this has been decided in a coordinated manner.