More and more countries have been softening their Covid-19 safety measures within their borders. Denmark, Ireland and Finland are just a few of those who are lifting almost all measures for their inhabitants. Following a recommendation from the European Union, travel restrictions within Europe are now also being evaluated and it doesn’t stop there. France, Greece and Portugal are even admitting travelers from a few countries outside the European Union to enter their territory without having to present a negative test result or without going into quarantine upon arrival.
“A person who has a valid EU Digital Covid Certificate should in principle not be subject to additional restrictions, such as tests or quarantine, regardless of their place of departure in the EU.” Such reads the statement released by the European Union on 25 January and it looks like those words have stuck and are even being taken to the next level.
1. Portugal
Portugal has for example decided to allow travelers not only from within the European Union but also from outside the EU, simply by presenting their EU Digital COVID Certificate or their valid vaccination or recovery certificate issued by a third country. The non-European countries profiting from these softened travel restrictions are Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Switzerland, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and The Vatican.
Those who aren’t vaccinated still need to show a negative RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test), taken 72 hours before boarding or a negative Laboratorial Rapid Antigen Test, taken 24 hours before boarding.
2. Greece
Greece too has lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions for a number of countries, providing they can present a valid EU Digital Covid Certificate upon their arrival in the country. Travelers from outside the EU which can benefit from these measures have to be nationals of one of the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Cabo Verde, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Iceland, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, ‘Chinese Taipei’ (not recognized as a State by Greece), Thailand, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, The Vatican.
Travelers arriving in Greece from any other country are required to display a negative molecular test result (PCR) for Covid-19 performed up to 72 hours before the scheduled arrival or a negative Rapid Antigen test result for Covid-19 performed up to 24 hours before the scheduled arrival.
3. France
Following Portugal and Greece, France is said to soon be dropping its Covid-19 travel restrictions for travelers from outside the EU. Up until this moment, anyone travelling to France from outside the European Union or Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, the Holy See or Switzerland has to present a negative test result from within the last 48 hours.
“We again required tests in December over the Omicron variant. In the coming days we will announce that tests are no longer needed for vaccinated people. This week there will probably be a new European protocol for vaccinated people arriving from outside the EU, with eased measures”, Europe minister Clément Beaune told France 2 television.
