Coronavirus disease (covid-19): travel restrictions, exemptions and advice

Advice for consumers in Europe

The European Consumer Centre Network  provides advice and assistance to citizens on consumers’ rights on cross-border issues. This includes hotel or travel bookings affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Information on resolving consumer disputes is also available here.

EU consumer law does not regulate the conditions for, and the consequences of, cancellation of events or individual services (sports and cultural events, car rentals, accommodation arrangements, etc.). Therefore, your rights as a consumer depend on the respective national contract law and the type and terms of your contract, including the stated cancellation policy of the service provider (e.g. refundable or non-refundable booking).

Standard contract terms used by traders have to be transparent and must not unfairly limit the rights of consumers under the relevant national contract law.

For your rights regarding package tours, see the Information on the Package Travel Directive, and for stand-alone air, rail, sea and bus/coach services see the relevant Guidelines.

Spain

People from EU or Schengen countries can enter Spain, as can those on the EU-approved list of third countries. As of November 19 this includes China. All visitors have to undergo health checks on arrival.

However under the government rules, from November 23 all those from countries classed as «high-risk» must present a negative COVID-19 test dating from the previous 72 hours.

The list is reviewed every 15 days. As of November 19 it includes all or most regions from the EU’s 27 countries, including neighbouring Portugal and France, as well as the UK, Norway and some three dozen third countries.

Cyprus

Cyprus has a three-tier system for entry into the country. The list dated November 6 is updated frequently:

List A — «Low-risk countries» (no restrictions): Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand.

List B — «Possibly low risk but greater uncertainty» (entry permitted with negative COVID-19 test): 8 EU countries as well as the UK, Norway and some other countries.

List C — «High-risk countries» (must have a negative test or undergo one, AND self-isolate for 14 days): 18 remaining EU countries, plus some others including Schengen members Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

When can the Danish travel advice to non-EU/Schengen countries and UK be expected to change?

For third countries, the travel advice is based on the EU’s list of countries where entry restrictions can be considered lifted. This list is updated biweekly and includes the condition that the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days cannot exceed the EU average. When a country appears on the EU’s ‘open’ list, the Danish authorities will, as a precautionary measure, additionally assess whether the country can be categorised as ‘open’ based upon a specialist assessment of the COVID-19 situation in the country in question. Moreover, travel advice will only be adjusted for a country on the EU’s ‘open’ list if the country does not have any entry restrictions or quarantine requirements for travellers from Denmark and if the general security situation allows it.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advice offers non-binding guidance on travel rules and restrictions.. It is ultimately your own decision whether you choose to travel. We advise you to be alert and stay updated on the travel advice for the country that you plan to visit, as this can change depending on both new local travel restrictions and changes in the number of weekly infections. You should always follow the local authorities’ instructions.
For all other third countries, the travel advice remains ‘orange’, which means that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advices against all non-essential travel.

What should I do when returning home to Denmark

If you are returning to Denmark from a country or region that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised against visiting due to COVID-19, you are strongly advised to follow the Danish Health Authority’s guidelines on self-isolation for 10 days after returning home. The isolation can be broken by a negative test result obtained at the earliest on the fourth day after entry into Denmark. The guidelines have been translated into several languages.
Moreover, you should follow the general advice of the Danish Health Authority regarding COVID-19.
If you are returning from a country which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not advise against visiting, and you have followed our advice for travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic, the advice to follow the Danish Health Authority’s guidelines on self-isolation will not apply.
You can read the advice of the Danish Health Authority and find more information here.

Montenegro

Citizens and residents of Montenegro can enter the country, without restrictions if they had been in a «green list» country throughout the previous 15 days. Most European countries are on this list.

Citizens and residents of Montenegro coming from «yellow list» countries or who had passed through a yellow list country over the previous 15 days need to produce a negative PCR test or positive antibody test from the previous 72 hours before arrival. Those coming from countries not on these lists must self-isolate for 14 days.

Foreigners who are non-resident in Montenegro are subject to the same rules as above, but must have passport stamps proving their movements over the previous fortnight.

Full details are available on the government website.

When we’ll travel again

Over the spring and summer, some destinations took the first steps toward reopening their cities to travelers: countries in Asia and several islands in the Caribbean encouraged tourism with entry requirements; museums including the Louvre and the Prado welcomed back visitors with reduced capacities that make for a more enjoyable experience; domestically, national parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone also opened back up, as did Disney World, with changes, of course, (though some Disney fans aren’t ready to return).

But come fall and winter, the predicted second wave has forced recently reopened restaurants, offices, and entire countries to close again, with North America and Europe hit especially hard. Countries including Germany and Belgium are seeing case counts far worse than in spring. Parisians, who have entered a second lockdown, tell us that it feels different this time around. 

This new spike, just in time for the holiday season, has forced travelers to confront challenging ethical questions. Is it responsible to travel home for the holidays? Is it okay to fly if I’m only taking a short trip? Our new Ethical Traveler column has answers. For those who do to travel this season, we’ve asked medical experts your most pressing air travel questions—from how to make sure your family sits together to whether first class is safer than economy right now. (Plus, the best face masks, and face shields, for travel—and what to do if your seatmate won’t wear one.) We’ve also covered the airports and airlines giving free COVID-19 tests this holiday season, like New York’s LaGuardia and United Airlines, on the New York to London route. Before you head out, make sure to read our holiday travel checklist, so you can be best prepared for your journey and any potential hiccups—like last-minute flight schedule changes—along the way. Don’t forget to read up on domestic travel restrictions if you’re crossing state lines.

If you’re choosing not to fly home, we have tips for you too. First, we can share that you’re not alone. Many of our staffers are rethinking the holiday calendar this year. Our favorite hoteliers, chefs, and world travelers tell us how they’re making an unusual holiday season feel special. We also tapped mental health experts and seasoned expats for advice on getting through the holidays alone at home.  

Healthcare in Spain

For contact details for English speaking doctors visit our list of healthcare providers and healthcare for UK nationals visiting Spain.

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

If you cannot travel back to the UK due to ill health or reduced mobility, you may wish to consider looking for longer-term accommodation in Spain until the State of Emergency is lifted. If you need medical treatment, the UK EHIC is still valid for the rest of 2020.

See also the guidance on healthcare if you’re waiting to return to the UK.

View Health for further details on healthcare in Spain.

Quarantine regulations

In Germany, the individual Länder are responsible for quarantine regulations. After coordination with the Länder and the Federal Government, the cabinet took note of a new specimen regulation. The Länder have issued their own regulations based on this specimen by 8 November 2020.

Because the new specimen regulation contains significant changes, we ask that prior to entering a Land you read the regulations on quarantine and testing carefully that apply to your specific destination. By entering the post code of your destination you can find the contact information of your competent local health office using the following Website: https://tools.rki.de/PLZTool/en-GB

Quarantine regulations as of 8 November 2020

Under the current specimen regulation, the following applies:

Upon entry into Germany following a stay in a risk area within the last 10 days

• you must register through the Website www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering Germany and carry proof of your registration,
• proceed directly to your destination following entry into Germany and
• self-isolate at home for 10 days (quarantine)

Further Information is availble on an information sheet and the website of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Exception: transit

The obligation to self-isolate at home does not apply in the case of transit through Germany. In this case, however, you are obliged to leave Germany immediately. The specific regulations of the Länder apply.

Exception: negative test result after 5 days

Depending on the regulations of the Länder, the quarantine may end after 5 days if a test for Coronavirus carried out on the fifth day after entry to Germany or later is negative.

Consular assistance for EU citizens abroad

Under EU law, citizens are entitled to seek help from the embassy or consulate of any EU country other than their own if they find themselves in a situation where they need assistance outside the EU, with no available embassy or consulate from their own Member State.

The European Commission and the European External Action Service help in bringing home stranded EU citizens from all over the world, while Member States issue advice about how to handle the travel restrictions. EU citizens in need of assistance outside the EU are encouraged to contact their Member State.

Overstay caused by travel restrictions

In the context of the coronavirus outbreak, visa holders present in the Schengen area who could not leave before the expiry date of their short-stay visa have had their visa extended up to a maximum stay of 90/180 days by the designated Member States’ authorities. If the visa holders were compelled to stay beyond the extended period of 90/180 days, a national long-stay visa or a temporary residence permit should have been issued by the national authorities.

Member States are encouraged to waive administrative sanctions or penalties on third-country nationals who during the period of travel restrictions were unable to leave their territory due to travel restrictions. Overstays due to the temporary travel restrictions should not be taken into account during the processing of future visa applications.

Nationals of visa-waived third countries who have remained in the Schengen area beyond the permitted 90-day stay

For nationals of visa-waived third-countries who are compelled to stay beyond the extended 90/180 days, the competent national authorities should extend the validity of the authorisations for legal stay, issue a new one or take other appropriate measures that ensure a continued right to stay on their territory. Information is available on the websites of Member States’ national authorities.

Expired travel documents due to an unexpectedly extended stay abroad

Clean and Safe Portugal Initiative

Portugal introduced its own ‘Clean and Safe’ protocols very early on in the game, which also meant they were the first country to receive the ‘Safe Travel’ stamp by the World Tourism Council.

The Clean and Safe stamp and coronavirus protection rules in Portugal are covered in-depth on the Visit Portugal website  which lists all the requirements for different types of business, and you’ll see the stamp on a lot of businesses booking pages.

The stamp basically is given to any business that is meeting those defined health and safety requirements and COVID-19 precautions as defined by the Portuguese health authorities. Having travelled to many places now in the country, it does seem most places are following the rules this implies.

While there is a criteria to meet, and online training, especially focused on cleaning and hygiene to follow, businesses certify and then have inspections, randomly, afterwards to ensure the standard is met.

A website, dedicated to Clean and Safe has now been launched at https://portugalcleanandsafe.com/ where you, as a visitor, can search for a business, check they have the stamp and see the measures they have put in place.

Most importantly you as the visitor can leave a rating on if the business met the criteria for clean and safe. This helps to keep businesses accountable to their stamp, as poor ratings will see them removed, or re-inspected.

There looks like an option to search a map, and see local businesses who have the stamp is in testing right now too.

Who can currently enter Portugal for tourism?

We are open to flights from the EU, UK and EEA/Schengen countries. For travellers outside of these nations, there are restrictions in place at a top-down level from the EU, for the EU and Schengen external borders.

Please note, some countries within the EU however, have border controls in place for other countries in the EU as part of the emergency situations that allows them to do so. As such, some flight routes might not be running. Please check alongside who Portugal is allowing in here, with your local government travel advice to see if they have any internal rules preventing travel to Portugal. 

The EU/Portugal announced a set list of countries from outside the EU are able to also enter the EU Borders, however these change regularly it seems, and each country can adapt to their own needs. The only certainty for entering Portugal right now as a tourist, is from the EU, EEA, UK countries.

Currently  (14/11/20) these on the additional list are Australia, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand and Uruguay.

Please note, flights in doesn’t mean you can come on them as a tourist – While we do have flights coming in and out of Portugal from some destinations outside of the EU that aren’t on the entry list, such as the USA, and mainly the Portuguese speaking communities of Brazil, Cape Verde and other nations in the group, these are running for residents that need to travel for an essential reason between the countries, not for leisure tourism right now. There are testing requirements for those coming from these countries as essential travellers, while the EU flights don’t require testing for the mainland.

USA Citizens

From the USA, there has been some conflicting reports, and that people have travelled recently to the EU. Following these new, stricter arrangements that went live in July by the EU Borders, while there are reports of people getting around the situation via the UK or Croatia, honestly I’m not sure why you would try for tourism right now – the whole continent is pretty much locking back down, and it really does not seem worth the hassle for a leisure trip. We are, as a continent, for the most part becoming a hot-bed of Coronavirus cases again too!

Travel from the UK

The FCO travel advisory for Portugal (mainland) is now in place, meaning travel insurance will be hard to come by (however the Portugal travel insurance programme does cover this it seems), but for the Azores and Madeira, there is no travel advisory, and an air-bridge in place, so you can travel directly from the UK to either Madeira, Porto Santo, or any of the Azores (if a direct flight) with no problems, no quarantine, and no insurance worries.

The mainland of Portugal (Lisbon/Porto/Algarve etc) is not on the Air-bridge list so quarantine is required when you return to the UK – I did this myself in September when I went to visit my family, 14-days inside is not fun.

Cruises

Cruise ships docking and disembarking is currently banned, although with the industry on pause, I expect this to continue for some time, at leats until October currently as detailed by law.

COVID-19 travel guidance

Following identification of a new variant of the virus, international travel from your area may be increasingly restricted because of domestic regulations. Different rules apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For example, those in tier 4 areas in England will not be permitted to travel abroad apart from limited exceptions, such as work purposes.  Follow all the rules that apply to you.

Other countries have closed borders, and may restrict movement or bring in new quarantine rules with little warning. Check our advice on things to consider and be prepared to stay overseas longer than planned.

Greece

Residents of EU countries are allowed to enter Greece, as well as those from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland.

So can residents from the EU-approved list of other countries, as well as arrivals from the UAE in November subject to conditions.

As of November 11, all travellers arriving in Greece from foreign countries are required to have a negative virus test result, carried out under 72 hours before arrival. This also applies to Greek citizens and residents.

Test certificates must be from authorised centres and written in English. Updated information on Greece’s restrictions is .

Public spaces and services

Enhanced measures are in place across Italy to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus:

• A nightly curfew is in place in all regions from 2200 to 0500. You cannot leave your place of residence during this time apart from for emergency, work or health reasons. You’ll need to carry a self-declaration form explaining your reasons for travel.
• There is a strong recommendation from the Italian Government that people do not travel by public or private transport except for work, study or health reasons, or for reasons of necessity.
• Public transport is operating at 50% capacity and its use is discouraged except for essential purposes.
• Social distancing of one metre must be observed.
• The use of masks is mandatory in all public spaces, whether outdoors or indoors. You should pay close attention to signage when travelling and carry a mask with you at all times.
• Only four people can sit together at a restaurant, bar or café. These venues must close at 6pm, although they can offer takeaway service, for consumption at home, until 10pm.
• Museums, theatres, cinemas and concert venues are closed.
• Dance activity in nightclubs and open air venues has been suspended and parties are not permitted.
• Parks are open and outdoor exercise is permitted, subject to social distancing. Contact sport is banned and sports centres, swimming pools, spas and wellness centres are closed.
• Funerals are permitted to take place with limited attendance. Churches can celebrate mass, weddings and baptisms. Receptions following civil and religious ceremonies are banned.
• Conferences and trade fairs are banned, unless held online.

More stringent measures are in place in some Italian regions that have been designated ‘red zones’.

Travel to or from one of those regions should only be for work, health or emergency reasons. Bars and eateries are closed and only shops selling essential items are open. More information on regional classifications is available on the .

Regional and local authorities in Italy are empowered to adjust these measures where required, which may occur at short notice. You are strongly advised to consult the websites for the regions in which you are travelling for the latest information. You should also pay close attention to local signage.

If you are a British national resident in Italy, we advise carrying proof of your residence in Italy when transiting through airports or other transport hubs.

You can find more information on measures on the Ministry of Health website (in English) and Frequently Asked Questions on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (in English).

Coronavirus travel restrictions and bans

On 18 December, the UK government introduced a new, fourth tier for London and parts of southeast England, to contain a new strain of the coronavirus. Under tier 4, all non-essential shops are closed, a stay-at-home order is in place and residents cannot travel domestically or internationally. Travel from England to Scotland is not permitted. On 19 December, Wales also went into lockdown.

In response to the rapid surge in new-variant infections, some 40 countries have closed their borders to UK travellers. Trains and flights have been cancelled, and freight deliveries are halted at Dover and at French ports.

As for the other tiers, non-essential travel abroad is advised against if you are in tier 3, but you can legally go abroad if your region is in tiers 1 or 2. However, all non-essential travel is advised against over the Christmas period and travel is effectively off the cards while the travel bans are in place.

The Netherlands

Borders are open but people are strongly advised not to travel to the Netherlands unless strictly necessary.

The government rules say nationals and residents of EU and Schengen countries as well as the UK can enter, but need to check whether they are from a list of countries which means they should self-quarantine for 10 days. As of November 10 the UK is on this list.

Citizens and residents of countries on the EU-approved list can also enter. For those coming from other countries, entry is restricted to listed exemptions — which include nationals and residents of countries such as Norway and Switzerland.

Portugal coronavirus entry requirements, rules, and airport procedures

So, if you are eligible to travel to Portugal right now based on the criteria and countries detailed above, what are the rules for entering, and also when you arrive?

Well, these can be broken down by region, as follows.

Mainland Portugal

The mainland of Portugal is the majority of Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, next door to our lovely neighbour of Spain.

Currently, there is no quarantine, or testing on arrival for mainland Portugal related to coronavirus restrictions for tourists from allowed flights.

If you are arriving from a country that is on the essential travel only list (for example USA/Brazil) in which case you will need to test before flying, or perhaps can request a test on arrival – please check with the SEF border office to confirm. For the purpose of below, I will focus on EU/approved for tourism incoming passengers

Here is what to expect at the mainland airports (Faro, Porto and Lisbon) from friends and people I’ve spoken to that have travelled – keep in mind who is allowed to fly into Portugal, from that section above.

Firstly, the flight might be completely full or rather empty – I’ve heard reports on both. Just don’t expect empty middle seats or social distancing on the flight, it’s basically impossible. You will be wearing a mask, an N95 or high-quality one that filters more particles will likely be more helpful in compact spaces like this, although I offer no health advice on this. Bring sanitiser to keep your hands clean, and wash your hands before boarding, and on arrival. Masks with vents are not allowed on most airlines now as they let particles out.

Mask medical exemptions: Recently I returned to the UK to see family, and then flew back. In the UK I noted you can self certify if you don’t need to wear a mask, with something printed at home such as a badge (not sure exactly the method). In Portugal, this is not accepted, and you will need a medical document detailing why you are exempt. On my Portugal Ryanair flight back, passengers were not accepted without a mask or these self-printed badges, and given the option to wear a mask for the flight, or not take the flight. This was also because entry to the airport in Portugal would have required a mask, or a medical note, and now with these new rules it is even more important to ensure you have the relevant documents.

When you arrive in Portugal, the flight numbers in and out are heavily reduced, so social distancing in lines is much easier. In theory, you will have filled your information in on the flight, and these documents will be collected by the airlines.

There are heat camera sensors at all the airports now, so temperature checks are being done even if you don’t notice them. There are SEF (border agents) monitoring these, and if you flag up the heat sensor, they will take you aside, and potential tests and quarantine will follow. Yes, some people who carry COVID-19 will not have a temperature, but this is the current situation.

Destination – Where to travel based on coronavirus restrictions in Portugal?

Honestly, and it pains me to say this as a lover of Portugal and the tourism industry, especially seeing how many people and businesses are suffering, but I really think travelling to mainland Portugal right now is verging on a bad idea.

Madeira/Porto Santo and The Azores – with their testing requirements, and low cases numbers, are the safer and wiser choices in my opinion , and being closer south have warmer days too.

With curfews being announced in the mainland, and potential lock downs looming, I can’t in good faith recommend a cross-country trip right now, and even city-breaks might be a bit restrictive.

A common approach to travel measures

On 13 October, EU Member States adopted a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Recommendation is based on the Commission’s proposal adopted on 4 September.

The Recommendation sets out four key areas where Member States will coordinate their efforts

• a common mapping system based on a colour code (green, orange, red, grey)
• common criteria for Member States when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions
• more clarity on the measures applied to travellers from higher-risk areas (testing and self-quarantine)
• providing clear and timely information to the public.

The Commission calls on Member States to fully implement the Recommendation

Factsheet — COVID-19 — A coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement13 October 2020

English (726.7 KB — PDF)

DownloadPDF — 726.7 KB

• български(390.6 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 390.6 KB

• español(390.3 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 390.3 KB

• čeština(387.7 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 387.7 KB

• dansk(391 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 391 KB

• Deutsch(394.3 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 394.3 KB

• eesti(390.3 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 390.3 KB

• ελληνικά(391 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 391 KB

• français(391.4 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 391.4 KB

• hrvatski(391.8 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 391.8 KB

• italiano(389.9 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 389.9 KB

• latviešu(385.2 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 385.2 KB

• lietuvių(394.7 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 394.7 KB

• magyar(399.3 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 399.3 KB

• Malti(389.7 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 389.7 KB

• Nederlands(389.3 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 389.3 KB

• polski(388.6 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 388.6 KB

• português(391 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 391 KB

• română(385.7 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 385.7 KB

• slovenčina(398.2 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 398.2 KB

• slovenščina(394 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 394 KB

• suomi(386.5 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 386.5 KB

• svenska(390.1 KB — PDF)

  DownloadPDF — 390.1 KB

Healthcare in Turkey

You should ensure that you are prepared for any unplanned or extended stays due to changes in COVID-related restrictions or your travel arrangements. If you take regular medication, make sure you have at least 14 days of supplies to cover you in case you are required to quarantine as a result of a positive COVID test.

British-issued prescriptions are not accepted in pharmacies in Turkey, although some medicines may be available over the counter.

If your medical supplies do run out whilst in Turkey it may be possible, in some cases, to liaise with Turkish hospitals and your GP to arrange for a Turkish prescription for the equivalent medicine.

For contact details for English speaking doctors visit our list of healthcare providers.

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

View Health for further details on healthcare in Turkey.

See also the guidance on healthcare if you’re waiting to return to the UK.

Restrictions on travel to the EU

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation on 25 June to lift travel restriction for countries agreed by Member States. This was done on the basis of a set of principles and objective criteria including

• the health situation
• the ability to apply containment measures during travel
• reciprocity considerations
• data from relevant sources such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation.

The European Council has adopted a Recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU on 30 June. Travel restrictions were lifted for countries listed in the recommendation. The list is updated, in principle, every two weeks.

Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the Recommendation, updated by the Council on 16 December, Member States should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

• Australia
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand
• China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, subject to confirmation of reciprocity

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

While the restrictions on non-essential travel and their lifting depend on the traveller’s place of residence, the visa requirement continues to depend on nationality. If a traveller resides in a country where restrictions have been lifted, but is a national of a visa-required country, he or she must apply at the consulate of the Member State to which he wishes to travel to, in his or her country of residence.

For all other third countries not on this list, Member States and Schengen Associated countries are temporarily suspending all non-essential travel from those third countries to the EU+ area, meaning that only certain categories of travellers could be authorised for entry. The “EU+ area” includes 30 countries: 26 out of the 27 EU Member States as well as the four Schengen Associated States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Ireland does not currently apply the travel restriction.

As the epidemiological situation inside and outside the EU evolves and travel restrictions at the EU’s external borders are gradually being lifted, visa operations have also resumed gradually. On 11 June 2020, the Commission published guidance for a phased and coordinated resumption of visa operations.

The rules for applying for a short-stay visa remain unchanged. Member States’ consulates and external service providers have however, adapted practical aspects of access management, hygiene measures, payment methods etc. Appropriate information on the procedure to follow for lodging an application should be provided to applicants.

Information on travel restrictions in place should be made available on the websites of the relevant national authorities (e.g. Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs). A daily summary of flight and passenger restrictions is available on the Eurocontrol website, titled ‘Covid Notam (notice to airmen) summary’.

Some exemptions have been put in place to ensure free movement of citizens, goods and services – with full respect of health and safety measures.

Finland

The Finnish Border Guard has published new information regarding incoming travellers valid from November 9.

It puts countries into different categories. Those where border controls are returning to normal include those on the EU’s list of recommended open countries. Entries under «category 1» restrictions include most European countries, limited mainly to work related or essential travel. «Category 2» countries include Russia, Turkey and the United States and restrictions limit entries to essential travel.

Prior coronavirus testing becomes mandatory from November 23 from high-incidence countries.

Finnish nationals, residents and their families are free to enter the country, as can EU and Schengen transit passengers.

Travel in Italy

All travellers entering Italy must comply with the regulations of the region they are visiting. Public transport links may be less frequent and seating limited to comply with social distancing measures. Masks must be worn on board public services. Taxi and car hire options are widely available.

Rail services are returning to their usual timetables, but there are still some reduced domestic services and international travel is limited. Some cross-border bus companies have cancelled their services.

Passenger ferry schedules remain subject to change and cancellations. Speak to your tour operator or transport provider for the latest information.

More information on all these requirements is available from the Ministry of Health or the European Union’s Re-Open EU page.