The European Union Council on Thursday (Sept. 9) updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. Uruguay was the new country added to the list of safe third countries to travel.
Whereas Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Japan and Serbia were removed from the list of safe third countries to travel.
The decision means that the EU Member States are now advised to impose stricter entry rules on arrivals from these countries, in particular for travellers who haven’t been fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus.
As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.
Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 9 September 2021 member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:
- Australia
- Bosnia and Hercegovina
- Canada
- Jordan
- New Zealand
- Qatar
- Republic of Moldova
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Ukraine
- Uruguay (new)
- China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity
Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao.
Under the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan should also be gradually lifted.
Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation.
The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted were updated on 20 May 2021. They cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources. Reciprocity should also be taken into account on a case by case basis.
Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.
