Many have been predicting it for weeks. And well, now it appears it’s about to become a reality. Europe is set to reintroduce travel restrictions on the US – for unvaccinated American travelers.
The EU will most likely remove the US from its safe list of countries, who are welcome in Europe without curbs.
Diplomats meeting in Brussels have reportedly decided to head that way based on the Delta outbreak in the US.
The decision will become final on Monday, Reuters reports, if all member states agree.
What Will New Europe Travel Restrictions On US Mean?
The move to reinstate restrictions will likely see the return of quarantine and testing requirements for unvaccinated US travelers. Not only Americans, but passport holders from five other countries, Euro diplomats tipped Reuters. Israel is possibly among them.
The EU’s current safe list includes 23 countries that enjoy restriction-free travel. Some member states already have individual curbs on US travelers. This will make those curbs an EU-wide thing – and apply within the Schengen zone.
After months of a one-way street on travel freedom between Europe and the US, Americans too are now being blocked at Europe’s door. But if the reports are right, it still stops short of banning Americans outright. Unlike the reverse case for Europeans wanting to head to the US.
New Curbs – Science Or Pay Back? Both
Tit for tat? If it is, it’s a fair one. But in truth – it’s also about science – and Covid-19 stat’s. As sure as maintaining the US ban on Europeans has, for many critics, not been about science. At least, not when you look at the relative Covid case numbers. There has been no reason for continuing the ban on Europeans.
All the science dictated – as did fair play – that Europeans should get reciprocal travel rights to the US. But no. Trump’s ban inevitably became Biden’s ban. And it has stuck. No explanations given. Just hollow promises.
Many are fed up with that. And that no doubt includes most, if not all, European leaders. Both at The EU and national level. How could anyone look that lack of reciprocity in the face for much longer – as cases in the US spiral – and accept it?
Question of Reciprocity Weighs In On Move
Decisions on the EU’s safe list from the start – that is from March 2020 – have been based on Covid cases as well as reciprocity. Such reciprocity never came from China, for example. And so, Chinese visitors were still not welcome.
But Americans oddly were. Starting in June, and in time for summer. Probably because officials never imagined that reciprocal freedoms would not be forthcoming.
Now many Americans and their travel plans will be thrown into disarray by this move. Thus, adding to all the other travel chaos that exists right now. And to the total lack of certainty Europeans have lived for18 months – when it comes to US travel plans.
**UPDATE: Most countries are currently taking a soft approach, and not making changes to rules. Italy is the first to crackdown on the unvaccinated, while bringing in extra testing rules for Vaccinated travelers too. Read that story here.
Hi Tamara, you mention restrictions for US travelers to Europe “will likely see the return of quarantine and testing requirements for unvaccinated US travelers.”
Is there any possibility for US travelers that are vaccinated to travel to Europe?
I’m not clear on that from your article.
My wife and I just returned from two weeks in France and have another trip booked there.
Of course, we want to go but we also support anything that helps keep covid numbers low.
Well, google seems to confirm that even vaccinated travelers may not be able to travel to Europe, so that answers my question!
Thank you for the excellent article.
Mark
Hi Mark. Well as you note, my story indicates the restrictions will – if they come in (being the big if still) – apply to non-vaccinated Americans. Which surely implies not to vaccinated travelers 🙂 But remember, all this is going by early reports of talk in Brussels so I can’t be clearer on that yet. This will presumably become more so Monday – and I will update accordingly. I must see these other google sources you refer to that suggest it will apply to everyone. I hope not. I’m banking on the EU having a more intelligent approach! Cheers Tamara
Thank you for the update, Tamara, that’s great news about vaccinated travel.
The article I found is here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-25/eu-will-discuss-thursday-reimposing-travel-restrictions-on-u-s
As I read the article, it makes no mention of vaccinated/non-vaccinated travel, so that concerned me.
I had a Profession Liberale visa that I wasn’t able to get renewed due to covid making my revenues 0 euro during the year of the visa.
My wife and I want to go back, and have an apartment outside Paris, travel to Europe is a big item for us.
I appreciate the articles that you write. I read them. I don’t see a way to contribute to your site. If there is a way, I would certainly contribute!
Thank you!
Mark
Hi Mark thanks so much for the appreciation. I’m much in the same boat you mention and I’m sorry that you’ve suffered so. My website is no revenue but I’m committed to informing people on travel news and hope to make it a hit (stats as we speak are booming 🙂). I went fishing as soon as you mentioned that possibility and found the Bloomberg article! And also the Independent which quotes it but spells out that this is likely to target unvaccinated travelers only. I hope you can thus continue with your plans! Stay safe! Tamara
Not sure the last update I wrote completed.
Here’s the link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-25/eu-will-discuss-thursday-reimposing-travel-restrictions-on-u-s
It doesn’t differentiate between vaccinated and non-vaccinated.
I had some other items but I’ll see if they post. If not I’ll rewrite.
I appreciate the good work you do,
Mark
Thanks for your appreciation. I really appreciate it! 😄
The reason the US blocks Europeans coming into the US is because the US is very concerned about the Europeans risk of getting Covid in the US. The US really cares about the health of the Europeans. The US knows it’s Covid situation is so bad and to risk the heath of Europeans is one of it’s biggest concerns.
I think they have much more to be worried about at home than Europeans, Boris – going by the statistics. Europeans have far more reason to be worried about Americans but they’re still letting them in. A good move to filter that to only vaccinated travellers – in both directions!
Seems extremely politically motivated. Just like hoe K citizens are restricted from to enter the EU as are Israelis. Both of whom are the most vaccinated countries in the world at the moment. Pointless seeing as how the Delta variant is a completely different virus than the ordinal Covid 19. Hence the reason so many vaccinated people are being infected
I think it’s a bit of both truly. Politics and science. The EU rules have always been based on ECDC stats. The US and Israel have gone over those thresholds, So it’s not just retaliation! Also, reciprocity was always a condition – funny they ignored that until now for the US but not China. So fair that it’s applied with the chronic and unreasonable to many US bans. I doubt very much your claims about that proportion of Vaccinated people infected. It goes against the grain of what is happening everywhere else. That’s not to deny some people are – but it’s a minority of cases.
Ah seeing as how my province has 67% of diagnosed covid from vaccinated people. Im happy to vaccinate and will do my part but this is now not working. We need a new jab to stop this but stopping us from seeing our families is becoming ridiculous.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you for your informative article. I am flying to France on Tuesday, August 31. I am vaccinated, but not entirely clear if the change in EU travel restrictions would affect me. Should I worry? Try to rebook my flight for Monday, 8/30, or even Sunday, 8/29 (not sure I can make it then)? How soon do changes like this take effect? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Great Ellen and thank you. You should be fine then. Let me know how it goes … if they ask to see proof of vaccination?
Have you read today’s New York Times article? It says that EU is planning on Monday, August 30, to adopt a ban on all non-essential travel from the U.S. The way I understand it, that includes vaccinated travelers. Of course, each EU country will have to make its own decision on whether or not to adopt such ban. I have moved my flight to August 30 and am hoping for the best.
No, thanks Ellen. I will do so – it could well be that the EU goes the hardline. That’s why I left it open in the story. I’ll update on the announcement. Hoping for the best for you too.
Oh so you are travelling today Ellen? Tell me how it goes and safe travels!
Thank you for keeping us informed. I have a trip planned for the Azores mid October. Hopefully restrictions are only going to apply to unvaccinated!
Crossing my fingers there. I don’t think the EU wants to sting itself too much with the new rules. Thanks Colleen. I’ll update you Monday!
Would this affect passengers in transit in Europe en route from USA to UK
It’s never affected passenger transits so no I can’t see why. Still best to check with airline to be sure.
On one side I feel really sorry if this EU travel ban crosses any travel plans of VACCINATED people in the US, because it’s not their fault that the US isn’t reciprocating.
But on the other hand it would probably be the best way to put pressure on the US government to finally do the right thing and let VACCINATED Europeans in as well.
Back in May I bought concert tickets & made a hotel reservation to see Miley Cyrus, my favorite singer, in Milwaukee on September 17th. Back then I was sure that the relaxing of restrictions would be both ways – but man was I wrong…
I’m fully vaccinated and live in France where 76.6% of the population over 12 years old is fully vaccinated.
Still thanks to the US travel ban I can probably forget about my plans to go to that concert while for the past few months even UNVACCINATED US citizens could holiday here in France and subsequently return to the US no problem.
Biden always says that the travel ban is based in science, but I fail to see the science showing that me, a fully vaccinated EU citizen, going to that concert in the US, poses a greater risk than unvaccinated US citizens holidaying in Europe and then returning to the US?????
Agree wholeheartedly. I don’t think Biden is pulling his own strings on this. I too am in France, by the way. Sorry this is causing such grief all around. Italy is really taking a sensible approach – tightening rules, mostly targeting unvaxxed but a little bit of tightening for vaxed travelers too. The US should have gone this way long ago. Stay safe!