Taking into account the increasing rates of vaccination worldwide, the EU Council has updated the recommendations for its member states. As per the new recommendations, European Union Member States can lift bans on travel for non-essential purposes. The relaxations will apply to citizens of third countries too who have received COVID-19 vaccination or have recovered from COVID-19. The relaxations can come into effect from March 1. Read on to know more.
Also Read: Spain Is Open For Indian Tourists And Here’s Everything To Know
Who Are Eligible To Travel To Europe?
As per the new recommendations of the EU Council, third world citizens in the following categories will be eligible to travel to Europe:
- Fully vaccinated citizens with European Medicines Agency (EMA) and WHO approved vaccines who have taken their final doses at least 14 days and at most 270 days before travelling; if nine-months have passed from their final dose, they need to take a booster shot too; they do not need pre-departure COVID-19 tests
- Fully vaccinated citizens with vaccines approved by WHO but not EMA, who have taken their final doses at least 14 days and at most 270 days before travelling; if nine-months have passed from their final dose, they need to take a booster shot too; they will need to produce a negative report of a pre-travel test taken within 72 hours before departure
- Travellers who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 180 days; they will need to produce a negative report of a pre-travel test taken within 72 hours before departure
- Children between 6 to 18 years; they will need to produce a negative report of a pre-travel test taken within 72 hours before departure
- Children under 6 years; they won’t be subject to any restrictions
While these are the recommendations, do check the updated guidelines of the individual European countries you are planning to visit.
Also Read: 6 Countries Fully Vaccinated Indians Can Travel To Without An RT-PCR Test
EU Secured Agreement On Recognition Of COVID-19 Certificates With Certain Countries
Travellers from countries with which the EU has secured an agreement on the recognition of their COVID-19 certificates can have the maximum benefits from the new guidelines. Some of these countries are Israel, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and New Zealand, among others. To know more, click here.