The EU and Schengen area countries reopening to travelers from outside their borders amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on July 1. Out of 14 countries initially named, ten remain on the list of places from which residents can enter the EU again, with China being a possible 11th entry if it in turn decides to open up to travelers from the EU as well.
Independently of the list, UK citizens and residents are still treated the same as EU citizens until the end of the year as part of the Brexit transition period. They are therefore still able to enter the EU and Schengen areas until that date.
The EU said criteria for the green light on travel were that countries have had new case counts relative to population size close or below the EU average for the last 14 days and that the case counts followed a downwards trend. Also, the countries’ COVID-19 response had to be rated as solid and the case counting as reliable in the eyes of the EU.
Essential travel, for example by medical personnel, and travel by EU citizens and long-term residents is exempt from the rules, which apply to all 27 EU members, Schengen area countries Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein as well as de-facto Schengen states Andorra, San Marino, Vatican and Monaco.
This chart shows countries from where it is allowed to enter the EU and Schengen areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic (as of October 9, 2020).
