Austria will reopen its borders to Italy and lift a quarantine requirement for travellers from over 20 other European countries next week, officials said on Tuesday, in a further easing of restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus.
The decision should in particular ease tensions with Italy after Austria singled out its southern neighbour for continued coronavirus-related checks given Italy‘s high number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
Austria, which borders eight countries, had lifted coronavirus-induced border restrictions last week for all of them except Italy, which prompted Rome to say such “individualist” solutions risked damaging the image of the 27-nation European Union.
As of June 16 Austria will lift controls on travel from more than two dozen countries including popular holiday destinations Greece and Croatia, the officials said on condition of anonymity, meaning arrivals from those countries would neither have to go into a two-week quarantine nor show a negative test.
The Foreign Ministry and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s office declined to comment.
The lifting of controls will not include Sweden, the officials said, adding that details will be finalised at a ministerial meeting on Wednesday. Sweden did not impose a general lockdown against the virus, unlike most countries.
There has been widespread speculation that Austria will fully lift quarantine requirements only for people arriving from some Italian regions where infection rates are lower.
The government has said it hopes to open the border as soon as possible while adding that some Italian regions have made great progress in reducing their infection rates.
The three northern Italian regions bordering Austria have made major progress in cutting their infection rates. Italy‘s north has suffered the most infections and deaths from COVID-19, while the south has suffered far fewer cases.
Belgium
Belgium’s borders are closed and the country has banned non-essential travel abroad.
The government has announced plans to reopen the border to citizens from the EU, the UK and the four other Schengen countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway) from June 15.
“The conditions for travel outside of Europe have yet to be defined in light of the evolution of discussions at European level”. the government said on June 3.
The country further eased lockdown on June 8, however many restrictions, in particular for the hospitality and culture industries, remain in place until July 1.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
The border is only currently open to citizens of neighbouring nations – other foreign arrivals are not permitted. There are some exceptions to this, such as for freight driver, residents and diplomats.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has opened borders on June 1 to EU, UK, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican, Serbia and North Macedonia citizens, as well as to medical workers and family members of Bulgarian citizens, as listed on the government website.
Croatia
Croatia has now opened its borders to nationals from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Germany and Slovakia.
On 11 May Croatia reopened its borders to visitors from the EU/EEA, and the UK, provided they held an accommodation reservation in the country.
Cyprus
Cyprus resumes tourism travel on June 9 and will do so in two different phases, after closing borders for almost three months.
The country will also cover health costs in case of coronavirus contamination occurring in the Mediterranean island.
A first reopening is scheduled for June 9 to passengers coming from Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania, but they will have to obtain a health certificate proving they are virus-free three days prior their departure.
On June 20, passengers from Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia and the Czech Republic will be allowed in too.
From June 20, passengers from the first group of countries won’t need health certificates, but those from the second group will still be required to obtain them.
These lists exclude the country’s two main tourism markets, former colonial ruler Britain and Russia.
However, flights from Britain could restart in mid-July, and a few weeks later from Russia.
US, France, Spain, and Italy remain excluded too until further notice.
Czech Republic
Borders with Austria and Germany reopened on 5 June, 10 days earlier than expected. From May 27, the country opened its frontier with the Slovakia and Hungary, but with restrictions.
Residents of EU member states able to enter to perform economic activities, to visit relatives or to study at a university. Everyone will have to prove themselves with a negative test for COVID-19 upon entry.
Denmark
Borders are closed for foreign travellers. Only citizens or residents of Denmark, Greenland or Faroe Islands can currently enter, or those with a “worthy purpose”.
From May 25 people with a permanent residence in one of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or Germany can re-enter if they are in a relationship with someone in Denmark, have grandparents there, or if they have a business trip.
From June 15, Copenhagen will open its borders to tourists from Germany, Iceland and Norway.
As of June 8, other EU nationals, as well as UK nationals, are not allowed to enter Denmark until the end of summer.
Estonia
Opened borders to Baltic neighbours on May 15. Since June 1 borders are open to EU and UK travellers. Those coming from countries with a high infection rate will have to self-isolate for two weeks.
Finland
Finland’s land borders have been closed until at least June 14. They were reopened to workers from the Schengen Area in mid-May.
France
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced plans to reopen France’s border to EU countries and the UK from June 15, following the plans of other EU countries.
For the time being travel into France is restricted with only essential travel allowed for those who don’t live in the country.
Travellers arriving from the UK or Spain will be subject to a voluntary quarantine. Those from outside the EU or UK will still not be able to travel to France except for in limited circumstances, while EU countries are still to decide when they will reopen external borders.
Germany
Germany will open its borders to the EU and UK on June 15.
Currently, travellers are expected to have a valid reason for entering Germany. However, restrictions at the borders have been loosened.
Checks at the frontier with Austria, Switzerland, France and Denmark and for passengers arriving by air from Italy and Spain remain in effect until 15 June.
EU citizens and citizens of the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, and the family members of these citizens, are permitted to return to their home country or to their place of normal residence in Germany or to reach their country travelling through Germany if they need to.
Greece
The Foreign Affairs Ministry published on Sunday, May 31, its plan for reopening borders, which entails three different phases.
Phase 1 (present-June 15)
Only a limited number of international flights are allowed to land in Athens.
All arriving passengers must be tested and stay overnight at a designated hotel.
In case of a negative test, passengers have to quarantine for 7 days.
If the test is positive, they need to quarantine “under supervision” for 14 days.
Phase 2 (June 15-June 30)
From June 15, tourism travel resumes, and international flights will land not just in Athens but in Thessaloniki too.
However, some passengers will have to undergo mandatory testing upon arrival.
Those coming from any of these airports listed by the European Aviation Safety Agency, will have to get tested on arrival, then go to to a designated hotel and quarantine for 7 days if the test is negative, and for 14 days if the test is positive.
All other passengers, including all travellers coming from Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Finland – will be subject to random tests and no further restrictions.
In addition, land arrivals from Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria will be allowed in the country.
Those travellers will be subject to random tests upon arrival.
Phase 3 (July 1-onwards)
International flights will be allowed into all airports in Greece and all travellers subject to random tests upon arrival.
“Additional restrictions regarding certain countries will be announced at a later date”, the Foreign Ministry says.
Arrivals by sea will also be allowed on July 1, with travellers subject to random testing.
Hungary
Borders are open with Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia, albeit with restrictions. Those coming from Czech Republic can also enter, travelling through Slovakia.
Frontiers are also open with Croatia with a holiday reservation. The borders with Austria and Ukraine are closed.
Iceland
Iceland is set to reopen to EU and UK travellers on June 15.
Tourists will be tested upon arrival. A few hours later, they will get the result on their phone, after downloading a tracking app.
Authorities are yet to clear procedures for those who test positive.
Ireland
The Irish health authorities currently require anyone coming into Ireland, except from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days, upon arrival, including Irish residents.
Arrivals have to complete a passenger locator form, although exemptions are in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.
Italy
Italy opened its borders on June 3 to EU, UK, Schengen area, Andorra and Monaco citizens, following the nationwide lockdown which came into force on March 9. Borders also opened with Vatican City and San Marino on this date.
Travellers coming from the above countries won’t have to undergo quarantine unless they have been in any other country in the 14 days before reaching Italy.
The government dismissed any possible attempt to apply different confinement rules in different regions as “unconstitutional” following spats between local governors.
Therefore, the same confinement rules will apply in the same way to all regions.
The country entered lockdown “phase 2” on May 18, allowing restaurants, bars, hotels and cafe to reopen, however restrictions could be restored at any time if the epidemiological situation worsens.
Cruises on Italian ships are currently suspended.
Latvia
Opened its borders to Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania on May 15. From June 1, there will be no border checks with Lithuania.
Lithuania
Opened its borders to Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia on May 15. From June 1, there will be no border checks with Latvia.
Lithuania is also allowing entry to citizens of Poland for business and studies.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s border with Germany reopened on May 15.
Malta
Malta’s Tourism Ministry announced on May 31, that it will reopen tourism travel on July 1.
Borders will reopen to travellers from Germany, Austria, Cyprus, Switzerland, the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Iceland, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Israel, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic.
More countries “will be announced in due course, once clearance from the health authorities is received.”
Malta was the first country in Europe to ban flights from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland, on March 10.
The Netherlands
The country enforced restrictions on foreign travel on March 19.
Borders, however, are open for those travelling to the Netherlands from the Schengen Area, but they must “follow Dutch advice and rules to combat COVID-19”, like standing 1.5 metres away from each other, washing hands and avoiding to shake hands,
For those coming from outside the Schengen Area (i.e. US, Australian and Canadian citizens) tourism/non-essential travel is banned until June 15 included.
More information can be found on the Dutch Government website.
Norway
Norway has closed its borders. Foreign travellers will be turned away at the border. Those who live or work in Norway are able to enter and airports are open.
The country’s ministry of foreign affairs advises against all international travel that is not strictly necessary until August 20th.
From June 15, people from Denmark will be able to enter. By July 20, exemptions for some nearby European countries will be considered.
Norway currently has a 10-day quarantine for those returning from international travel.
Poland
Poland has closed its borders with several countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany.
Portugal
Workers and supplies are being allowed across Portugal’s land border with Spain, but it is closed to tourists until at least June 15.
Border controls have been in place since March 16. There is currently no requirement for arrivals to go into quarantine, except in The Azores.
Eduardo Cabrita, Portugal’s minister for internal administration, said no decision had been made on when to lift the restrictions.
Russia
On June 8, Russia said it will partially reopen its borders as the country eases coronavirus restrictions.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that traveling abroad for work, medical or studying purposes will be allowed, as well as for taking care of relatives.
He also said Russia will let in foreigners seeking medical treatment or taking care of family members.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters there is “no set date” yet for resuming international flights, which were halted in late March.
Romania
Romania has reopened its border with Hungary.
Serbia
The borders are open.
Slovenia
Slovenia reopened borders to EU citizens on May 15. Anyone suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days.
Slovakia
From June 10 Slovakia will open its borders to Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
Slovakia’s border was already opened to Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Prime Minister Igor Matovic said from 10 June people will no longer have to wear face masks outside.
Spain
Spain will open its borders to international visitors on July 1, backtracking on a previous announcement from Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto that restrictions to border crossings with neighbours Portugal and France would be lifted on June 22.
Currently, only Spanish citizens, residents of Spain (who must prove their habitual residence), cross-border workers, health or elderly care professionals and people who can prove force majeure or a situation of need, are allowed to enter the country via Spanish ports and airports. The exceptions also include diplomatic personnel and everything related to the transport of goods in order to avoid shortages.
Borders with France and Portugal have been closed since March 17, allowing access only to Spanish citizens, people residing in Spain, cross-border workers and those who can provide documentary proof of necessity. None of the regulations are applicable to Andorra or Gibraltar.
Currently, people who enter the national territory from abroad must stay in quarantine for 14 days after their arrival, but this will end on July 1 according to officials.
Sweden
Sweden has introduced border restrictions but it only applies to non-essential travel from countries outside the EU/EEA, except the UK and Switzerland.
That restriction came into effect on March 19 and has been extended until June 15.
Switzerland
Switzerland, who brought in border controls on March 13, will reopen borders to all EU countries, the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on June 15, instead of July 6 as previously planned.
Any foreign nationals who currently tries to enter Switzerland without a valid residence or work permit will be refused entry.
Air passengers from abroad are currently only able to enter the country through the airports at Zurich, Geneva and Basel.
The Swiss authorities have not imposed any quarantine measures on persons entering the country. However, you must comply with the government’s hygiene and social distancing rules.
Turkey
No entry permitted for foreign travellers.
United Kingdom
Borders are currently open. From June 8, visitors from abroad will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Those exempt from these measures include people travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
As in other countries, certain professions are exempt from these rules, such as healthcare workers travelling to deliver healthcare in the country. Upon arrival, those who are required to self-isolate need to provide their journey and contact details.
The government says these measures will be reviewed every three weeks.
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