COVID-19:

Travel and health measures in the EU

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TRAVEL IN THE EU
Free movement is a fundamental right in the European Union.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the EU's 27 Member States adopted various travel measures, some of which have
had an impact on citizens' right to move freely across the EU.
The European Commission has acted to ensure that EU citizens can continue to exercise their right to free movement
and to do so safely.

EU DCC is
recognised in all EU
Member States and
EU Digital COVID 26 other countries
Traffic light system Re-Open EU
Certificate
T ravellers with
An EU-wide system to The European Centre Collecting vaccination and
certify that a person for Disease Prevention information from recovery certificates
was vaccinated, and Control (ECDC) Member States for should not be
recovered or received publishes a traffic travellers of the on subject to any
a negative test result. light map on the measures in place: travel restrictions
epidemiological https://reopen. Booster shots will
The system is legally
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directly in all EU EU to support national
Member States. decisions on specific
measures.
 TRAVEL TO THE EU
To limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU
introduced a temporary restriction on non-essential
travel to the EU in March 2020. Since then, the rules have
evolved to allow for safe and progressive reopening to
vaccinated travellers and to those coming from countries
in a sufficiently good epidemiological situation.

Member States should reopen to:

Travellers fully vaccinated with an EMA-authorised vaccine or a vaccine having completed the WHO Emergency
Use Listing process;
T ravellers who recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days before their trip and have either an EU Digital COVID
Certificate or a certificate deemed equivalent;
Travellers coming from countries in a sufficiently good epidemiological situation. The Council maintains a list of
such countries, reviewed every 2 weeks based on an evaluation of the health situation.
In addition, some travellers are exempted from the travel restriction:
EU citizens and long-term residents as well as their family members;
Those who have an essential reason to come to Europe.

An ‘emergency brake' mechanism allows Member States to act quickly and in a coordinated manner to limit
the risk of coronavirus variants entering the EU.

HEALTH MEASURES IN
MEMBER STATES
Public health measures are a national competence.

Member States decide on their vaccination strategies, lockdown measures or the use of certificates to access public
venues, such as cinemas or restaurants. Please check the latest health measures with national authorities and
Re-Open EU.

© European Union, 2021

Reuse of this document is allowed, provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated Print ISBN 978-92-76-43912-7 doi:10.2775/918287 NA-09-21-506-EN-C
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