Latest update on COVID-19 travel restrictions to Schengen area for August 2021

As summer comes to a close, travel to the Schengen area continues. With national vaccination campaigns across the zone having successfully reached much of the European population, there are few EU countries considered high risk (i.e. there are no Red EU countries), making the continent a comparatively safe travel destination. At the moment, non-essential travel to the EU is broadly allowed, however restrictions on travel from third countries to the EU remain in place for foreigners looking to enter the zone. Ultimately, the restrictions you face as a traveler to the Schengen area will depend on your vaccination status (vaccinated individuals tend to experience fewer barriers to entry) as well as what country you are arriving from. Generally speaking, COVID-19 & EU travel restrictions are less severe for individuals arriving from fellow EU states, versus from countries outside the European space that are identified as high risk (for example, for several months now, most EU countries considered as high risk countries like Brazil(, meaning travelers arriving from this “Red list” country are likely to face more restrictions than those coming from places not deemed red by EU countries. While the visa requirements to the Schengen zone are universal, different Schengen countries have different coronavirus-related entry rules and restrictions. If you are considering travel to the Schengen area, you should be aware of the specific COVID-19 & EU travel restrictions for the state you are visiting. This blog will discuss the COVID-19 travel restrictions to the Schengen area states that are some of the most frequently visited: France, Germany, and Italy.

[Published on 12 August 2021] Disclaimer: Please note that this update for COVID-19 travel restrictions to Schengen area may vary from the date it was published and is subject to change.

France

• For travel to France, your vaccination status (and fulfillment of visa requirements) will determine whether you can enter the country without facing restrictions. Vaccinated individuals need only present evidence of having received a shot and submit a sworn declaration (attesting to their lack of COVID-19 symptoms and lack of contact with an infected person) to enter France without additional restrictions. 
• Unvaccinated individuals who seek to enter France are subject to various entry rules and restrictions, depending on what country they are coming from. France divides the countries of the world into Green, Orange, and Red, with those arriving from Red list states subject to the most intense restrictions. 
• In addition to complying with the various pre-flight and post arrival restrictions, unvaccinated individuals arriving from all countries must present a sworn declaration and also submit an exempted international travel certificate in order to travel to France. 

Green List

• If you are coming from one of the Green countries you will have to present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 72 hours before flying, unless you are arriving from Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Spain, the Netherlands or Portugal, in which case it’s 24 hours). 
• France Green countries include the following: 
  • The EU, Andorra, the Vatican, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia, Brunei, Canada, Comoros Islands, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United States

Red List

• Non-essential travel to the EU country of France from Red list countries is banned. If you have pressing grounds to travel to France from a Red list state, you must do the following: 
  • Present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 48 hours before flying)
  • Submit to testing upon landing 
  • Complete a 10-day quarantine, monitored by officials 
• France Red list countries include the following: 
  • Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tunisia

Orange List

• Non-essential travel to the EU country of France from one of the Orange list countries is banned. If you have pressing grounds to travel to France from an Orange list state, you must do the following: 
  • Present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 72 hours before flying, unless you are arriving from the UK, in which case it’s 24 hours) 
  • Agree to submit to a spontaneous COVID test upon arrival 
  • Self-isolate for one week after arrival 
• France Orange list countries include: All countries not on the above Green or Red lists. 

Germany

• As with other countries, your vaccination status will determine what restrictions you are subject to as a traveler looking to enter Germany. 
• Germany categorizes other countries as either “high-risk areas” or “areas of variants of concern”. As a traveler, you must follow the requirements specific to each area. To find out what list your country is on, contact us here.   
• EU residents and residents of the below states may enter Germany for any reason, provided they submit the following: 1) Digital Registration and 2) Evidence of negative COVID-19 status/evidence of full vaccination/evidence of previous COVID-19 infection:
  • Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, USA
• Residents of countries not listed above may only travel to Germany if they are fully vaccinated, have an “urgent need” or serve an “important role” (for example, if they are a medical professional or a diplomat). 
• However, if you are traveling from a country defined as “areas of variant of concern,” (either Brazil or Uruguay) you can only enter Germany if you are a German citizen/resident or if you are transiting through the airport (rarely, exceptions apply). Those who receive permission to enter Germany from one of the “banned” variant of concern countries may do so, provided the adhere to the below restrictions: 
  • Submit Digital Registration 
  • Take a pre-flight COVID-19 test
  • Quarantine for two weeks upon arriving 

Italy

• Unlike France (which categorizes third countries by color) Italy categorizes countries by letter list: A, B, C, D, and E. 
• Please note, if you spent any time at all in another country within two weeks of arriving in Italy, you will be subject to the restrictions which pertain to that country—even if you arrived in Italy directly from another country. For example, if you traveled directly to Italy from Austria (a C-List country) but, seven days prior to arriving in Italy you spent time in Australia (a D-List country) you must follow the restrictions for the D-list country.  

List A

• Travelers arriving from countries on the below A-List are not subject to any restrictions. 
• A-List countries include the following: 
  • Vatican City and Republic of San Marino

List C

• Travelers arriving from C-List countries may enter Italy without an essential reason, providing they comply with the below restrictions: 
  • Complete the Digital Passenger Locater Form 
  • Submit the EU COVID-19 Green Certificate
• C-List countries include the following: 
  • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (excluding territories outside the European mainland), Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Principality of Monaco

List D

• Travelers arriving from D-List countries may enter Italy without an essential reason, providing they comply with the below restrictions: 
  • Complete the Digital Passenger Locator Form
  • Present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 72 hours before flying) 
  • Report their arrival to the health officials where they are staying
  • Do not use public transportation to get to wherever they are staying 
  • Self-isolate for 10 days 
  • Be tested for COVID-19 upon the conclusion of their self-isolation 
• D-List countries include the following: 
  • Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Canada and United States
• Please note, if you are arriving from the following D-List countries: Japan, Canada, the United States, you must comply with the below restrictions (rather than the above): 
  • Complete the Digital Passenger Locater Form 
  • Submit a COVID-19 Green Pass from a relevant doctor 
• Passengers arriving from Japan, Canada, and the US are therefore excused from the self-isolation requirement and the ban on public transportation, and the other restrictions applied to the rest of the D-List countries.

List E

• Unlike travelers arriving from A-D List countries, people arriving from an E-List state cannot enter Italy for tourism. Instead, they may enter Italy for the following purposes: 
  • Medical 
  • Business
  • Education
  • Essential reason
  • Journey to a residence (located in Italy)
• Travelers arriving from E-List countries may enter Italy for the above reasons, providing they comply to the below restrictions:
  • Complete the Digital Passenger Locator Form
  • Present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 72 hours before flying) 
  • Report their arrival to the health officials where they are staying
  • Do not use public transportation to get to wherever they are staying 
  • Undergo strict self-isolation (complete with monitoring) for 10 days 
  • Be tested for COVID-19 upon the conclusion of their self-isolation 
• E-List countries include: all countries not on the above lists A-D
• Please note, arrival from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (a subset of E-List countries) is only allowed for certain Italian citizens and residents and for non-Italians in exceptional circumstances (such as humanitarian purposes), you must comply with these distinct restrictions: 
  • Complete the Digital Passenger Locator Form
  • Present a negative COVID-19 test (performed 72 hours before flying) 
  • Take another COVID-19 test at the airport
  • Report your arrival to the health officials where you are staying
  • Do not use public transportation to get to wherever you are staying 
  • Undergo quarantine at a government-managed facility or hotel (complete with monitoring) for 10 days 
  • Be tested for COVID-19 upon the conclusion of your self-isolation 
• Please note, entry to Italy from Brazil is also extremally limited and subject to specific restrictions (for specific COVID-19 travel restrictions to Schengen area states for Brazil, contact us here).