How the Latest EU Recommendation Impacts Travel from the US to Europe

American travelers may encounter new limitations and hurdles when trying to enter the European Union, which announced on August 30 that it would remove the U.S. from its "safe list."

On August 30, the EU advised its member states to reinstate travel restrictions for U.S. visitors due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus in the United States. This recommendation is advisory rather than obligatory, removing the U.S. from the EU's "safe list" while allowing member states to set their own guidelines.

"Following a review regarding the gradual lifting of temporary restrictions on nonessential travel to the EU, the Council has updated the list of countries, special administrative regions, and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted," stated the Council of the EU.

This new recommendation may catch travelers off guard, particularly those with planned trips to Europe, but much remains uncertain. So, will this recommendation affect your European travel plans? It largely depends on your vaccination status. Here's what you should know.

What is the EU's Latest Travel Recommendation?

The European Union has declared that nonessential travel from countries not included on its "safe list" will face temporary travel restrictions. The U.S., Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have been removed from this list.

It's crucial to understand that this is merely a recommendation and not a requirement; EU member states have the discretion to implement the restrictions as they see fit. Additionally, the EU evaluates this list every two weeks, meaning it could potentially revise the recommendation soon if the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. improves.

Unvaccinated travelers from the U.S. are likely to encounter the strictest limitations if countries choose to reinstate entry requirements, such as extra testing and quarantine protocols.

If new restrictions are enacted, they likely won't affect vaccinated travelers or children accompanying their vaccinated parents, provided they present a negative COVID-19 PCR test. The EU has indicated that vaccinated individuals should still be permitted entry if at least 14 days have passed since their last vaccine dose.

Should You Cancel Your European Trip?

Determining whether to cancel or delay a trip is a deeply personal choice. However, many travelers are growing increasingly uneasy about traveling (especially on international flights) as the delta variant continues to spread in the U.S. and around the globe.

If you're considering canceling or postponing your journey, be sure to review your itinerary carefully to confirm that your travel arrangements are fully refundable or have minimal change or cancellation fees.

Start by verifying whether your ticket is refundable. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines have all eliminated change fees for most flights. Additionally, Delta and United have gone further by waiving change fees on basic economy fares until the end of the year. For more details on airline, hotel, cruise, and train modifications and cancellation policies, you can read more here.

General travel insurance typically does not cover epidemics or pandemics, so ensure you select travel insurance that includes COVID-19-related expenses. Websites like InsureMyTrip can help you quickly compare various policy options that provide different types of coverage, including for COVID-19.

Just make sure to read and comprehend all terms or exclusions carefully before committing to a (potentially costly) purchase.

What is prompting the EU to alter its position?

This recommendation is likely connected to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the United States, particularly due to the delta variant.

The EU stipulates that countries on its "safe list" must maintain a rate of no more than 75 cases per 100,000 residents. The U.S. significantly exceeds this threshold, currently averaging over 300 cases per 100,000 residents daily, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, eight states and Guam report over 75 cases per 100,000 daily, with Mississippi leading the count.

The EU also evaluates the vaccination progress within a country, noting that only 52% of Americans are fully vaccinated. Furthermore, more than half of U.S. states fall below the national average, as reported by Johns Hopkins University.

Moreover, the EU employs what it terms an "emergency brake mechanism," which imposes temporary travel restrictions into the EU if a country's epidemiological situation deteriorates or if a concerning variant is detected.

Which nations are altering their regulations?

It's crucial to note that individual member countries have the authority to determine when to ease or tighten their entry requirements.

Responses to the recommendation will likely vary among EU member states since they do not act as a unified group. Additionally, as this is a recommendation rather than a mandate, some countries have already mishandled their reactions. This lack of clarity can be stressful for travelers and may disrupt travel plans.

For example, there have already been inconsistent reports regarding Italy's entry requirements.

Italy's official website presents two conflicting requirements: one indicates that U.S. travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test conducted within the previous 72 hours, irrespective of vaccination status, while another states the test must be taken within 48 hours. We have contacted the Italian National Tourist Board for clarification and will update this post with any additional information we receive.

In other EU news, Belgium has placed the U.S. on a "white list" of red zone countries, which also includes Israel, Lebanon, and Azerbaijan. The reason for Belgium's distinct classification of these countries is unclear, but this listing allows for nonessential travel despite the EU's recommendation. Vaccinated travelers are exempt from quarantine or testing prior to arrival, while unvaccinated individuals must present a negative PCR test taken no later than 72 hours before their arrival.

Typically, the best approach is to check a country's official tourism websites, local news outlets, or government pages for the latest COVID-19 entry restrictions. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State provides a country page with essential information for Americans traveling internationally through the U.S. Embassy in that region.

What if you hold dual citizenship?

The EU states that the "emergency brake" should not be enforced on EU citizens or long-term residents, meaning if you have dual citizenship with the U.S. and an EU member state, you should be able to enter without restrictions.

In summary

Although the EU's recommendation may initially appear concerning, travelers can find some reassurance in knowing it's still merely a suggestion. Despite the increase in COVID-19 cases in the U.S., no EU nation seems to have implemented major changes to their travel policies yet, which is a positive indication. However, we are not completely in the clear, as the EU may reassess its stance in two weeks' time.

If you have upcoming travel plans to Europe in the next few weeks or months, the best course of action is to stay updated with local news, secure travel insurance, and book only fully refundable flights and accommodations.