Currently, travelers from the US remain prohibited from visiting the European Union (EU). This situation persists as the United States was not included in the recent updates allowing entry for 12 other countries. This decision stems from rising COVID-19 cases across the US.
Current Travel Restrictions in the EU
On July 1, the EU began lifting some travel restrictions, conducting biweekly reviews to assess which countries may be permitted for entry. A key factor for these decisions is that the COVID-19 situation in the country of origin must be on par with or better than that of the EU member states.
Initially, countries allowed included Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Georgia, Morocco, Tunisia, Uruguay, Serbia, Rwanda, Algeria, and Montenegro. However, in a recent update on July 14, both Montenegro and Serbia were removed from the list, leaving no new countries added.
Consequently, American citizens remain unable to travel to the EU for at least the next fortnight. However, travelers from China may be allowed entry, provided their government lifts the reciprocal travel ban on EU nations. Moreover, citizens from the UK can still travel within the EU as they are treated as EU travelers during the Brexit transition period. US travelers may also fly to Ireland and the UK—both of which lie outside the Schengen Area—but face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
It’s important to recognize that the ultimate authority regarding entry lies with each EU member state, as the EU’s recommendations do not carry mandatory weight.
Lockdowns are easing globally as the world adjusts to a new normal. Stay informed about how COVID-19 continues to transform travel experiences.
