Can US Citizens Travel to Europe? Here Is What You Need to Know before Making Travel Plans

The United States has been removed from the European Council’s approved countries list for entry, together with Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia - leaving travellers with the question of whether Americans can travel to Europe or not, and whether they need to make any changes to their travel plans. 

Following that, the countries in the EU and Schengen Area have responded to the recommendations and adjusted their own policies of who is eligible to enter. Some member states prohibit non-essential travelling purposes regardless of the vaccination status, some allow vaccinated travellers only, and some are open for both but with quarantine restrictions and COVID-19 testing requirements. 

In this article from CabinZero, we will list out some examples of how some European countries have given out different restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers arriving from the United States. 

Are Americans still allowed to travel to Europe now? 

Yes, but it depends on which country they are travelling to. Some countries are open to U.S. vaccinated travellers, some require an additional quarantine in place, some are closed for unvaccinated travellers, while some are entirely closed to U.S. citizens.  

Why has the U.S. been removed from the European Council’s approved countries list? 

There are certain epidemiological benchmarks of which countries can reach, they can be considered to be on the list of the European Council’s approved countries. Countries need to have no more than 75 new cases daily per 100,000 inhabitants in order to stay on the safe list. Unfortunately with the Delta variant wave, the U.S. has exceeded some of the benchmarks, therefore, it has been removed from the approved list. 

What proof of vaccination do Americans need to enter Europe?

A paper vaccination certificate issued by CDC will be adequate as one of the entry requirements for American citizens who wish to enter a European country. 

Where can Americans travel in Europe? 

Austria

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Austria with proof of vaccination (of an EMA-approved vaccine), no more than 270 days before arrival for one-dose vaccines or 360 days for two-dose vaccines and booster shots, or 180 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Unvaccinated travellers must show proof of a negative test result (a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival or a rapid test within 48 hours before arrival), and will have to quarantine for 10 days. 

Belgium

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Belgium provided that they take a COVID-19 test upon arrival and quarantine until they receive the results. Travellers also need to fill in the Passenger Locator Form within 48 hours before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are currently not allowed to enter Belgium for non-essential travel purposes.

Bulgaria

Vaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter Bulgaria except for specific exceptional cases and proof of a valid negative pre-departure PCR test up to 72 hours before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are currently not allowed to enter Bulgaria.

Croatia

Vaccinated U.S. travellers are allowed to enter Croatia with proof of vaccination in the last 270 days or recovery from COVID-19.

Unvaccinated U.S. travellers are allowed to enter Croatia if they can show proof of a negative PCR test result no more than 72 hours before their arrival to Croatia. 

Travellers with tourist reasons must show proof of booked accommodation for their stay upon arrival to Croatia.

Photo by Mich D on Unsplash 

Cyprus

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter the island of Cyprus if they can provide proof of vaccination with an EU-approved vaccine, and also the Sputnik (Gam-COVID-Vac) or the Sinopharm (BBIBP COVID-19), or proof that they have had COVID-19 in the past 180 days. Passengers can upload these documents into the Cyprus Flight Pass up to 48 hours prior to arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Cyprus if they can provide a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before departure, and they will need to take another test upon arrival at their own expense. 

The Czech Republic

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter the Czech Republic with proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 in the past 180 days. They will also need to fill in the Passenger Locator Form before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed but they must arrive with a negative PCR test, have to go through quarantine and take a PCR test not before day 5 of self-isolation. 

Denmark

Vaccinated travellers with proof of vaccination of an EMA-approved vaccine or recovery from COVID-19 can enter Denmark without quarantine requirements. 

Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter Denmark for non-essential reasons. Unvaccinated visitors to Denmark for work or essential purposes must get tested upon arrival and enter quarantine. They can get out of quarantine with a negative test result on day four. 

Estonia

 Vaccinated travellers and people who have recovered from COVID-19 are allowed to enter Estonia. Unvaccinated travellers are currently not allowed. 

Finland

Vaccinated travellers and people who have had COVID-19 are allowed to Finland. The vaccination certificates need to be in either English, Finnish or Swedish - translated certificates are allowed as well. They can also be an EU digital certificate. 

Unvaccinated travellers are currently not allowed to enter Finland as follows this guide from the Finnish government. 

France

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter France with proof of full vaccination. Children above the age of 12 must show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. 

Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter France for non-essential travel reasons. 

Photo by Soroush Karimi on Unsplash 

Germany

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Germany. They will have to fill in the Digital Registration On Entry before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter Germany for non-essential purposes. If they intend to travel to Germany for work purposes, they can provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test result and must quarantine for ten days. 

Greece

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Greece without having to undergo any testing requirements. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Greece with some requirements. They must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test valid within 72 hours before departure, a negative RAT test result that has been taken no more than 48 hours before arrival, or they show proof of having had COVID-19 in the past 30-180 days. The Greek authorities are subject to conducting random testing for passengers arriving in Greece. 

>> Check out: Greece Travel Restrictions

Hungary

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Hungary with an EU Digital COVID certificate. If they can’t provide the certificate, they will have to show a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Hungary if they can provide a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in an EU, OECD, NATO member state, or Russia, China, the UAE, Bahrain, or a Turkic council member state (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, or Uzbekistan).

Iceland

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Iceland with a negative test (it can be either PCR or rapid test) taken no more than 72 hours before departure. People who have recovered from COVID-19 who have their proof of a positive PCR test taken 14 to 180 days prior to the flight will not have to submit a negative test result upon boarding. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Iceland with a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure, and they must go through a 5-day quarantine.  

Ireland

Vaccinated travellers and people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 180 days are allowed to enter Ireland without any requirements.  

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Ireland with a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival, and must go through a 14-day quarantine period (they can ‘test out’ after day 5 with a negative test result).

All U.S. citizens travelling to Ireland must fill in a Passenger Locator Form.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash 

Italy 

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Italy with a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival (this can be either PCR or rapid test).

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Italy with a negative COVID-19 test result but they must go through a 5-day quarantine, even if the result is negative. They need to take another test on day 5 to leave quarantine. 

Latvia

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Latvia and unvaccinated travellers are not currently allowed to. 

Lithuania 

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Lithuania if they have had one of the following vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Janssen or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca). 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Lithuania but they must show a negative PCR or antigen test result, and enter a 10-day quarantine. They can ‘test out’ on day 7. 

All passengers must fill in a form within 48 hours before arrival. 

Luxembourg 

Either vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers from the U.S. are currently not allowed to enter Luxembourg. 

Malta

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Malta but unvaccinated ones are not. 

The Netherlands

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter the Netherlands without the need to quarantine. 

Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter the Netherlands at the moment. However, if they have an essential reason to travel that falls under a specific category of circumstances of the EU, they need to undergo testing. 

Norway 

Either vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers from the U.S. are currently not allowed to enter Norway.

Poland

Vaccinated travellers from the U.S. are allowed to enter Poland without any quarantine requirements. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Poland but they need to self-isolate for 10 days and they can ‘test out’ on day 7.

Portugal

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers from the U.S. are allowed to enter Portugal. Passengers over 12 years of age should have an EU Digital Covid certificate or must show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure, or a rapid test was taken within 48 hours. 

All travellers from the U.S. must fill out a form, and if they get COVID-19 while in Portugal, they must enter a 10-day quarantine at their own expense.  

Romania

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Romania if they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival or have had COVID-19 during the past 90 days, without the need to quarantine.

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Romania but they must self-isolate for 14 days, even with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. They can ‘test out’ after day 10 if they test negative for COVID.

Slovakia

Vaccinated travellers coming to Slovakia for work purposes are allowed without quarantine. Otherwise, travelling for other reasons require quarantine. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Slovakia but they have to quarantine for 14 days. They can ‘test out’ after day 8. 

All passengers must fill in a registration form prior to arriving in Slovakia.

Slovenia

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Slovenia with a negative COVID-19 test (either PCR or antigen test) taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. People who have recovered from COVID-19 are allowed if they have proof of COVID-19 no more than 90 days before arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter Slovenia except for business purposes and essential reasons. 

All passengers must fill in a form prior to arrival. 

Spain

Vaccinated travellers are allowed with a QR code on a Spanish portal.

Unvaccinated travellers from the U.S. are not allowed to enter Spain at the moment. 

Photo by Henrique Ferreira on Unsplash 

Switzerland

Vaccinated travellers from the US are allowed to enter Switzerland without further travel restrictions if they have received one of the following vaccines: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm/BIBP and Sinovac. People who have recovered from COVID-19 are also exempt from quarantine if they can provide proof that they have had the virus. 

Unvaccinated travellers from the U.S. are not allowed to enter Switzerland for tourism purposes. 

You can check this tool to see if you are eligible to enter Switzerland. 

England

Vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter England without the need to quarantine but they need to undergo testing. The U.S. is now on the UK ‘amber list’, which means that passengers must show a negative COVID-19 test result and take another test on or before day 2 after arrival. 

Unvaccinated travellers are allowed to enter England but they have to quarantine and undergo testing. They need to have a negative COVID-19 test result before departure and they will need to quarantine for 10 days upon the arrival. They will need to take a PCR test on day 2 and 8. They can ‘test out’ on day 5, but the costs could be expensive. 

All passengers who arrive in the UK must fill in a Passenger Locator Form within 48 hours before arrival. 

Europe Travel Advice For US Citizens

It is important to note that there are public health measures across all of Europe. There might be limited opening hours for some businesses, services, entertainment venues and tourist attraction sites. Some European countries have a curfew and other restrictions in place, including providing a COVID-19 pass to enter certain places. These mandatory restrictions are updated regularly so make sure you check them carefully before you make any travel arrangements. 

U.S. citizens can find up-to-date information on COVID-19 travel guides on the U.S. State Department website’s COVID-19 travel information or detailed advisories for specific countries. The CDC also has detailed information for travelling during the pandemic for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers on their website.