As of January 30, 2020, all non-essential travel to Europe has been banned. However, the wait to enter Europe is hopefully over. On April 25th, the head of the European Commission told the New York Times, ‘fully vaccinated U.S. travelers should soon be able to bypass the more than a year-long ban on travel to Europe’.

Not all European countries still have a ban on travelers from The United States or other countries. Some European countries allow all travelers who have received both doses of the vaccine or just require documentation of a negative Covid-19 test. These few countries include; Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, and Montenegro. However, each of these countries has its own policies requiring proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid-19 test. proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid-19 test. Their policies differ when it comes to which countries they allow travel from, some are only European countries, others are more lenient allowing more outsiders to enter. 

The European Union “will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by EMA (the European Medicines Agency),” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the New York Times. The three vaccines that have been approved for use in Europe are the same three that have been approved in the United States – Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

While Ursula von der Leyen did not specify when this would be set in motion, it is hinted that the goal for open travel will take place by summer. France just recently announced their goals to open by summer and other European countries have already started allowing travelers with the vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test like Greece and Iceland. 

The European Commission proposed a digital green card certificate in March. This will document Europeans who have recovered from the disease, gotten vaccinated, or tested negative for Covid. This will allow open travel through the 27 nations. They are focused on coming up with effective ways to allow safe travel by the summer. They are also discussing ways to make the digital green card available to travelers and foreigners.