Last Updated
The European Union announced on Monday that it will remove the United States from its list of safe countries, with room for individual member states to make exceptions for fully vaccinated travelers. The recommendations include that nations of the EU reimpose travel restrictions for visitors from the U.S.

New Guidance From The EU
Officials of the EU removed the U.S. from its safe list due to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in recent months.
As stated on their website, the Council decided to update temporary travel restrictions for 5 nations: “Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on nonessential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted.”

Other nations removed from the safe list include Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and the Republic of North Macedonia.
To make the safe travel list, a country should have, “a stable or decreasing trend of new Covid cases over this period in comparison to the previous 14 days.” The EU’s list is reviewed and updated every two weeks.

EU Member States To Make Their Own Restrictions
Following today’s announcement, travel restrictions can be set on a country by country basis. While this is only the recommended guidance (not mandatory) from the European Union, individual countries/member states are yet to update their guidelines for U.S. travelers and visitors from other nations. So until then, U.S. passport holders are still allowed to travel to a number of countries in Europe.
In the press release, the Council mentioned keeping restrictions eased for fully vaccinated travelers. It was stated that these temporary travel restrictions,”is is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travellers.”
Travelers would have to be fully inoculated against the Covid-19 virus by one of the approved vaccines for travel according to the EU guidance, which includes: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson.

Testing Or Quarantine Could Be Part Of New Restrictions
If new restrictions were to come for U.S. travelers, it’s possible that the regulations will be in the form of pre-entry or on arrival Covid tests in order to travel to certain countries throughout the EU. In other words, travel to Europe will not necessarily be outright banned.
Other potential travel restrictions could include self-isolation or quarantine upon arrival.

What This Means For U.S. Travelers Who Want To Visit Europe
The EU makes up 27 nations in Europe, so please note that these new recommendations don’t apply to every country throughout the continent. You can read more about where U.S. travelers can visit in this post.
Tightening Restrictions For U.S. Travelers: Germany, Czechia
This wasn’t the first shift in travel restrictions for U.S. Americans in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Germany added the U.S. to its “high-risk” travel list. And last week, Czechia tightened restrictions on U.S. travelers, with unvaccinated travelers no longer permitted to visit the country for non-essential reasons such as tourism.
After months of closed borders, the European Union eased restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. from this past May, and the United States was added to the EU’s safe list for travel in June.

International Travelers To The U.S.
According to the most recent guidance, travelers from Europe cannot visit the U.S. for non-essential purposes. The United States is yet to update its restrictions for international travelers.

Read More
- Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19
- New Restrictions In Hawaii Amid Surge In Cases
- Quirky Things To Do White Visiting Seattle
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Glenn
Friday 3rd of September 2021
As a physician, I am absolutely disgusted by the complete lack of science by the medical community and the "uppity westerners". Globalism is disgusting.
Christian
Wednesday 1st of September 2021
I feel sorry for those vaccinated folks. They got scammed believing they would get their freedom back.
R
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
I’m really disgusted by the fact that it’s been 2 years that these globalists have been intensely restricting our movement for NO good reason. They have 0 justification for what they do. And they know it. Optimism is impossible for me at this point. Looks like every year we’ll be having an annual fall lockdown, regardless of these sus vaccines which were previously hailed as miraculous
Karl
Wednesday 1st of September 2021
@R, yup, that’s the thing. I don’t know what the US expected to be honest. Americans were able to travel throughout the EU for months, and yet here we are still not being able to go to the states.
About time we cut them off.
Fully vaccinated travelers are welcome of course, but it needs to both ways.
Tina
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
Guess Biden should have reciprocated (this is coming from a vaccinated Democrat-leaning European just FYI). Not that any European country will follow that "recommendation" other than maybe Germany. Also, apparently folks didn't get the message that obviously "cases" and hospitalizations and deaths are entirely decoupled at this point. Case in point: UK has abolished all measures 6 weeks ago and looky here, zero difference to how things develop. Who would've thought. There is no reason to keep vaccinated travellers out of ANY place. But hey just go on, ruin every bit of wealth, every economy, all political stability, population health in general (yes there are things much more worrisome than Covid) and social constructs to - well yeah, to do what exactly?
Martina
Wednesday 1st of September 2021
@Tina, 100% agreed. I still don't get why the current administration is keeping away vaccinated tourists from the EU while allowing non vaccinated tourists from Central and South America. I've heard of people coming here to get vaccinated.
Liberty
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
"We're getting the jab to get our freedom back"
Tina
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
@Liberty, which was always an ironic narrative given that last time I checked, vaccines are supposed to prevent disease (which to be fair they do) rather than getting basic human rights back. And they wonder why some people continue to not get vaccinated - why would they if a) the virus is not a threat to them (like it isn't for 99%+) and b) they're not getting their freedom back anyway. I dutifully got vaccinated immediately after I was eligible and - except for not having to take a nonsensical test every time I travel somewhere - have had exactly zero advantages so far. So they can take their third shot and shove it. They are messing this up more and more by the day and no one believes anything anymore anyway