EU’s New Covid Travel Rules – A Quick, Fun Guide
So the European Commission just gave the green light to a fresh set of travel rules on December 21. From February 1 onward, any EU country will accept a fully vaccinated traveler’s Covid‑19 certificate for up to nine months after the primary vaccination series ends. No more “porcelain passport” with a complicated expiry dance.
What’s the deal?
- The rule is binding on all 27 EU member states.
- It supersedes the Commission’s earlier non‑binding recommendation that hit the news in November.
- Each country must allow entry for folks who are fully vaccinated and hold a valid pass.
- Except in a “dramatically worse” situation, additional checks (negative test, quarantine) are still possible—provided they’re proportional.
- All of this applies to international travel only; domestic stay‑over rules can be set by each state.
Who’s still asking for a negative test?
Seven EU members have kept the test requirement for travelers from their own bloc. If you’re heading there, you’ll need proof of a recent negative swab on top of the vaccinated passport.
- Italy
- Greece
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Latvia
- Cyprus
- Austria
These rules are mostly tied to the Christmas season, with Italy extending them until the end of January. They’re meant to keep the holiday spirit safe, but many critics feel it cracks the trust in the EU pass.
What does the EU think?
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders spilled the beans to Reuters: “We prefer to let people move freely using just the certificate without extra conditions.”
Reynders warned that any extra checks must be fully justified, necessary, and proportionate, especially given the worrying spread of the Omicron variant. He doubted the value of short‑term restrictions undermining the EU’s overall strategy.
More on the Covid Pass
- After a booster shot, the certificate’s validity stretches onward—there’s no set upper limit yet because we’re still figuring out how long booster protection lasts.
- The primary schedule is typically two Pfizer‑BioNTech, AstraZeneca, or Moderna shots, or a single Johnson & Johnson jab.
- From Feb 1 onward, EU states must honor fully vaccinated travelers’ passes, unless a real emergency dictates otherwise.
