EU Tells Members to Open Borders to Travelers from Bahrain and United Arab Emirates

Photo source: WTTC

The European Council on Friday added Bahrain and United Arab Emirates to its updated “safe list” of third countries, special administrative regions and other entities for which Covid-19 restrictions should be lifted for travel into the EU.

The criteria to determine the third countries for which the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel should be lifted cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

According to the Council, following a review of its recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, member states as from October 8 should gradually open their external borders for residents of the following third countries:
Australia, Bahrain (new), Canada, Chile, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (new), Uruguay and China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity).

Photo source: Etihad Airways

EU member states are also advised to gradually lift travel restrictions for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The Council reminds that non-essential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed on its “safe list” is subject to temporary travel restriction.

However, member states have the option to not impose temporary restrictions on fully vaccinated travellers entering the EU from countries not on the “safe list”.

The list of epidemiologically safe third countries for which EU member states should lift travel restrictions is reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of the Council’s recommendation. Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in the recommendation.