EU announces changes to travel rules from February

The European Union (EU) has announced that all EU member states will lift Covid-related free movement restrictions for travellers holding a valid digital Covid-19 certificate from February.

This includes travelers who have been vaccinated with at least two shots in the last 270 days, those who took a negative test within 72 hours, or who have a certificate of recovery from coronavirus.

The decision marks a shift away from regulations based on country of origin, towards a simpler, more flexible system based on individual travellers.

Travelers without an EU Digital Covid-19 certificate will still have to test negative at least 24 hours before or after arrival. Children under the age of 12 remain exempt from the mandates.

“A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travelers,” the European Union Council said in a statement.

“This agreement thus puts the EU digital Covid certificate at the heart and center of our coordinated approach,” said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. “It is important that the Member States follow up on this agreement and implement the rules agreed without delay.”

It follows a decision by the UK government that the country will remove all testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers from 11 February.