Omicron is quickly spreading across the globe, prompting a new wave of travel restrictions across Europe and other continents.
The European Union in late November recommended suspending travel from southern Africa to curb the spread of the variant of concern. Member nations quickly took action, updating entry requirements and announcing travel bans on countries like South Africa, where omicron was first detected.
But with COVID-19 cases skyrocketing in certain regions, some EU member states are taking additional steps to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. The Netherlands entered a lockdown Sunday, closing nonessential stores through at least Jan. 14. Denmark shut down entertainment venues like theaters and museums that same day. Other countries, like Austria and Greece, are tightening entry requirements for tourists.
From testing requirements to outright travel bans on certain destinations, here are the latest restrictions for U.S. travelers face across EU member states.
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Austria
Are U.S. tourists allowed? Yes.
Is there a vaccination requirement? U.S. travelers who have been fully vaccinated or recently recovered from the virus can enter Austria.
What sort of testing is required? As of Dec. 20, travelers who have not received a booster shot will need to show a negative PCR test to enter.
Do I need to quarantine? If a traveler has not received a booster shot and cannot show a PCR test upon arrival, they will need to self-isolate until they can show a negative PCR test.
What else should I know? Most travelers who have been in an “area of variants of concern” (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa) cannot enter Austria.
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Belgium
Are U.S. tourists allowed? Yes.
Is there a vaccination requirement? U.S. citizens may enter if they can show proof of full vaccination, including a CDC vaccination card and any state-issued certificates. Unvaccinated U.S. travelers can only enter for essential reasons.
What sort of testing is required? Travelers will need to show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival or a negative rapid antigen test taken no more than one day before arrival. Travelers will need to get tested again on day one and day seven and must quarantine until the first test comes back negative.
Do I need to quarantine? Unvaccinated U.S. travelers are only allowed in exceptional circumstances and must quarantine at least 10 days. Children under the age of 12 do not need to get tested but will need to quarantine with their guardians.
What else should I know? Travelers will also need to complete a passenger locator form before arriving in Belgium. Most travelers who have recently been in a “very high-risk country” (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) cannot enter Belgium.
Bulgaria
Are U.S. tourists allowed? Yes, as long as they’re not traveling from a red zone country. The U.S. is currently classified as an orange zone country.
Is there a vaccination requirement? Travelers can enter without a quarantine requirement if they show a document that proves they are vaccinated, received a negative coronavirus test or recovered from the virus.
What sort of testing is required? Travelers have the option to enter with a document proving they took a negative PCR test within 72 hours before entry or a negative rapid antigen test within 48 hours before entry. Additionally, at least 5% of travelers from orange zone countries will be randomly tested with a rapid antigen test upon arrival.
Do I need to quarantine? Travelers who do not present proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative test result face a 10-day quarantine.
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