EU Takes Singapore and Ukraine Off Safe List for Travel

The European Council on Tuesday removed Singapore and Ukraine from its list of safe third countries, special administrative regions and territories for non-essential travel into the EU.

The removal from the list means that the Council recommends for EU member states to reintroduce temporary entry bans or travel restrictions for visitors from Singapore and Ukraine.

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

It is reminded that the European Council’s recommendation is not a legally binding instrument.

Already on the Council’s “safe list” are Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Kuwait, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity).

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

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.