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U.S. Travelers Are Restricted from Entering Europe – Updated July 30, 2020 (no further update has been given)

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The European Union announced on June 30th that it would not admit visitors from the U.S. when it opens its borders on July 1, 2020. The 27 member countries of the E.U., which include Portugal and Spain, are expected to comply with the standards that were adopted. The decision to exclude the U.S. from its list of countries that are permitted to enter was based on the increase in coronavirus cases. The criteria used to establish the list of countries includes data such as infection rates, which must be equal to or better than the E.U., and there must also be reciprocal arrangements that allow E.U. citizens to enter the country. E.U. citizens are currently banned from entering the U.S.

There were a total of 15 countries on the initial list of “safe countries.” The E.U. said it would review the data every 2 weeks to add/remove countries from the list based on changes in their infection rates and travel restrictions. We will update the status of U.S. travel to Portugal and Spain as new info is reported – see below.

Update as of July 30, 2020 (no further update has been given):

The U.S. continues to be excluded from the list of countries that are allowed entry to the E.U.

The list of “safe countries” was updated on July 30, 2020, with the total dropping from 15 to 12 countries. For a list of the 12 countries that are permitted entry to the E.U. click here.

Portugal is First European Country to Receive the Safe Travels Certification from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

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Portugal is the first European country to receive the newly launched Safe Travels Certification from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The WTTC represents the Travel and Tourism sector globally. Working together with their members, governments, health experts, and other industry associations, they developed the protocols to provide meaningful action plans to optimize the travel industry’s recovery after the global coronavirus pandemic. The protocols take into account the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. They will be updated as new information becomes available about the coronavirus.

The Portugal Tourism Board (Turismo de Portugal) was proactive in creating its own Clean & Safe program to assure visitors that businesses in the tourism sector are taking appropriate measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus. Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, noted, “Portugal was a pioneer in launching the Clean & Safe seal. This WTTC seal comes to reward the effort that has been made by everyone. The best destination in the world is also seen as the safest in the world. ”

For more information on the WTTC Safe Travels program, click here.

For more information on Portugal’s Clean & Safe program, click here.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.