Estonia Exempts Arrivals From Eight EU/Schengen Countries From Entry Restrictions

The Estonian authorities have exempted from the entry restrictions arrivals eight European Union and Schengen Area Member States, a decision that becomes effective on February 22, Monday, and expires at the end of the last day of the month.

According to a press release of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, throughout next week, arrivals from the following countries, where the infection rate is under 150 people per 100,000 residents in the last two weeks, will no longer have to quarantine for ten days:

• Croatia
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway

However, arrivals from the rest of the EU and Schengen Area countries, where there is a COVID-19 infection rate of more than 150 people per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, will still have to self-isolate for a period of 10 days after entering Estonia.

These countries are Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, France, Sweden, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

“The Vatican indicator is 0, but when travelling from there to Italy via Italy, there is also a 10-day restriction on freedom of movement,” the Estonian MFA notes in its press release.

It also notes that arrivals in Lithuania and Latvia are also subject to the movement of restrictions. However, a traveller from these two countries may be exempt from the measure if:

• He/she has performed a coronavirus test not earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Estonia, the result of which is negative or has performed the said test immediately upon arrival in Estonia, and the result is negative.
• His/her purpose of arrival in Estonia is to work, study, receive health care services, family events or transit.

Reaching Estonia From Outside the EU & Schengen Area

Rules are different per arrivals from countries outside the EU and the Schengen Area, including from the United Kingdom.

Travellers who reach Estonia from the latter are subject to the obligation to take a COVID-19 test up to 72 hours before arriving in Estonia, with a negative result, and then to quarantine for a period of ten days upon the arrival. The quarantine period may be shortened if the traveller takes a test on the seventh day and results negative again.

Entry for nonessential purposes remains possible only for travellers from Australia, South Korea, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand, who are also exempt from the obligation of isolation.

Whereas, arrivals from the rest of the third countries who are eligible to enter Estonia under the entry ban exemptions will need to self-isolate for a period of ten days. It is not possible to shorten isolation by taking an early test.

The quarantine period can be left earlier only if the traveller is in Estonia for study or work by testing negative on the seventh day of isolation.

See also:

• Estonia Prolongs Entry Restrictions for Citizens of EU & Schengen Countries Until February 21
• Estonia Extends Entry Restrictions for Travellers From EU & Schengen Countries Until February 14