EU tightens travel rules for unvaccinated Australians visiting Greece

Unvaccinated tourists from Australia, Argentina and Canada will face tougher restrictions on entering Europe due to worsening COVID-19 outbreaks, the EU has announced.

The European Union is to tighten COVID-19 travel rules for unvaccinated arrivals from Australia, Argentina and Canada due to rising case numbers.

The 27 EU member states reached an agreement on Monday to remove the trio from a list of countries where easier travel restrictions apply regardless of vaccination status, a press release from the Council of the EU said.

Australia, Argentina and Canada are no longer among the ranks approved for more unrestricted travel that include Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

Fully vaccinated travellers with vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency should be able to enter the EU for any reason.

EU citizens arriving from Australia, Argentina and Canada are exempt along with their family members as well as long-term residents of the bloc.

Health care and transport personnel are exempt as well.

When COVID-19 first hit Europe, all EU states, except for Ireland, plus non-EU states Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland agreed on a far-reaching entry ban for non-essential travel.