New Zealand has taken a different approach to Brazil by closing its borders to almost all travellers, with exceptions including citizens, permanent residents and those who are considered to have a ‘critical purpose’ for travelling to New Zealand. All new arrivals must also undergo a 14-day quarantine period in a government-managed facility.

While the borders between France and other countries of the European Economic Area remain open, those between France and all other countries remain closed except for certain individuals, such as French national, their spouse and children; nationals of the countries of the European area, their spouse and children; persons with French or European residence permits, etc.

Depending on the country from which a traveller is entering France, the means of travel, the age of the traveller and the existence of any COVID-19 symptoms, the traveler may be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 screening test prior to travel, to be subject to testing upon arrival in France and/or subject to quarantine or isolation upon arrival in France for up to one month.

All individuals entering France must complete and have with them a certificate for exceptional travel to France and a sworn statement indicating that they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 during travel.

Lastly, due to the lockdown in place since 30 October 2020, once travellers arrive in France they must comply with the lockdown rules.

While in spring, during the lockdown period, Italy closed its borders to foreign nationals with few exceptions, the country is now progressively reopening them. Currently people (including non-EU nationals) who need to travel to Italy for work reasons can generally enter the country but may have to comply with a quarantine period or undergo a COVID-19 test. There are, however, countries, such as Brazil, from which it is still prohibited to enter Italy. The rules are regularly updated (relaxed or strengthened) based on how the COVID-19 emergency is evolving in each country so employers should always check the rules in force before planning their employees’ business trips.

Belgium has closed its borders for travel from outside the EU, the Schengen States and the UK except for nationals of the EU/Schengen States and their family members, third-country nationals who are residents of a country mentioned on the list of safe countries, third-country nationals holding a Belgian residence permit or a D-visa and workers with an essential function or need. Prior to coming to Belgium, they need to complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form (‘PHPL Form’) and to comply with the sanitary measures, including quarantine and potentially a COVID-19 test. Travel from within the EU, the Schengen States and the UK is still allowed but similar measures may apply and a PHPL Form also need to be completed.

Ireland has not closed its borders to overseas travel but the current government advice is that all non-essential overseas travel (including business travel) should be avoided. All passengers arriving into Ireland from overseas must complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator form before entry and failure to complete the form can result in fines of up to EUR 2,500 and/or imprisonment for up to six months. Ireland, like other EU countries, intends to implement a new ‘traffic light approach’ in relation to overseas travel to and from Europe/the EEA and the UK. Only overseas travellers from ‘green’ regions are not required to restrict their movements for 14 days after arrival. This restriction applies to everyone including Irish citizens and residents returning to Ireland although exemptions may apply in the case of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.


In terms of domestic business travel, the current Level 5 public health restrictions provide that individuals should not travel more than 5km from their home except for essential reasons. As part of the Level 5 restrictions, employees must also work from home unless they are providing an ‘essential service’ where their physical presence is required at a particular location. This means that only business travel where the physical presence of an employee is required to provide an essential service (for example, certain healthcare, agricultural, manufacturing, financial and legal services etc) is permitted under the current public health restrictions.

As such, while foreign nationals can still travel to Ireland under the current restrictions, the requirement to restrict their movements for 14 days as well as the restrictions on domestic travel once in Ireland should be borne in mind when considering any business travel plans for non-essential purposes.

In Romania, the restrictions imposed on international mobility are currently quite flexible under the state of alert regime, which has been prolonged for another 30 days from 15 October 2020. The measures imposed at national level allow for a series of exceptions, even from quarantine of individuals coming from abroad, probably given that a lockdown is not in line at this point. The applicable exceptions from the global mobility prohibitions relating entering Romania through the state border crossing points include:


Family members of Romanian citizens / citizens of other EU, Switzerland and EEA member states; individuals in possession of a long-stay visa, a residence permit or equivalent document; individuals travelling for professional reasons; foreign and stateless persons, cross-border workers, seasonal workers, maritime and river navigating personnel etc.

In the Netherlands the government continues to call on its working population to do so from home where at all possible. Although office gatherings are strongly advised against, having face-to-face meetings is still possible with a limited number of people. These can include EU member state and Schengen nationals, as well as UK nationals, although all are strongly requested to self-quarantine for ten days upon arrival in the Netherlands. Although this is a very strong recommendation, it is not (yet) a legal obligation.

People from outside the EU / Schengen area are in principle faced with an entry ban. Exemptions to this ban can be found on the government website. This website also has a list of countries outside the EU / Schengen whose nationals are free to enter the Netherlands even without quarantine. This list changes regularly depending on the pandemic developments.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly affected the development of global mobility policy in Greece. While the government has introduced travel restrictions with the goal of protecting public health, there are exemptions in regards to nationals who hold a residence permit, security forces personnel, EU citizens and family members, employees in the transportation and healthcare sectors, humanitarian aid workers and employees of European and international organisations, seasonal agricultural labourers, members of government and diplomatic delegations. However, all nationals who are eligible to enter Greece must complete the online Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before their departure. Third-country nationals subject to restrictions may request exceptional entry from the appropriate Greek consular authority. In addition, as part of the precautionary measures against the spread, residence permits that have expired and are subject to renewal, as well as certificates of applications (‘blue papers’), can be renewed up to 31 December 2020. As current residence permits and ‘blue papers’ are considered to be automatically extended for the period between the expiration date and the date of application for a new residence permit, this means that the holders continue to enjoy the right to access the labour market, the right to insurance and healthcare and social benefits.

The Finnish Border Guard sorts countries into three different categories, which further determine the restrictions to be followed when entering Finland. These categories are ‘Border traffic normal’, ‘Restriction category 1’ and ‘Restriction category 2’. Due to the constantly changing COVID-19 situation, the classifications between different countries are updated weekly.

Restrictions on entry are lifted for traffic between Finland and those EU and Schengen countries (including the United Kingdom) where the incidence of COVID-19 has not exceeded 25 new cases per 100,000 persons in the previous 14 days. In the case of third countries outside the EU and the Schengen area, restrictions on entry may be lifted if the number of cases is below the same limit value and they are included on the Green List.

Work-related travel is also allowed from a country classified as ‘Restriction Category 1’ (countries listed by the Finnish Border Guard with COVID-19 occurrence rate of more than 25 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days). The purpose and requirements of a work trip based on an employment relationship or assignment are determined during the border check. During border checks, the person on a work trip may be asked to present documents to verify that the entry requirements are fulfilled.

However, travelling from a country classified as ‘Restriction Category 2’ is only allowed for certain family-related matters and other essential reasons. Work -elated reasons would be sufficient only if the work would be significant in terms of the functioning of the society and, in particular, security of supply in Finland.

In Peru, since 5 October borders were partially opened to some specific countries and cities. Travel to destinations four hours away was permitted and flights of up to four hours were allowed.

Since 1 November borders have opened for flights up to eight hours to the following countries and cities: Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Miami, Houston and Atlanta (United States); Mexico City and Cancun (Mexico); La Habana (Cuba); Montego Bay (Jamaica); Punta Cana (Dominican Republic); Cartagena (Colombia) and San José (Costa Rica); Toronto (Canada); Rio, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Foz de Iguazú and Porto Alegre (Brasil); Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza, Córdoba and Tucuman (Argentina); and San Salvador (El Salvador).

All travellers entering Peru must complete an online form “(‘Affidavit of Commitment to communicate to the Health Authority’) within 72 hours prior to travel. In addition anyone flying to and from Peru must present a PCR negative test less than 72 hours old and comply with the use of masks or face shields. Quarantine is only obligatory for passengers with symptoms compatible with COVID-19.

Taking the above into consideration, it can be appreciated that Peru also has relatively open borders and is seeking to make international mobility more flexible. It must be taken into consideration that travel is not recommended for tourism but for work purposes and return to the country.

Sweden is adopting the same approach as Brazil, with open borders for employees but also for students and other individuals entering with a purpose or a right to permanently reside in Sweden. In the future, this could potentially bring more businesses to Sweden with knowledge of the Swedish approach during the pandemic towards e.g. mobility.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Polish regulations regarding entry of foreigners were very restrictive. The right to enter was only available for professional activities. Currently the rules, similarly to Brazil, are more flexible. The limitations concerning the entry of foreign nationals into Poland and quarantine requirements only apply at the external borders of the EU. Traffic within the internal borders of the European Union is not limited.