Both France and Sweden have opened their borders to all types of travelers from Ukraine.
France has opened its borders to all types of Ukrainian travelers, Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on July 23.
Sweden’s borders will open up to Ukrainian travelers starting on July 26, Government offices of Sweden announced on July 22.
Both countries adapted to the EU regulation which enables travel within the EU without subsequent restrictions if the traveler has a certificate verifying that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, or have tested negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to arrival (72 hours for France or an antibody test performed no earlier than 24 hours before entry), or have recovered from COVID-19 attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result (at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old).
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, to enter Sweden there is still a requirement for a negative PCR test for COVID-19 or a vaccination certificate (COVID certificate) when entering the country.
Currently Sweden only recognizes vaccination certificates issued in EU/SES (Single Economic Space) countries or in Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican.
Sweden has approved the following vaccines for entry: Comirnaty, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Spikevax AstraZeneca, Janssen, AstraZeneca COVISHIELD, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.
Entry to Sweden will be allowed if 14 days have elapsed since the date of receipt of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
France, according to the Ministry, recognizes vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and permitted for use in France. These include Pfizer, Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Vaxzevria, Covishield and Janssen, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The vaccination is considered complete if 28 days have passed since the vaccination with Janssen vaccine and seven days since the second dose in the case of vaccination with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Vaxzevria, or Covishield.
Since July 21, a compulsory health pass came into force in France. It certifies that the bearer has either been fully vaccinated or had a recent PCR or antigen test (with a negative result within the last 48hrs) or recovered from COVID-19, attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result (at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old).
The pass allows individuals to visit all cultural venues with more than 1,000 people and to travel outside French borders. From the beginning of August, a person with the pass can visit cafés, restaurants, hospitals, old people’s homes, social medical institutions and long-distance transport (plane, train, bus).
Earlier, on July 14, the European Council included Ukraine in a list of countries it recommended as safe enough to be free from travel restrictions to the EU.
For the June-July period, several European countries has already opened their borders for Ukrainians including, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Germany, Netherlands, Finland.
