Updated travel advice for the United States of America

Due to the continued spread of coronavirus, the U.S. has implemented wide-ranging travel restrictions on travellers arriving from the Schengen Area who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. The restrictions will enter force at 17:59 Estonian time (UTC+2) on Friday 13 March and apply to the entire Schengen Area, including Estonia.

The restrictions are expected to remain in force for 30 days but may be extended if deemed necessary. No restrictions are being put in place regarding travellers leaving the United States. The restrictions, including the exceptions to them, are set out in detail online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-2019-novel-coronavirus/.

If you are in the U.S., the measures being implemented to stop the spread of the virus should be taken into account throughout the country. Estonian citizens encountering any difficulties in returning home are advised to call the consular assistance emergency helpline on +372 5301 9999 (24 hours).

In connection with the World Health Organisation declaring the spread of coronavirus a pandemic, the Foreign Ministry strongly advises considering whether trips abroad are essential. Countries may implement additional restrictions at short notice and the risk of being quarantined or finding yourself in areas affected by restricted movement may arise suddenly.

The Foreign Ministry is constantly monitoring the situation and actively updating travel advice on the Reisi Targalt website at https://reisitargalt.vm.ee/. We kindly ask you to register your trips abroad on the ministry website at https://reisitargalt.vm.ee/registreerimine.

We also recommend staying up to date with the travel advice issued for each country on the https://reisitargalt.vm.ee/ website and following updates on travel advice related to coronavirus online at https://reisitargalt.vm.ee/koroonaviirus/.

More information about coronavirus and preventing the spread of infection can be found on the website of the Estonian Health Board at https://www.terviseamet.ee/et/uuskoroonaviirus.

In the assessment of the Health Board, the People’s Republic of China, Italy, Iran and South Korea are high-risk areas. In addition to these risk areas, the Foreign Ministry advises against travelling to Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Spain and Egypt and, due to restrictions on entry, the USA and Israel.

The likelihood of infection among people travelling to and living in risk areas is high. The Health Board recommends that people who have been to areas where the virus is spreading remain, if possible, at home for 14 days after returning to Estonia.

Additional information:

Britta Tarvis
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7627 / +372 5194 7045