American Expat Travel In Europe

Hi Margaret, I too am an American living in the UK. Our family is assuming that since we have biometric resident cards (and thus leave to remain in the UK) that we are treated like UK citizens when we travel in continental Europe. We live in England, not the US and that's reflected in our residence cards. It's just a matter of bringing both our passports and our residence cards when we travel, like we always do. Good luck.

restrictions are focused on where a traveller is coming from. So for official guidance look at here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

It's targetted at Uk citizens but will apply to you as you're resident in the UK.

You also need to consider returning to the UK. Everyone is supposed to self isolate https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk

that includes UK citizens who have the right of entry.

As a US passport holder do you have 100% right of entry to the UK? If not, you could be denied if you have a health concern on your return. Might be worth thinking over.

Things are changing. What the advice is today may be different next month.

If you have a residence permit from a Schengen member state, you have the same rights of travel as citizens of member states, beyond that it is based on your citizenship.

Thanks for the replies. Unsurprisingly, we’ve got some conflicting responses here - that it’s based on where you’re coming from, and in contrast, that it’s based on your citizenship for those not resident in the EU. If anyone else has thoughts or experiences, do share!

Ramblin’ on, I’m not sure what the legal definition of “100% right of entry to the UK” is, but I live here on a Tier 2 General visa and have a biometric residence permit so I assume that unless my visa was rescinded, I would have the same right of entry as a citizen. Sounds like I’m in the same position as davekatevy. And yes, well aware of the current quarantine requirement; I am only considering travel if the UK forms “air bridges” that would allow for no quarantine on either end, as has been widely reported they are planning to do.

I forgot to mention that you can always email the embassy of the country you are planning to travel to and ask them (once the air bridges are announced). I emailed a European country's embassy in London regarding some travel questions and they got right back to me.

Oh wow that is helpful, I had just assumed (I guess unfairly!) that emailing embassies was like shouting into the void.

An embassy is going to give you a better response than posters on this forum, which will not have had the experience necessary, in the rapidly changing situation of international travel. Until such time that air bridges are announced, it’s all just guesswork.

Hey Margaret,

here in Spain, the US embassy said on the 18th:

Health  Alert – End of Nationwide State of Alarm on June 21 – U.S. Embassy Madrid, U.S. Consulate General Barcelona (18 June 2020)

Location: Spain – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Event:  End of State of Alarm on June 21

The last day of Spain’s nationwide State of Alarm is Saturday, June 20.  On June 21, the Spanish government will lift the current nation-wide confinement measures. Some restrictions will remain in place, however, and will continue to vary from region to region within Spain. Restrictions on travel to Spain by American citizens without EU citizenship or residency remain in place.

This is chicken little's alerts and messages page.

As for traveling, on Sunday we drove to France, and there were no problems crossing the border in Hendaye. Just like any other sunny summer day.

Thought I’d update with the latest info for anyone else with the same question - this NYT article addresses my query.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/travel/eu-travel-ban-what-to-know.amp.html

“ I’m an American citizen, but I live in one of the countries on the approved list. Will I be allowed to fly to Europe?
The rules are based on the country in which travelers are residents, so American citizens may be allowed to enter Europe if they are residents (and can provide proof of that residency) in one of the countries on the approved list.”

Hi Margaret,

I just got off the phone with the French Embassy in the UK and they said that as long as I can provide proof of residency in the UK, then I will be able to travel into France with my US passport. So it's just a matter of providing proof of UK residency. I may give you peace of mind to check directly with the embassy of the country you are planning to travel too, but I just did a huge sigh of relief!!

That is great news davekatevy! France is actually the one where I have something booked for the end of August. May double check with Italy for a possible additional trip. Thanks for sharing!