All Europe To Adopt COVID Digital Passport By July 1st. Should Americans Be worried?

New rules on the validity of EU Digital COVID Certificate and the coordination of safe travel in the EUShow more

https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en

As of 1 February 2022, there are new rules in place that establish a binding acceptance period of 9 months for vaccination certificates, used for travel within the EU .

Member States must accept vaccination certificates for a period of 9 months following the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination. For the Johnson&Johnson vaccine this means 270 days from the first and only shot. For a two-dose vaccine it means 270 days from the second shot, or, in line with the vaccination strategy of the Member State of vaccination, the first and only shot after having recovered from the virus.

Member States should not provide for a different acceptance period for the purposes of travel within the European Union. The standard acceptance period does not apply to certificates for booster doses.

These rules apply only to the vaccination certificates used for the purpose of travel in the EU. Member States may apply different rules when using the EU Digital COVID Certificate in a domestic context, but are invited to align with the acceptance period set at EU level.

A person who has a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate should in principle not be subject to additional restrictions, such as tests or quarantine, regardless of their place of departure in the EU.

Persons without an EU Digital COVID Certificate should be allowed to travel based on a test carried out prior to or after arrival. In addition, they might be required to undergo quarantine/self-isolation when they arrive from particularly affected (dark red) areas.

Any measures restricting free movement must be non-discriminatory and proportionate. Member States should, in principle, not refuse entry to persons travelling from other Member States.

What is the EU Digital COVID Certificate?
An EU Digital COVID Certificate is a digital proof that a person has either

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been vaccinated against COVID-19
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received a negative test result or
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recovered from COVID-19
Key features of the certificate
Digital and/or paper format
with QR code
free of charge
in national language and English
safe and secure
valid in all EU countries
Who can get the EU Digital COVID certificate?
All EU citizens and their family members
Non-EU nationals who are legally staying or residing in a Member State and have the right to travel to other Member States
Can children get an EU Digital COVID Certificate?
Can EU citizens, or non-EU citizens legally residing in the EU, who were vaccinated abroad get the EU Digital COVID Certificate? If so, how?
How can citizens get the certificate?
National authorities are in charge of issuing the certificate. It could, for example, be issued by test centres or health authorities, or directly via an eHealth portal.

Vaccination certificates are issued by the Member State where the vaccination has been administered.
Test certificates are issued by the Member State where the test has taken place.
Recovery certificates are issued by the Member State where the recovered person is located.
Information on how to get the certificate should be provided by the national health authorities.

The digital version can be stored on a mobile device. Citizens can also request a paper version. Both will have a QR code that contains essential information, as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.

Member States have agreed on a common design that can be used for the electronic and paper versions to facilitate the recognition.

Select your country on the interactive map below to learn how to get the certificate from your national health authority.