European Union Launches Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate
The European Union has announced that it will be officially launching a digital COVID-19 certificate for all E.U. citizens and residents, as well as for specific categories of travelers by July 1, 2021.1
What is the Digital COVID-19 Certificate?
The E.U. Digital COVID Certificate is a mobile app that provides information such as the digital proof of a person’s COVID-19 vaccination record, recent negative COVID-19 test results, or certification that they have previously been clinically diagnosed and recovered from COVID-19.2
The certificate displays personal information, such as the traveler’s name, date of birth and date of issue. The certificate also has a unique QR code that pulls up documentation or linked reporting portals from a hospital, laboratory, test center, etc.3
Twelve Countries Already Using the COVID-19 Certificate
As of right now, there are twelve countries in the E.U. that are using the COVID-19 Certificate in what they call a “warm-up” month. These countries include Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Spain.4
An additional twelve E.U. countries (Belgium, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) and four countries outside the bloc (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) have completed the testing phase and will start using the digital COVID-19 certificate soon.5
The Digital App Could Extend to Non-EU Countries Including United States.
An E.U. spokesperson said that the digital COVID-19 Travel Certificate app could be extended to citizens from non-E.U. countries, including the United States. Anyone with a E.U. Digital COVID-19 Certificate is exempt from cross-border travel restrictions, such as quarantine requirements.6
The E.U. spokesperson states:
Right now if you’re an American, not living in the E.U., you could get the certificate if you ask the national authorities of a member state to give you that certificate based on some proof that you’ve been vaccinated, or had a recent COVID test.7
European Union Says Unvaccinated Travelers Will Not Be Discriminated Against
According to Schengen Visa Information, the E.U. passport-free zone that covers most of the European countries, necessary measures been taken so that individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine will not be discriminated against when travelling across the E.U.
Reportedly, unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to travel in the E.U. countries after testing negative for COVID-19.8
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