After almost a year and a half, we can’t say we are COVID-19 free, but we’ve managed to adapt our lives to a new normality. All to the point where we can travel once again. And to make it easier 一or safer, at least一 the EU has launched a digital COVID-19 vaccine passport.
How does it work?
The digital certificate covers your negative PCR test results, past infection records and proof of your vaccination (that is AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson).
The certificate provides a practical QR code that will display all this information, together with your digital signature, verified via EU Gateway. You can obtain a printed version of the QR code for no cost too.
The vaccine passport is free of charge and it’s available in both English and your national language.
What is it for?
If you are a holder of the vaccine passport, it means that you are exempted from testing and quarantine, when travelling within the EU and Schengen zone countries, including Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
It’s basically a health passport for European citizens and residents that will make travelling during the pandemic easier.
Who is it for?
The Digital Covid Certificate is available for all EU citizens and non-EU citizens living
legally in member states.
For UK citizens, it’s still not available. Yet the country stated it’s working to let fully vaccinated British expats and European citizens arriving from amber-listed countries without the need of a 10 days isolation.
For further information, head over to the official website. If you are thinking of travelling soon, take inspiration from our travel guides: you’ll find plenty of advice on where to stay and what to do during your journey.
