Also known as the EU Digital COVID Certificate, the EU COVID-19 Passport is free of charge and lets you travel without restriction in all the member states of the European Union. Not sure what the EU COVID-19 Passport is and how it works? Read on!
If you're like us, you're probably longing to treat yourself to a trip or a getaway somewhere. Well go right ahead, because it's much easier to travel in Europe now thanks to this "passport" created by the European Union to remove the obstacles to free movement between EU countries. You can carry it on your phone or print it out to show on arrival. Each passport has a unique QR code and is available in the national language and English.
The certificate entered into force on 1 July 2021 and you have to meet one of the following requirements to obtain it:
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and at least 14 days must have elapsed since the last dose. As at 22 July 2021, the vaccines approved by the European Union are BioNTech Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen.
- Have received a negative test result.
- Have recovered from COVID-19.
Let's see if we can answer some of the main questions you might have.
How can people get the EU COVID-19 Passport?
Each country is in charge of helping their citizens request an EU COVID-19 Passport.
In which countries is the EU COVID-19 Passport valid?
The EU COVID-19 Passport is available for all member countries of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Remember, the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union and therefore has different entry requirements.
Do children need an EU COVID-19 Passport?
Children under 6 don't need to show any type of certificate or test to travel. And if their parents don't need to quarantine, neither do they.
For children aged 6 and over, we recommend that you check the exact entry requirements for each country.
Do I need to quarantine or show a PCR test result if I'm fully vaccinated?
If you have an EU COVID-19 Passport or EU Digital COVID Certificate proving that you are fully vaccinated, you don't need to show any additional test results or quarantine. In any case, we recommend that you check with the destination country to find out whether there are any additional restrictions.
Is the EU COVID-19 Passport mandatory to travel?
It's not mandatory but it's very convenient. If you have it, you won't need to take any additional tests (usually a negative result from a PCR taken in the past 72 hours or a rapid antigen test taken in the past 48 hours) or quarantine.
So you see, it's possible to travel safely. Besides, as we explained in this post, a plane is one of the cleanest places as far the virus is concerned. Get ready to travel (again)!
