Europe travel: What is an EU Digital Covid Certificate?

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Travel throughout the European Union is back on for those who are able to access the new EU Digital Covid certificate. Currently, the new travel pass is only accessible by those who are residents within the bloc.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate works a lot like a “vaccine passport” in the sense that it shows evidence of whether or not a person has had one or both doses of their Covid vaccine.

However, it can also be used by EU citizens and legal residents who have not been vaccinated but who have taken a coronavirus test.

The pass is used to help travellers avoid self-isolating.

For those travelling to the UK from amber list countries, it can be used to avoid quarantine on arrival.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate is available in all 27 member nations, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Members of these nations are able to download the app to their mobile or portable electronic device for free.

It can also be obtained in paper format.

Most Britons are not able to access the Covid pass now that the UK has left the EU.

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Despite this, UK nationals who are legal residents of an EU state are able to access the Covid Certificate, even if they are not citizens yet.

The Certificate can be issued to those who are double-jabbed, as well as anyone who can provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test or those who have recently recovered from Covid.

According to the European Commission, the Certificate is issued to residents or citizens by local health authorities in their residing nation.

This information is stored on a QR code within the pass.

The Certificate also holds essential personal information and a digital signature to prove it is authentic.

Travellers will still be required to carry their passport or other official identification with them when using the Certificate.

It is thought that the EU Digital Covid Certificate will help to facilitate “free movement” within the bloc.

Within the EU, both testing requirements and self-isolation are not mandatory for anyone who holds a valid EU Digital Covid Certificate.

According to the European Commission: “When travelling, the EU Digital COVID Certificate holder should in principle be exempted from free movement restrictions: Member States should refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions on the holders of an EU Digital COVID Certificate unless they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health.”

Britons hoping to visit the EU will be subject to different requirements.

Some countries, such as Spain and Greece, have agreed to accept the NHS Covid Pass for travel.

However, this is not yet agreed on throughout the Union and thus UK travellers should check the specific regulations of their destination before jetting off.

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