Seven EU Countries Begin Using Digital COVID Certificates

After weeks of discussions and considerations, seven countries in the European Union have officially begun using EU Digital COVID Certificates (also called Digital Green Certificates).

On Tuesday, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland all made the certificates available to their citizens for travel. All 27 member nations of the EU should have the vaccine passports available as of July 1, 2021. 

How do they work?

The digital certificates will be proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID or has received a negative test result or recovered from COVID (i.e. has antibodies). They are free and available in either digital or paper format. They also have a QR code that ensures the security and authenticity of the certificate.

What if I’m not vaccinated?

You can still benefit! Digital Green Certificates are not just for vaccine information. They will hold your negative COVID test result(s), granting you access into whatever country you’re trying to enter.

What does this mean for you?

We’re glad you asked. International travel has not bounced back the way domestic travel has, in large part due to things like vaccine accessibility, travel restrictions, and new COVID strains. The EU has been hesitant to allow international travelers inside their borders without having some kind of process in place to ensure the safety of both their citizens and travelers.

With the introduction of Digital Green Certificates, citizens of EU countries are able to travel freely to other countries in the EU. The EU government is asking member countries to waive testing and quarantine requirements for travelers who are vaccinated, provide a negative test result, or have recently recovered from COVID. But keep in mind, each country makes its own rules, so be sure to check out the AmTrav Resource Center for up-to-date country restrictions.

By July 1st, when all 27 member nations adopt the certificates, international travelers from the US will be free to travel to the EU. That means business travelers who need to conduct business in the EU can start thinking about finally scheduling those long overdue meetings. Feel free to let us know how we can help!