European Union: European Council introduces EU Digital COVID Certificate in numerous countries as of July 2 /update 15

European Council introduces EU Digital COVID Certificate in numerous EU countries as of July 2; travel restrictions remain.

Event

Authorities in 21 EU member states have implemented the European Council's "EU Digital COVID Certificate" as of July 2. The certificate is a digital or physical QR code that acts as proof of whether a traveler has been vaccinated against COVID-19, recovered from COVID-19, or recently tested negative for COVID-19. Member states should in principle allow individuals possessing the certificate to enter the country without restriction. The certificate is currently being issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. All remaining EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, are set to recognize and begin issuing the certificate by Aug. 12.

The European Council (EC) previously added several more countries, including the US, to the list of countries with which it recommends member states relax entry restrictions due to positive data regarding the COVID-19 situation in those countries. As of July 2, the following countries are on the list: Albania, Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the US, and China (provided it implements a reciprocal travel arrangement). The EC advises EU member states to restrict nonessential travel from all other countries outside the bloc as part of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Countries participating in the measure include all EU Schengen Area member states; non-Schengen EU members Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania; and the four non-EU Schengen-associated states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The EC's recommendation is advisory only; individual member states retain the authority to unilaterally deny travel from countries on the approved list or to permit travel with countries not on the approved list.

Additionally, the EC previously issued advice for member states to implement additional COVID-19 measures, including mandatory testing before departure, stricter measures to address virus variants of concern, and a common European passenger locator form. Persons exempted from the recommendations include family members of EU nationals, diplomats, foreigners with legal residency permits, cross-border and healthcare workers, and truck drivers transporting freight. Following the end of the Brexit transition period, citizens of the UK are no longer being treated as EU citizens and are therefore subject to measures restricting travel to the EU from outside the bloc as per EC recommendations.

The EC also issued advice May 20 recommending that member states begin lifting restrictions for vaccinated travelers from countries outside the bloc; most member states have not currently implemented this measure.

Advice

Prospective travelers from countries on the approved list should check for possible additional restrictions imposed by the destination country prior to booking travel. Persons from countries not on the approved list should postpone travel to the countries participating in the closure. Follow all official immigration and health screening instructions.