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Potential use of certificates for access to facilities
EU law covers the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU.
Member States can also use the COVID-19 certificates for domestic purposes, such as access to events or venues, but this is not regulated at the EU level.
In case a Member State adopts a system of COVID-19 certification for domestic purposes, it should ensure that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is also fully accepted. This is to make sure that travellers going to another Member State do not have to obtain an additional national certificate.
For how long will the EU Digital COVID Certificate be in place?
Currently, the Regulation on the EU Digital COVID Certificate applies for 12 months from 1 July 2021. In February 2022, the Commission proposed to extend it by a year, until 30 June 2023. Extending the Regulation would ensure that travellers can continue using their COVID Certificate when travelling in the EU even when Member States maintain certain public health measures.
Re-open EU: up-to-date information on travel and health measures
Find up-to-date information on travel and health measures in European countries, including on quarantine and testing requirements for travellers, to help you exercise your right to free movement. The information is updated frequently and available in 24 languages. This should help you plan your travel in Europe, while staying safe and healthy.
Visit Re-open EU
Timeline
25 January 2022
Council adopts a revised recommendation on measures ensuring coordination of safe travel in the EU, based on the individual situation of persons and no longer on the region of origin.
21 December 2021
The Commission adopts rules establishing a binding acceptance period of 9 months of vaccination certificates for the purposes of intra-EU travel.
1 July - 12 August 2021
Phase-in period: if a Member State is not yet ready to issue the new certificate to its citizens, other formats can still be used and should be accepted in other Member States.
1 July 2021
The EU Digital COVID Certificate enters into application throughout the EU.
mid-June 2021
Revised Council Recommendation on travel within the EU.
1 - 30 June 2021
Warm-up phase: Member States can launch the certificate on a voluntary basis provided they are ready to issue and verify certificates, and have the necessary legal base in place.
1 June 2021
EU Gateway (interconnection of national systems) goes live.
20 May 2021
The European Parliament and the Council agreed on the EU Digital COVID Certificate.
7 May 2021
The Commission started the pilot test of the EU interoperability infrastructure (EU Gateway) that will facilitate the authentication of the EU Certificates.
22 April 2021
Member States' representatives in the eHealth Network agreed on guidelines describing the main technical specifications for the implementation of the system. This was a crucial step for the establishment of the necessary infrastructure at EU level.
14 April 2021
The Council adopted its mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposal.
Documents
Commission Delegated Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/953 as regards the issuance of certificates of recovery based on rapid antigen tests
22 February 2022
English (362.9 KB - PDF)
DownloadPDF - 362.9 KB
Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate)
03 February 2022
English (643.2 KB - PDF)
DownloadPDF - 643.2 KB
Commission Delegated Regulation on the validity of vaccination certificates issued under the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework
21 December 2021
English
Download
Available languages (23)
Commission Decision amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1073 laying down technical specifications and rules for the implementation of the trust framework for the EU Digital COVID Certificate
21 December 2021
English
Download