Travel safely with the EU Digital Covid Certificate

Find out how the new EU Digital Covid Certificate allows you to travel safely and easily in Europe during the pandemic.

How does the EU Digital Covid Certificate work?

The certificate makes it easier for you to travel safely through the EU by showing that you have been vaccinated, had a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months.

It is issued by national authorities.

This information takes the form of a QR code, which can be electronic (on your smartphone or tablet, for instance) or printed and scanned when travelling.

The certificate is free.

The system came into effect on 1 July, will be in place for 12 months and covers all 27 EU countries as well as some non-EU countries.

Find out the latest information on the countries participating in the EU Digital Covid Certificate initiative.

Can I use it to travel?

No, you will still need your passport or another form of identification.

You don’t have to have the certificate to travel - national requirements then remain in place - but having it should make travelling easier. For example, it could mean you don't have to quarantine.

However, if exceptional circumstances arise in an EU country, such as the sudden appearance and spread of a new variant, new restrictions may have to be put in place.

What is included under the EU Digital Covid Certificate?

There are three versions of the certificate:

• Vaccination certificate
• Test certificate: indicates the holder’s result, type and date of a NAAT test or a rapid antigen test
• Recovery certificate: confirms that the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection following a positive NAAT test

Antibody testing is not recognized, though this may change.

Tests recognised under the certificate include Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) tests, such as RT-PCR tests and rapid antigen tests.

The European Commission will use at least €100 million under the Emergency Support Instrument to purchase the Covid tests needed for the test certificate.

MEPs approved the EU Digital Covid Certificate during the plenary session that took place in Strasbourg in June 2021.

More on EU measures to address the coronavirus pandemic

• Coronavirus: a timeline of EU action in 2021
• Coronavirus: practical advice for safe travel
• Covid-19: 10 things the EU is doing for economic recovery

Find out more 

• Adopted texts 
• Civil liberties committee 
• - Press Release: Parliament gives its final green light to the EU Digital Covid Certificate  
• Q&A 
• Vaccines against Covid-19 
• European Commission: travel during the coronavirus pandemic 
• The EU's response to the coronavirus 
• EU response to coronavirus
• Coronavirus: a timeline of EU action in 2021
• Covid-19: 10 things the EU is doing for economic recovery
• Health threats: boosting EU readiness and crisis management
• Coronavirus: practical advice for safe travel
• How Parliament works during a pandemic
• Covid-19: EU support for the tourism industry
• Covid-19: boosting EU’s response capacity for emergencies
• Covid-19: the EU plan for the economic recovery
• Covid-19's economic impact: €100 billion to keep people in jobs
• Coronavirus: a timeline of EU action in 2020
• Solidarity: how EU countries help each other fight Covid-19
• Covid-19: MEPs insist on targeted support for culture
• Corona crisis: ensuring aid and protection for those in need
• Supporting the EU’s cultural sector through Covid-19
• Covid-19: fundamental rights must be upheld, warn MEPs
• The EU’s Covid-19 recovery plan will prioritise climate
• Sassoli: The decisions we will take will reshape the Union for decades
• Covid-19 tracing apps: ensuring privacy and use across borders
• Budget and recovery: MEPs push for clarity on EU own resources
• Rebuilding Europe after Covid-19: MEPs call for decisive action
• Covid-19 recovery fund must be added to EU long-term budget
• Reopening Schengen borders after Covid-19: what can EU do?
• EU future at stake: MEPs broadly welcome Commission’s recovery package proposals
• Vote on Own Resources: MEPs clear way for COVID-19 recovery plan
• EU aid: impact of Covid-19 in Africa could be devastating
• Coronavirus: EU increases action against disinformation
• Covid-19: digital surveillance, borders and human rights
• Sassoli calls for action on recovery: "Our citizens expect bold action"
• Covid-19: how is EU doing on health? (Interview)
• How Covid-19 affects Erasmus and EU Solidarity Corps
• Covid-19: how the EU can help small businesses
• Covid-19 recovery: how the main EU instrument will work
• EU COVID-19 certificate must facilitate free movement without discrimination
• MEPs want a safer and more sustainable tourism after Covid
• Travel safely with the EU Digital Covid Certificate  
• EU digital Covid Certificate: provisional deal between Parliament and Council
• Parliament gives its final green light to the EU Digital COVID Certificate
• Medicine shortages in the EU: causes and solutions
• COVID-19: Member states need to harmonise health assessments and measures
• Covid-19: emergency measures to help EU farmers and fishermen
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• 10 things the EU is doing to fight the coronavirus
• Coronavirus: EU countries to get help from Solidarity Fund
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• Foreign takeovers: MEPs push for level-playing field
• Covid-19: Parliament approves €37 billion crisis response
• EU action: Covid-19 vaccines and cures
• Covid-19: Campaign materials
• Protecting press freedom during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Covid-19: €3 billion emergency support for national health care
• COVID-19: MEPs free up over €3 billion to support EU healthcare sector
• MEPs call for measures to prevent Covid19 crisis in refugee camps
• COVID-19: Parliament approves crucial EU support measures
• Disinformation: how to recognise and tackle Covid-19 myths
• How to protect yourself from cybercrime
• Covid-19: watch out for online scams and unfair practices

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