New COVID Certificate from 1st September 2021

Focus on a 'person-based approach': A person holding a valid EU digital COVID certificate should not, in principle, be subject to additional restrictions, such as testing or quarantine, regardless of their place of departure in the EU. Those who do not possess an EU digital COVID certificate may be required to undergo a test conducted before or after arrival.
Standard acceptance period for vaccination certificates: to avoid divergent and disruptive approaches, the Commission proposes a standard acceptance period of nine months for vaccination certificates issued after completion of the primary vaccination schedule. This means that, in the context of travel, Member States should not reject a vaccination certificate issued within nine months of the last dose of the primary vaccination schedule.
Booster Dose: To date, there are no studies expressly addressing the efficacy of booster doses in the transmission of COVID-19 and, therefore, it is not possible to determine an acceptance period for booster doses. However, given the new data, it is to be expected that the protection derived from booster vaccinations may last longer than that derived from the primary vaccination schedule. The Commission will closely monitor new scientific evidence emerging in this regard. On the basis of such evidence, the Commission may, if necessary, propose an appropriate acceptance period also for vaccination certificates issued after a booster dose.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a symbol of what Europe stands for. Of a Europe that does not falter when put to the test.

Ursula von der Leyen

The Commission also proposed an updated framework for travel from outside the EU, with priority for vaccinated travelers and strict safeguards.

In addition to opening their doors to people immunized with EU-approved vaccines - as is currently the case - Member States must systematically admit people who have received vaccines for which the listing process has been completed for use in WHO emergencies. As a basic safeguard, a negative PCR certificate will always be required from all travelers immunized with a vaccine that has been approved by the WHO but not by the European Medicines Agency, and from travelers recovered from the disease. Among the other changes, a period of nine months is introduced after the primary vaccination schedule for the acceptance of vaccination certificates. In addition, vaccination certificates issued after an additional (booster) dose will be accepted.
Member States must accept vaccination and recovery certificates not issued by the EU that are considered equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate.
The Commission's proposals will now be debated by the Member States of the Union, who will decide on the final version of the Recommendations. The Commission proposes that the new rules become applicable from 10 January 2022.