The EU Recognizes Digital Certificates From More Countries

The EU Digital COVID Certificate entered into circulation in July of this year. The system, that allows users to store their vaccine, recovery, and testing details on their phones, is designed to facilitate travel both across the EU and within EU countries. The EU is now recognizing the digital certificates of a number of third party countries.

What is an EU Digital Covid Certificate and how do I get one?

The digital certificate acts as proof that the user has either been vaccinated by a vaccine approved by the EMA, has recovered and has a certificate issued by a medical authority, or, has received a recent negative PCR test result no older than 72 hours. Each user receives a unique QR code, which can either be stored on their phones, or printed out and kept as a hard copy. Additional information included on in the system are personal details such as your full name, date of birth, and the date the certificate was issued. The system is secure, free of charge, and valid in all EU countries.

The digital certificate should be issued by your country’s health authorities. Either through testing centres, medical institutes or, online e-health portals, such as an official Covid-19 website. In the case of a minor, parents can either store their testing/recovery information on their own profiles, or the child can have their own.

>> Applying for a French Vaccine Certificate for non-EU Visitors

Which digital certificates are recognized by the EU?

Aside from the 27 EU member states, the certificates from the following countries, regions, and principalities are also recognized by the digital certificate system:

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • The Faroe Islands
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco
  • Morocco
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • San Marino
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Vatican City
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The US Issues Travel Warnings for More Countries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA has issued risk level travel warnings for a number of countries thanks to rising case numbers.

CDC Travel Warnings

The CDC monitors Covid-19 case numbers per capita and issues travel warnings and advisories based on these figures. Countries can fall into one of four levels. These are:

  • Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ – Covid-19 levels are considered to be very high, and travellers avoid visiting these countries. If travel is essential, then the CDC advises being fully vaccinated.
  • Level 3 – High levels of Covid-19 cases have been recorded in these destinations, and nonessential travel for unvaccinated people is not advised.
  • Level 2 – Moderate levels of Covid-19 cases. Travellers should take all precautions, and preferably only travel if fully vaccinated.
  • Level 1 – Low levels of Covid-19 have been recorded in these countries, however the CDC still advises all travellers to be fully vaccinated before their trip.

>>US Travellers Face Restrictions from these EU Countries

What Has Changed?

The CDC has recently added the following countries to the very high risk, ‘Do Not Travel‘ list:

  • Albania
  • Belize
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Israel
  • Lithuania
  • Mauritius
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia

Other popular destinations already on the Level Four list are: Saint Lucia, the Bahamas, France, Iceland, Thailand, and Greece.

The following countries have been added to the CDC’s Level Three ‘high risk‘ list:

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Ethiopia
  • Romania

This is a positive sign for Brazil as its risk level has been decreased from level 4. These countries join a number of Caribbean destinations already on the list, including, but not limited to, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Turks and Caicos and Bermuda.

>>EU Travel Restriction Changes

Newly added to the CDC’s Level 2, ‘moderate risk‘ list are:

  • Slovakia
  • The Dominican Republic

There have been no new additions to the Level 1, low risk list. Currently on the low risk list are holiday destinations such as Hungary, Madagascar, New Caledonia, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Travel warnings can be issued and changed at any moment. All travellers are advised to check their routes before booking a trip.

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