Representatives of the member states and the European Parliament agreed on a so-called covid passport on Thursday after long negotiations. This should make it much easier to travel around the European Union. At present, different entry rules apply in different countries, and some countries do not recognize tests from other countries.
The European Union has not yet introduced the exact rules for the operation of the covid passport. But the answers to the main questions are already known.
Who will be entitled to a covid passport?
Everyone who has been fully vaccinated will be entitled to the certificate. For most vaccines, this means that he has already received both doses of the vaccine; for a substance from Johnson & Johnson, one dose will suffice. However, the European Union only recognizes vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for substances from Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. However, individual states will be able to accept as yet unregistered vaccines. In Hungary, for example, it has been vaccinated with Sputnik V for several months.
People with a negative covid-19 test and people who have recently had the disease will also receive a Covid Pass.
Where can I get it?
Covid Passport will be available primarily online. In just 11 days, a website should be available for the Czechs, where they can create a passport on their own. People there simply choose whether they are vaccinated, have a negative result or have suffered from coronavirus. The application should be available during June.
How much will it cost?
Covid passport should be free. However, in some countries it will be paid for a covid test. MEPs demanded that the tests be free, but eventually agreed that the tests would be “affordable.” In the Czech Republic, two PCR tests and four antigen tests should be free of charge from June. Subsequently, only two PCRs and two antigens. The government will definitely discuss this on Monday, May 24.
What will it look like?
The single card should primarily work in digital form. Each holder will have a unique QR code. But a paper version is also planned.
Where will it pay?
The passport should be valid throughout the European Union. Some countries may, in exceptional cases, lay down rules beyond that. But major tourist destinations such as Greece, Croatia or Italy will probably not require anything other than a covid passport.
When will it take effect?
Covid passports are due to take effect on July 1 at the latest. However, the European Union will open the gate for their functioning on 1 June. Most Member States should join in the first half of the month, all by the end of June.
The uniform conditions for travel have yet to be formally approved by the Council of the European Union and then reconsecrated by the European Parliament. MEPs should definitively approve the introduction of passports at a meeting in the first half of June.
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