June 14 - Europe’s rollout of its Digital Covid Certificate — created to allow free movement of travelers between its countries — is humming along. As of now, 12 E.U. countries are using the app and the rest of the bloc countries are on track to launch by July 1.

 

The free mobile app provides digital proof via a QR code that a traveler has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has recently tested negative for Covid-19 or has recovered from the illness.

 

The E.U. Digital Covid Certificate includes limited information such as the traveler’s name, date of birth and relevant information about the vaccine status. This data remains on the certificate and is not stored or retained by visited countries.

 

Dark green countries are already using the app. Light green countries have cleared the testing phase and could begin using the app at any time. Peach colored countries are in testing. EUROPEAN COMMISSION

 

Europe is now roughly halfway through its “warm-up” month. A dozen European member countries are using the pass — up from seven just a week ago. They are:

• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Germany
• Greece
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Spain

 

Sixteen countries — 12 other E.U. countries plus four from outside the bloc (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) — have finished the testing phase and are technically ready to begin using the pass at any time. These include:

• Belgium
• Cyprus
• France
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

 

In addition, three more E.U. countries are currently in the testing phase.

• Finland
• Hungary
• Malta

 

Earlier this month, a European Union spokesperson said that the app could be extended to citizens from non-E.U. countries, including the United States. In principle, holders of the E.U. Digital Covid Certificate should be exempted from cross-border travel restrictions such as quarantine requirements.

 

“Right now if you’re an American, not living in the E.U., you could get the certificate if you ask the national authorities of a member state to give you that certificate based on some proof that you’ve been vaccinated, or had a recent Covid test,” said the E.U. spokesperson. The decision on whether to allow non-E.U. citizens to use the app rests with each individual member state.

 

Across the world, countries are introducing digital systems that allow authorities to verify the vaccination status of travelers.

 

For example, Japan will issue Covid-19 vaccination certificates to citizens traveling abroad this summer. The initiative will begin with a paper version of the certificate and roll out later this year with a smartphone solution based on the European Union’s Digital Covid Certificate.

 

Canada is adapting its free ArriveCAN app, which was was introduced in April 2020 to help travelers comply with border measures. Since late November 2020, air travelers flying into Canada have been required to submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN before boarding their flight. This includes travel and contact information, a quarantine plan and Covid-19 symptom self-assessment. Travelers must be ready to show their ArriveCAN receipt when entering Canada.

 

So far, the Biden administration has resisted the idea of a “vaccine passport” for the United States. Just before Memorial Day, U.S. Director of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that the U.S. was also taking a “very close look” at vaccine passports for international travel. Later that day, the DHS appeared to walk back Mayorkas’ comments, clarifying that there will be no “federal mandate” for vaccine passports in the United States.

 

In a recent Ipsos survey, two thirds (66%) of respondents across the 28 countries said they expect vaccine passports to be used widely by the end of 2021. In the United States, 71% of adults support vaccine passports for international travel. That is roughly in line with France (70%) but represents a smaller majority than in Mexico (86%), Australia (86%), Great Britain (84%), China (83%), Italy (79%), Japan (74%) and Germany (73%).

 

 

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