Recommended by the European Commission, the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine passport is currently being debated by many countries. This document could be crucial for the kickstart of the travel and relocation industries, whether in the European Union or elsewhere.
On May 19, 2021, the 27 European Union Member States reached a common agreement. Travellers from third countries who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, whether they have received the first or both doses, will now be allowed to travel to Europe, provided they have been inoculated with Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and that their COVID-19 vaccine passport can prove this. For the time being, only nationals of certain third countries, namely Australia, South Korea, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Singapore and China, subject to a reciprocity agreement, are allowed to travel to the EU. Once the COVID-19 passport becomes more widespread, other nationalities, including Americans and Britons, are expected to join this list.
What is the COVID-19 vaccine passport, and how does it work?
In Europe, summer kickstarts the holiday and travel season, which is why the COVID-19 certificate is more important than ever. From July 1, 2021, anyone who wishes to travel abroad must request a COVID-19 vaccine passport. This digital certificate is proof that either you have been vaccinated against COVID-19, or you have been tested negative, or that you have recovered from COVID-19. Still, governments highlight that the COVID-19 vaccine passport is not a travel document but a mechanism intended to facilitate international travel.
This document will be available both in printed and digital format (via a mobile app) and will guarantee respect for fundamental rights, including personal data protection. According to European institutions, access to the COVID-19 vaccine certificate will be free, safe and universal. This should give a new dynamism to travel within the EU until the rest of the world adapts to the new normal.
For the time being, anyone who wishes to go on vacation abroad or who plans to relocate to another European Union country has to produce a COVID-19 vaccine passport at borders controls. According to the European Commission, the main objective of this new protocol is to allow families to finally reunite after the lockdown and enjoy the change of scenery, all this based on respect for the fundamental right to free movement.
The digital version of the COVID-19 vaccine passport is obviously more user-friendly. You can simply download the app on your smartphone. The app includes an electronically signed QR code that can be scanned by any Member State and internally as a movement control mechanism for controlling national movements. Another important point in the legal framework regarding the COVID-19 vaccine passport is that the Member States cannot impose further restrictions on the transits. This, therefore, guarantees certain reciprocity in the treatment accorded of European Union citizens, regardless of their origins.
What about children?
Currently, children under the age of 16 cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19. So what if they have to travel with their parents? In many EU countries, children who are at least six years old need to produce a negative COVID-19 test. However, the minimum age for taking the test varies from country to country. In some countries, such as Portugal, COVID-19 testing is required for two-year-old children. Therefore, the European Commission wants to ensure that everything possible is done for the COVID-19 vaccine passport to become a reality on July 1, 2021, provided all the necessary infrastructure has been set up.
How it differs from the health passport
The COVID-19 vaccine passport and the health passport are two different concepts. In France, for instance, the COVID-19 vaccine passport would allow you to travel abroad but not the health passport. Attached to the TousAntiCovid app, the health passport is simply a document giving access to certain places. The health passport certifies that you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you have tested negative in the last 48 hours or that you have been immunised after having tested positive during the last six months. The health passport will be available from the second week of June until September 30. This document has a QR code and is intended to facilitate access to concerts, open-air festivals, shows, conferences and trade fairs that will be hosting more than 1,000 participants, etc. It even has an alert and tracing function. For example, if you're in the same establishment as a person who has tested positive, you will receive an alert to get tested. However, the health passport will not be required to access cinemas, museums, zoos or libraries.
The UK adopts the COVID-19 vaccine passport
Now that the lockdown is over, the United Kingdom can now consider reopening its borders gradually. Even though travellers from the UK are banned in several countries for the time being due to the presence of new variants, there is still hope for those who have already been inoculated. Indeed, the NHS app has recorded a new peak in subscriptions since the COVID-19 passport was integrated into it. With this new feature, travellers can prove that they have been vaccinated. The names and details of the vaccine and the number of doses are also included. It's worth noting that holders of the COVID-19 vaccine passport are exempts from compulsory quarantine on arrival. However, it is recommended to check which countries accept the COVID-19 vaccine passport before travelling.
Which countries currently accept the vaccine passport?
Besides EU countries and the United Kingdom, several others already accept the COVID-19 vaccine passport, including Poland and Bahrain. Since early May, Singapore has also reopened its borders to COVID-19 vaccine passport holders. This document is also accepted in Barbados, Belize, Ecuador, Israel, Thailand and Seychelles. Other countries are still considering the issue, but this could likely help reviving their travel and tourism industries.
How can expats obtain a vaccine passport?
Each country has its own rules and criteria regarding COVID-19 vaccination. But if, as an expat, you've got the chance to be immunised in your host country, chances are you are eligible for a vaccination passport. If you have chosen to return to your home country for COVID-19 vaccination, you should probably apply for your vaccination passport there before travelling abroad again. In any case, your COVID-19 vaccine passport will be issued in the country where you have been immunised.
