EU to Limit Validity of Digital Covid-19 Certificate to 9 Months

Photo: EU//Christophe Licoppe

The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, has decided to limit the validity of the European Union digital Covid-19 certificate to nine months.

The Commission said it has adopted a binding acceptance period of nine months (270 days) for vaccination certificates for the purposes of travel within the EU. The policy will come into effect from February 1, Xinhua news agency reported.

“A clear and uniform acceptance period for vaccination certificates will guarantee that travel measures continue to be coordinated,” the Commission said.

o far, 807 million certificates have been issued within the EU. Meanwhile, 60 countries and territories across five continents have adopted a similar system, the Commission said.

The nine-month validity period of the EU digital Covid certificate takes into account guidance from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that booster doses should be given at the latest six months after completion of the first vaccination cycle.

A three-month grace period has been added to allow national vaccination campaigns to adjust, and ensure that citizens have access to booster doses.