If you have any issues using this service or any questions related to the EU Digital COVID Certificate procedure, please send an email to cau-servicios@sanidad.gob.es with a description of your query.
It is a document that allows travel between EU countries by proving, in a simple manner, that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from the disease, or has a negative test result obtained within the last 24/72 hours as established by the different countries. If you do not have the EU Digital COVID Certificate, you can travel, but the admission process is slower and you may be asked to take additional measures, such as testing or quarantine. This certificate is simple, secure, reliable and free of charge, and is available in electronic or paper format. Although the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate is valid throughout the EU, countries remain responsible for their own entry rules and health measures during the pandemic. This means that entry requirements depend on your destination.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate proves that a person:
The key features of the certificate are:
This certificate is recognised by EU Member States, as well as by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Further information can be found on the European Commission (EC) website.
There are three types of certificate, Vaccination, Recovery and Test, which are not mutually incompatible.
This means that a person can apply for a Recovery Certificate if they have recovered from the disease as well as a Vaccination Certificate if they have been vaccinated.
Each type of certificate has different requirements:
Recovery Certificate: it is necessary to have obtained a diagnosis of COVID-19 by a PCR/Antigens test more than eleven days ago and within the six months preceding the certificate request.
In the case of antigen testing, this is only possible if the test is performed by a healthcare professional and is based on a test listed by the Health Security Committee (HSC): https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2022-02/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf
Vaccination Certificate: it is necessary to have received a dose of the vaccines authorised by the EU, whether the vaccination process has been completed (complete schedule) or is in progress (incomplete schedule).
Although the certificate may be requested at any time, its validity begins 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule (primary vaccination). Validity ends when 270 days have elapsed since the date of administration of the last dose of this schedule.
Thereafter, in order to be valid, the vaccination certificate must reflect the administration of a booster dose. These certificates will be considered valid from the day the booster dose is administered.
Depending on the number of doses received, the type of vaccine and whether you have recovered from the disease, the certificate will reflect that the vaccination process is complete or ongoing:
National health authorities are responsible for issuing the certificate. Therefore, you can request the certificate from your autonomous community.
Additionally, you can request the certificate from the Electronic Headquarters of the Ministry of Health if you meet any of these conditions:
To request electronically, you must have a digital certificate or a two-step permanent Cl@ve (codes combined with a message sent to your mobile device).
Yes, it is possible to request the certificate as a representative, guardian or trustee by providing documentation to prove the representation, guardianship and/or trusteeship of the certificate holder and signing a declaration of responsibility that it is accurate and up-to-date.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is issued in electronic or paper format by the competent authorities of each Member State. The electronic digital version can be viewed on any device and printed out. Both formats have a QR code containing essential information, as well as a digital stamp to ensure that the certificate is authentic.
In general, the Ministry of Health will allow COVID certificates to be requested and issued entirely electronically. Exceptionally, they may be requested in person in the case of International Vaccination Centres.
The certificate serves to facilitate free movement within the EU, being the proof of test results or vaccination. It streamlines travel procedures and prevents the need for additional tests or quarantine.
It is therefore neither a passport nor a travel document that conditions or restricts the right to free movement within the European Union; rather, it is an instrument that both facilitates mobility between Member States and ensures health protection.
The certificate can currently be used in all EU Member States, and in other countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The European Commission is working to make the certificates compatible with the systems of other third countries. Updated information on the requirements that each Member State applies to the validation of certificates can be found here: Re-open EU (europa.eu)
This certificate was initially designed to facilitate mobility between EU countries, but may be required by the national authorities of each Member State for other purposes, for example to allow access to public places (hospitality, entertainment, etc.). Updated information on the certificate uses and requirements of each Member State can be found here: Re-open EU (europa.eu)
Yes. It can be obtained completely free of charge, both electronically and in person.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate contains strictly necessary information: name of the holder, date of birth, date of issue, relevant information about the vaccine, diagnostic test or recovery, and a unique identifier. This data remains on the certificate and is not stored or retained when verified in another Member State.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a fully secure and reliable document. On the one hand, the design of the certificate, with its electronically stamped QR code, guarantees its authenticity. On the other hand, maximum protection of personal data, security and privacy are guaranteed. The personal data contained in the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be processed solely for the purpose of verifying the information included in the certificate, in compliance with the provisions of European and national legislation on the protection of personal data.
The document will be issued in the official languages of each State and in English.
