Spain has Begun to Issue the EU Digital Covid Certificate

update:

  Recognition of Covid certificates from third (non-EU) countries 

July 1. EU Digital Certificate comes into force as from today.

Spain begins today to issue the EU digital COVID Certificate, anticipating 20 days earlier than obligatory.

Monday, June 7, 2021.

Spain has begun today to issue the Digital COVID Certificate of the European Union to all citizens who reside in our country and request it. This new system represents a decisive step in opening Spain up to safe international mobility.

In this way, Spain becomes one of the first European countries capable of issuing and recognizing this certificate. Thus, it is more than 20 days ahead of the time when it will be mandatory, set for July 1, which is the date set by the European Regulation for the birth of the right of citizens and the obligation of States.

It will be done progressively and in a testing period throughout the month of June, although the certificates issued will be valid from the first moment. This week, most of the autonomous communities will begin to issue digital certificates to prove some of the conditions, mainly to those who have received the vaccine or have recovered from the disease.

In the coming days and weeks, the autonomous communities will offer more and more functionalities of said certificate with the aim that on July 1, all can issue electronic and face-to-face certificates that certify the three circumstances: vaccination, recovery and negative result of diagnostic tests.

Also from today too, any citizen who requests it at the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Health, will be able to prove that they have been vaccinated or that they have overcome the disease.

Safe and free.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate, which from today begins to be issued in our country and which Spain also accepts from travelers from other European countries, is completely free and can be obtained both in electronic and paper format. In both cases, each certificate generates a QR code that makes it easier to read.

It is straightforward and interoperable across the EU and should be fully implemented by July 1. It certifies that a person has been vaccinated, has overcome the disease or has a negative diagnostic test. It is totally safe and respects privacy. In fact, the data remains in the certificate and is not stored or retained when a Certificate is verified in another Member State.

Without this certificate, it is possible to travel within the EU in compliance with health requirements, but the process of entering the country will be slower and additional measures may be established, such as tests and quarantines.

“Thanks to the work of the professionals of the National Health System, both from the Ministry and from the autonomous communities, it will be possible that in little more than a month, millions of Spaniards can have this certificate to facilitate their international mobility”, Alfredo stressed González Gómez, Secretary General of Digital Health, Information and Innovation, who added: “It thus shows both the enormous potential of new technologies applied to health, as well as the excellent collaboration existing in the SNS, between the Government of Spain and the autonomous communities”.

New rules to enter Spain

It should be noted that today the new rules that regulate the health requirements that all travelers who enter Spain must meet have come into force. All people vaccinated with a complete schedule may enter our country regardless of their place of origin, proving said vaccination if they come from a country or zone at risk. The accepted vaccines are those of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and at least 14 days must have elapsed since the complete regimen has been received.

In addition, all people who travel to Spain from a European country of the Schengen Area, may do so if they prove: having been vaccinated against COVID-19, having a diagnostic test with a negative result, also including antigen tests for the first time or having passed the illness in the past six months and have recovered from it.

From today Spain also accepts that travelers from another EU country prove any of these three circumstances (vaccination, negative test or recovery) through the EU COVID Digital Certificate issued by any European country. With this Certificate, travelers will be able to enter Spain in a more agile and simple way, and avoiding waiting and additional controls.

This new system that has come into force today, represents a decisive step in the opening of Spain to safe international mobility, and has been possible thanks to the evolution of information systems and technological platforms developed by the Ministry of Health to guarantee the maximum effectiveness of sanitary control in our ports and airports.
This control is a reality thanks to the SpTH system and the health control forms, which will continue to be mandatory to fill out, and also to the devices established by the Foreign Health, AENA and State Ports.

It should be noted that today the new rules that regulate the health requirements that all vaccinated travelers who enter Spain from wherever they originate, will be able to enter Spain. Furthermore, those who come from an EU country, can do so easily and comfortably thanks to the EU COVID Digital Certificate.

CAB note* We repeat, for those entering SPAIN from the listed countries which are exempted such as a UK, are not obligated to follow this rule If there is any update we will let you know.

Translated from the government website.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.