UPDATE – Corona certificate
Free movement through the EU possible again thanks to the corona certificate
Because of the corona crisis, free movement through Europe was severely restricted. However, due to the decreasing number of coronas infections and the increasing number of vaccinated persons, the European Commission proposed on 17 March 2021 to introduce a ‘green certificate’ to facilitate safe free movement in the EU during the corona crisis. On 20 May 2021, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the digital corona certificate. With the recent European Regulation of 14 June 2021, the introduction of the digital EU corona certificate is a fact. The certificate will be usable in all EU countries as of July 1st 2021. However, this does not exempt travellers from some other obligations regarding quarantine or taking a test upon return to/arrival in Belgium as a Belgian or non-Belgian resident.
THE DIGITAL CORONA CERTIFICATE:
1. What?
The corona certificate is a certificate containing information on the vaccination, the test result or the recovery of a specific person, issued in the context of the corona crisis.
The certificate aims to make travel within the EU easier, as it is valid in all EU member states and will allow the current restrictions to be lifted.
2. Conditions
There are 3 types of corona certificates:
a) Vaccination certificate
This certificate is issued to the person who is vaccinated against the coronavirus. A separate certificate is issued for each vaccination.
The EU countries may decide whether 1 vaccination is sufficient or whether the vaccination must be completed.
The certificate will contain the following information: identity of the holder, information on the vaccine administered and on the number of doses administered, and metadata from the certificate (such as the issuer of the certificate or a unique certificate identification code).
The certificate is valid for 1 year, counting from the day of vaccination.
b) Test certificate
This certificate is issued to the person who has undergone a PCR test or rapid antigen test and has received a negative result. This certificate must have been created recently prior to the departure.
The certificate will contain the following information: identity of the holder, information on the PCR test or rapid antigen test and metadata of the certificate (such as the issuer of the certificate or a unique certificate identification code).
A separate certificate is issued for each test result.
The period of validity of this certificate may vary from country to country. In Belgium, a test certificate is valid for 72 hours, counting from the time of the test.
c) Recovery certificate
This certificate is issued to the person who has recovered from the coronavirus after a positive PCR test. The recovery certificate can be issued at the earliest 11 days after the date of the first positive PCR test.
The certificate will contain the following information: identity of the holder, information on the holder’s past corona infection following a positive test result and metadata of the certificate (such as the issuer of the certificate or a unique certificate identification code).
A separate certificate is issued for each recovery.
The recovery certificate is valid for 180 days, counting from the day of the test.
3. How to apply?
The national authorities regulate the way in which the certificate can be requested and delivered.
Since Wednesday 16/06/21, in Belgium you can request the certificate via the app CovidSafe, via the website mijngezondheid.be, via the website mijnburgerprofiel.be or via the call centre on the number 078 78 78 50 (https://covidsafe.be/en/).
4. Other modalities
The corona certificate will be delivered digitally and/or on paper and is free of charge. The certificates will contain a QR code with essential information and a digital signature that guarantees the authenticity of the certificate.
By scanning the QR code, every EU country can check whether the certificate is correct and valid.
The corona certificate will be usable in all EU countries from 1 July 2021.
WHAT TO DO WHEN RETURNING TO BELGIUM AS A BELGIAN RESIDENT AFTER A STAY ABROAD?
A Belgian resident who returns to Belgium after a stay abroad must comply with the following rules:
- When returning from a green or orange zone, there is no obligation to undergo a quarantine or test.
- When returning from a red zone:
- Those who have a corona certificate (vaccination certificate with complete vaccination + 2 weeks), a test certificate with recent negative PCR test (<72 hours) or a recovery certificate do not have to go into quarantine.
- Those who get tested immediately upon arrival (day 1 or day 2), do not have to go into quarantine. A negative PCR test is required for persons aged 12 years and older. Children under 12 are exempt from testing.
- When returning from a very high risk area, a mandatory 10-day quarantine with a PCR test on day 1 and day 7 applies. This obligation also applies to persons who have been fully vaccinated or who have already tested negative in the country. After all, it concerns dangerous virus variants that must not be spread within Europe.
The colour codes can be consulted via the following link: https://reopen.europa.eu/en.
The use of the Passenger Locator Form remains. The distinction between professional and non-professional travel has been abolished. As from 1 July, a PLF must also be filled in for professional travel instead of the Business Travel Abroad tool (BTA).
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN BELGIUM AS A NON-BELGIAN RESIDENT?
A non-Belgian resident arriving in Belgium must comply with the following rules:
- When arriving from a green or orange zone, there is no obligation to undergo a quarantine or test.
- When returning from a red zone:
- Those who have a corona certificate (vaccination certificate with complete vaccination + 2 weeks), a test certificate with recent negative PCR test (<72 hours) or a recovery certificate do not have to go into quarantine.
- The recent test may not be older than 72 hours before arrival in Belgium.
- Those coming from outside the EU must be fully vaccinated (+ 2 weeks) with a vaccine recognised by Europe and pass a PCR test on the day of arrival. If the test is negative, this person does not have to go into quarantine.
- If arriving after staying in a very high risk area: entry is prohibited for non-Belgians who do not reside in Belgium and were in a very high risk area at any time during the past 14 days. There is an exception for essential travel by transport personnel and diplomats. They must undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine with PCR testing on day 1 and day 7. The quarantine may only be interrupted for the execution of the essential reason.
The use of the Passenger Locator Form remains.
The colour codes can be consulted via the following link: https://reopen.europa.eu/en.