The European Commission has adopted four decisions certifying that the COVID-19 certificates issued by Georgia, Moldova, New Zealand, and Serbia are equivalent to the EU COVID digital certificate. The four countries will be connected to the EU system and their COVID certificates will be accepted under the same conditions as the EU COVID Digital Certificate.

At the same time, the four countries agreed to accept the EU Digital COVID Certificate for EU travel to their countries.

“I am pleased to see that the number of countries wishing to join the EU system continues to grow. Through today’s decisions, 49 countries and territories on five continents are connected to the EU COVID digital certificate system. We continue our efforts to strengthen people’s confidence in safe travel inside and outside the EU,” said Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders.

For his part, Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said: “As we have been with our partners in the fight against the pandemic, we continue to work together to open ourselves safely. We bring good news ahead of the Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting. Today, I welcome the fact that Georgia, Moldova, and Serbia have joined our COVID digital certificate system, and I look forward to more of our neighbors connecting as soon as possible.”

The four Commission decisions adopted on Monday, November 15, will enter into force on November 16. So far, 22 non-EU countries (and territories) have joined the EU COVID digital certificate system.

The EU digital certificate system for COVID comprises three distinct types of COVID-19 certificates: a vaccination certificate, a test certificate, and a cure certificate.

The EU COVID digital certificate is accepted in all EU Member States. It helps to ensure that the restrictions currently in place can be lifted in a coordinated manner. When traveling, the holder of the EU COVID digital certificate should, in principle, be exempted from restrictions on free movement: Member States should refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions on holders of an EU COVID digital certificate unless they are necessary and proportionate to protect public health. In such a case, in response to new concerns, that Member State should notify the Commission and all other Member States and justify that decision.