EU recognizes PH Covid vaccination certificates for travel
FOLLOWING the European Union (EU) recognition of the Philippines’ Covid-19 vaccination certificates, Filipinos travelling to Europe can now do so with ease.
This developed after the Philippines was connected to the EU Digital Covid Certificate #EUDCC system.
This means that the EU now recognizes the Philippines’ Covid-19 vaccination certificates and, at the same time, the Philippines accepts to recognize EUDCC certificates “according to its own legal order”.
Following discussions between the European Union and the Philippines, the European Commission adopted an Implementing Decision giving technical recognition to the Philippines’ VaxCertPH as equivalent to the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC).
Effective on July 29, 2022, Filipinos traveling to EU’s member states can use their vaccine certificates under the same conditions as people holding the #EUDCC.
At the same time, travelers carrying the #EUDCC can now use it to confirm their vaccination status when entering the Philippines.
“The European Union regards this as an important milestone in ensuring expedite and safe travel and people’s mobility,” said European Union Charg? d’Affaires, a.i. Dr Ana Isabel S?nchez Ruiz.
“We are grateful to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Health and Bureau of Quarantine for their work through the process, and to the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Tourism for their support,” Ruiz said.
The Philippines is the sixth country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to be recognized under the EU Digital Covid Certificate #EUDCC system. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam had been included in #EUDCC.
Globally, the EU has, to date, adopted equivalence decisions with 45 third countries and territories in five continents, which brings the total number of countries and territories connected to the EU Digital Covid Certificate system to 75. The most recent decisions were adopted on July 29, which included Oman, Peru and the Philippines.
Filipino travelers who have not been vaccinated with an EU-authorized vaccine still need to check which are accepted by the relevant member state prior to their travel.
