The EU’s digital COVID card is intended to make travel easier. How to get it?

The period of traveling abroad, which is mainly related to summer holidays, is starting to start, but due to the current situation, it is much more complicated than in previous years.

At the border, and after arriving abroad, stricter measures are in place due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus COVID-19. It is mainly about passing a test or mandatory quarantine upon arrival. However, the so-called EU digital COVID card is supposed to facilitate all travel within the countries of the European Union.

Easier travel

Simply put, it is a document that confirms that the person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, or has overcome the disease or has a fresh negative test. This card is issued free of charge on request by national authorities and is recognized by all 27 EU Member States. It is available in digital form, specifically in the form of a QR code, but it should also be available in paper form.

The new system is to take effect on July 1. The main idea is to facilitate the interstate movement of persons. It will therefore serve to prove, when traveling between EU countries, in a simple and generally accepted way that your entry into a country is safe in view of the possible spread of COVID-19.

It will be possible to travel without it, but a valid EU digital COVID card will make it much easier. In short, it should mean that you should be exempt from testing or quarantine when moving around the EU.

As mentioned in the introduction, the issuance of a valid EU COVID card is subject to one of three conditions: vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, overcoming SARS-CoV-2 or a negative PCR or AG (antigen) test for COVID-19.

How to get an EU COVID card?

As the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic informs as of June 25, 2021, digital COVID EU cards will be continuously and automatically sent from Saturday (June 26) to the e-mail addresses of people who have applied for a temporary vaccination certificate in recent weeks.

Of course, it will also be possible to request manually. Today, June 28, 2021, a form is to be added to the korona.gov.sk website, through which people will be able to apply for a single EU Digital COVID card with a confirmation of vaccination.

From 1 July, people will also be able to apply for a digital certificate on testing and overcoming the disease. For the first few days, it will be available only in connection with vaccination, and from July, the possibility will be extended to the mentioned testing and overcoming the disease.

On korona.gov.sk by selecting the form (which will be available from 28.6.2021) “Apply for an EU Digital COVID Card” the applicant will be redirected to the portal of the services of the National Center for Health Information (NCZI).

• To log in to the NCZI portal, it is necessary to enter the following data:
  (these are the same data that are entered, for example, when ordering or canceling PCR or antigen testing via korona.gov.sk)
• mobile phone number
• COVID-19-PASS, it is a 9-digit data and you can find it in SMS or emails from NCZI, or you can get it at the NCZI Call Center +421 232 353 030 and
• year of birth.