Il European green pass has officially entered into force. From today, Thursday 1 July, to move safely from one country to another in the European Union and the Schengen area, it is necessary to request the single community digital certification. A fundamental document for those who have to go abroad in the coming months and which can be obtained in three ways:
- after receiving the vaccine (one or two doses, the rule varies from country to country);
- after carrying out a negative antigen or molecular test;
- after recovering from Covid-19.
Possession of the European green pass serves to avoid having to undergo a test upon arrival at your destination or, even worse, having to spend part of your holidays in quarantine.
Before setting off on the road, it is therefore advisable to find your own certificate, but also to check the rules imposed by individual countries. The European Union has created a portal, Reopen EU, where it is possible to find the rules established by each state.
EUROPEAN GREEN PASS: HOW TO GET IT
The European green pass, such as the Italian one, is available in both paper and digital format. The methods of obtaining it are also similar. Five ways to follow:
- Download it from national site which from today also contains the EU certification;
- use the Immuni App;
- use the Me App;
- use the Electronic Health Record;
- ask your doctor, pediatrician or trusted pharmacy to have it, using your health card.
Choosing one of the tools available, you need to authenticate (via Spid, Cie or health card). At that point, your certificate with QR Code is displayed. You need to save and keep the QR code in the photo gallery of your smartphone (or print it), so that you can show it if necessary.
As mentioned, the green pass is obtained after the vaccine, after a negative molecular or antigen test or once recovered from Covid-19.
EUROPEAN GREEN PASS: FIRST OR SECOND DOSE?
The answer, we say it right away, varies from country to country. There are Member States, such as Italy, which have decided to issue and accept the European Green Pass after the first dose, others (several) which have established that arriving citizens must have received both doses (only one if Johnson & Johnson) . Not only that, the days also vary: ok to the certificate after 14, 22, 42 days and so on.
In general, the most widespread rule is to consider complete vaccination 14 days after the second dose of the vaccine, but before traveling to another European state it is good to check what the rules are established for incoming travellers.
EUROPEAN GREEN PASS: WHERE YOU CAN GO WITH THE FIRST DOSE
In addition to Italy, which however is evaluating a possible remodulation of the green pass by virtue of the diffusion of the Delta variant of Covid-19, there are three countries that allow free entry after the first dose:
- la Croatia: you enter with the green pass 22-42 days after the first dose of Pfizer and Moderna or 22-84 days after the first dose of Astrazeneca;
- theAustria: green light at the entrances after the first dose taken at least 22 days before arrival and no more than three months before.
- la Czech Republic: admissions allowed after 22 days and within 3 months of the first dose.
EUROPEAN GREEN PASS: WHERE YOU NEED THE SECOND DOSE
Many of the main European countries, on the other hand, require both doses for entrances with a green pass. Let's take some examples:
- Spain: before arriving you need to fill in and sign a form on the site Spain Travel Health through which you will have access to a QR Code to show at the airport. From today, 1 July, the form will be joined by the green pass, valid 15 days after the second dose (or only one if J&J), which gives access to faster checks. Without a green pass, travelers have to go through a much longer process of checks and in any case a vaccination certificate, a recovery certificate, or a negative test (in Spanish or English) is required.
- Greece: the European green pass is valid 15 days after the second dose, within 48 hours of the rapid test, within 72 hours of the molecular test. The certificate must also be accompanied by the form of "Passenger Locator Shape (PLF)” thanks to which you receive a code via email.
- France: also in this case the ok to the green pass is obtained 15 days after the second dose. If, on the other hand, the vaccine received is J&J, a month will have to pass from the single dose received. The first dose, on the other hand, is sufficient for entry with a green pass (but 15 days after administration) if the traveler certifies that he has recovered from Covid. In the absence of a vaccine, citizens recovered from Covid need a negative molecular or antigenic test.
Given the strong interchange, it is also worth remembering the rules that apply to the UK: our country advises against going, given the increase in infections from the Delta variant. Anyone who decides to do so must take a test before leaving, respect the quarantine after arriving and undergo two more anti-Covid tests once the isolation is over. All this involves a considerable expense, it is good to know. On the other hand, those arriving in Italy from the United Kingdom, in addition to exhibiting a negative antigen test upon arrival, must remain in quarantine for 5 days and then perform a second test.
EUROPEAN GREEN PASS: HEAL AND "BUFFER YOURSELF"
The European green pass is also issued to citizens who certify that they have recovered from Covid. The general rule states that 180 days must have passed from the date on which the swab tested positive, but even in this case many countries have different rules.
Differences also for those who undergo the test. In Spain, France and Greece, the antigen test must be carried out within 48 hours of departure, the molecular test within 72. The Netherlands allows entry only to those who have carried out a molecular swab.
