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ARCHIVED - Murcia prepares to issue Covid passports before the end of June
The document will allow quarantine-free travel to almost all of Europe except the UK
As more and more of the population in Spain complete their coronavirus immunization procedures – almost half of the over-50s in this country are now fully vaccinated – one of the most eagerly-awaited steps in the near future, particularly among the 300,000 British expats living in Spain, is the issuing of “Covid passports” which will make international travel feasible again.
The responsibility for producing these digital and hard copy documents has been given to the regional governments of Spain with the obligation to do so before 1st July, and in Murcia it is reported that the deadline will be met comfortably. The Covid certification process is already being finalized, according to Juan José Pedreño, the regional Health minister, and everything will be in place in order to facilitate travel within the EU as of the start of next month.
Travel to and from the UK, of course, will still depend on the restrictions imposed by Boris Johnson’s government.
The information on the “Covid passport” will include personal details and data concerning whether each individual has suffered from Covid-19, what vaccines have been received and when, and, if appropriate, details of negative PCR or antigen tests.
All information will be stated clearly on the written version of the passport – in both Spanish and English - and included in a QR code, and it will be possible to apply for the all-important document from local medical centres, from regional government “Oficinas de Atención” and from the Salud Pública delegation offices in Lorca and Cartagena.
In the neighbouring region of the Comunidad Valenciana the first Covid passports were issued this Monday, and the national government anticipates that most other regions will be following suit during the course of this week.
It should be remembered that those who do not hold a “Covid passport” will also be allowed to travel, but that the process of checking that they meet the requirements to do so will be lengthier and more complex.
WHERE IS THE COVID PASSPORT VALID?
At present the new document will be accepted in practically all of Europe apart from the UK, including all EU states: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden.
Other nations subscribing to the scheme include Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
In all of the above countries quarantines will not be applicable to travellers holding a “green” Covid passport.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A COVID PASSPORT?
The document is available to all residents of the countries taking part in the scheme and to their family members, including those who reside in the EU although they are not EU nationals – this applies to UK nationals.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Covid passport is entirely free of charge.
UNTIL WHEN IS IT VALID?
Initially validity has been set at one year. The document is to be produced in the official language of the issuing country and English.
Image: European Union