The European Commission announced on Thursday that the European Union will now accept Turkey’s COVID19 vaccine certificates.
EU executive agency has decided to accept COVID19 certificates issued by Turkish, North Macedonian and Ukrainian authorities.
Following this decision, Turkey takes part in the EU’s COVID19 pass system that guarantees free travel to and within the European countries.
As of Friday, people holding Turkish COVID19 certificates can move within the bloc under the same conditions as European Union citizens.
In return, EU citizens will also be able to use their COVID19 passes issued in their country of origin when entering Turkey.
“As we fight the pandemic together, our partners are also an integral part of opening up safely together,” EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi commented.
He also praised the decision and welcomed Turkey, Ukraine, and North Macedonia in the EU’s Digital COVID19 Certificate system.
COVID Protocol and Rules
The certificate is available in a paper format or as a smartphone app showing a QR code.
The code allows authorities to know the COVID19 status of a traveler and prevents the
spread of the virus from potential carriers.
The certificate provides proof that a traveler received all the recommended doses of a vaccine.
The vaccine has to be approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMA).
It also shows the PCR-test result over the past 72 hours.
or if the person had recovered from the virus in the previous six months.
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CureVac, and Johnson&Johnson are the producers of the EMA-approved vaccines.
Turkish citizens who received both shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the last two weeks may travel to the bloc.
As well as who can provide proof of a former negative PCR-test result or if they had recovered before.
Unvaccinated travelers will have to take a PCR test.
However, Sinovac-vaccinated travelers will have to check the entrance requirements at the target country.
