Are you traveling to Europe? The health pass is now only valid for nine months

Until now, it was the key to crossing most borders without too many constraints. The vaccination certificate, issued after having completed a complete vaccination schedule, is no longer valid

. While the COVID-19 vaccine booster campaigns are becoming more widespread, the European Commission will limit the period of validity of the health pass to nine months after a complete vaccination schedule (two doses) from February 1. People who have not received a reminder could therefore find it difficult to travel to Europe.

In addition, while travel conditions are already hardening for the unvaccinated, the authorities of some countries are also tightening the screw for vaccinated travelers, forced to have a negative test to cross certain borders, even in Europe.

Blame it on a health situation degraded by a fifth wave and the appearance of the Omicron variant.

Overview of the measures that apply to vaccinated tourists.

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Vaccination certificates deactivated after nine months for lack of reminder

Until now, the question of the period of validity of vaccination certificates had not arisen. The European Commission announced on December 21, 2021 that their period of validity would be limited to 270 days, or nine months after the primary vaccination schedule. “

”, specifies the Commission in a press release.

People who, for example, received their second dose on May 15, 2021 and who have not received a booster since, will therefore no longer be recognized as vaccinated from February 15, 2022 by the European authorities.

A vaccination booster is necessary before the end of the nine months in order to extend the validity of his health pass and to be able to continue crossing European borders.

A few EU countries had already taken the lead.

At the beginning of December 2021,

and

had already limited the validity of vaccination certificates to 270 days (or nine months), as

had already done last summer.

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In

, a country which reopened to tourists on January 7 and where the administration of a fourth dose is being considered, foreign travelers must present a vaccination certificate dated within 180 days to enter the territory.

"

," recalls the Israeli embassy in France.

In

, a booster dose is also required to extend the validity of your vaccination certificate.

From January 15 (since December 15, 2021 for those over 65), the health pass will no longer work if you have not received your booster dose within a maximum of seven months after the second injection (or a Covid-19 infection).

Consequence: no longer possible to take the plane or a long-distance train and once there, to go to the restaurant or the museum.

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A negative test required for vaccinated travelers

Another constraint that had often disappeared and which now weighs on vaccinated travelers: the obligation to carry out a screening test to cross certain borders.

Many countries (Mauritius, United States, Canada, etc.) already impose this additional formality, but with the resumption of the epidemic, this is also the case in Europe.

In

,

,

and

, all vaccinated travelers must have, in addition to their vaccination certificate, a negative test, usually a PCR of less than 72 hours or an antigen of less than 48 hours.

Originally published on November 30, 2021, this article has been updated.