On Thursday, the European Commission announced the adoption of a new policy that will see all member states accept the digital COVID-19 certificates from the United Kingdom and Armenia. This means that, in the Netherlands, anyone vaccinated in the UK or Armenia will be able to attend events or enter cinemas and nightclubs without having to get tested for coronavirus. 

International coronavirus certificates in the Netherlands

When the Netherlands introduced the coronavirus certificate system at the end of September, it meant that anyone who didn’t have a vaccination certificate recognised by the Dutch government would be left to follow the same rules as anyone who was unvaccinated or had not recently recovered from COVID-19.

Not only did this make it difficult for any tourists travelling from outside of the EU, but it also meant residents of the Netherlands who had been vaccinated abroad struggled to register their vaccination with the government. 

The EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate

The latest news from the European Commission should make life a little easier for some as, from October 29, COVID-19 certificates issued in both the United Kingdom and Armenia will be officially recognised as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate, meaning many from these countries will no longer be required to go for regular COVID-19 tests in order to go about their day to day activities. 

In turn, it also means that the UK and Armenia will accept the EU Certificate. Alongside all members of the bloc, 18 non-EU countries are now connected to the EU Certificate scheme:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Faroe Islands
• Iceland
• Israel
• Lichtenstein
• Monaco
• Morocco
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Panama
• San Marino
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• The United Kingdom
• Vatican City

“Safer travel is a reality thanks to the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which is now the leading global standard,” said Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice.