COVID-19: EU adopts 9-month validity of vaccinations for travel pass

Once the rule is effective, EU states will be obliged to let fully vaccinated travellers with a valid pass access their territory.

Brussels: The European Commission on Tuesday (December 21) adopted rules that will make the European Union COVID-19 certificate valid for travel nine months after the completion of the primary vaccination schedule.

The proposal comes as several EU states introduce additional requirements on travellers in a bid to reduce the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told Reuters the EU Commission was against additional requirements and was assessing the measures.

The new rules will be binding on the 27 EU states from February 1. The rule can be blocked by a qualified majority of EU governments or a simple majority of European Parliament members, but officials have said there is sufficient support for it.