EU Digital Covid Certificate available via La Meva Salut App 'in a few days'

The European Union's Digital Covid Certificate will be available for Catalan residents through the health department's La Meva Salut App "in a few days," according to the service.

After logging in, the user will have to click on the 'informes i resultats' tab (reports and results) and select 'sol·licita'l aquí' (request it here) in the 'Certificat COVID Digital UE' section.

A message pops up on the next screen stating that the certificate issuing service "is not available yet."

"In a few days, this will be enabled and you will be able to obtain the certificates created to ease travel within EU member states," it reads.

When this becomes available, people will be able to download either the vaccination certificate, proof of a negative test or a certificate of recovery after having had the virus when applicable.

If they can choose between the three options, the health department recommends using the vaccination certificate "as it has the longest validity, one year" from the moment the last dose was given.

A negative test certificate is valid for 72 hours from the moment the test has been performed for PCRs or 48 hours for antigen tests.

The certificate of recovery will be available from 11 days after someone test positive and will expire 6 months later.

These three documents will also be available for children under the age of 16.

International tourists welcome if vaccinated

As of Monday, airports across Spain accept the EU Digital Covid Certificate and other documents for non-EU countries, meaning that vaccinated people from all over the world – except for those traveling from Brazil, India or South Africa – will be allowed to enter the country without further health checks.

A senior official from the Spanish health ministry, Alfredo González, also said on Monday that certificates have begun to be issued in some regions.  

He added that these documents will facilitate traveling within the Union, but also said that journeys will still be possible without any of these certificates. In that case, each country's health requirements will have to be fulfilled.

These alternative requirements will, however, mean "slower" cross-border travel than with EU certificates.