Coronavirus: Ministry to clarify EU Covid certificate procedure for those vaccinated abroad

Cypriot citizens and permanent residents abroad have contacted the Cyprus Mail asking how they can obtain the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate, which officially launched on July 1.

The answer is: they must wait a “little” while longer, pending further announcements from the health ministry.

“Those who have been vaccinated abroad must just have a little more patience and wait one or two days for the announcement which will state how to obtain the certificate,” a health ministry official told the Cyprus Mail on Thursday.

According to the European Commission, EU citizens who were vaccinated in a non-EU country can request the EU Digital Covid Certificate from the member state of their nationality or residence.

“The EU Digital Covid Certificate will be issued, if there is a reliable proof of vaccination and if the structure of the health system allows for it. For further information, please address your member state of nationality or residence,” the office has said.

The certificate was officially launched on Thursday but was presented by senior Cypriot officials on Wednesday and became available to the public.

Deputy minister for innovation, Kyriakos Kokkinos told CyBC on Thursday that 50,000 people in Cyprus had obtained the certificate by 6.30 pm on Wednesday.