EU digital COVID certificates

In Estonia, the EU digital COVID recovery certificate is only issued based on a positive result of a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use done in Estonia, for which there is an entry in the Patient Portal.

• If you have recovered from COVID in a European Union (EU) member state, then, based on the Digital COVID Certificate Regulation, the foreign country has the obligation to issue an EU digital recovery certificate regarding that, which can be used just as a certificate issued in Estonia.
• If the EU country still refuses to issue a digital certificate, notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this.
• In addition to the European Union countries, several countries outside Europe have also joined the framework of digital certificates and are themselves issuing certificates that meet the same requirements. More information on the countries that have joined can be found on the web page ec.europa.eu.
• Before taking a trip, make sure what the requirements are in a particular destination country and transit countries: rules for entering the country and for participating in controlled activities (e.g. restaurant, museum etc.) may be different. It would also be good to make sure beforehand whether the destination or a transit country has implemented a testing requirement. You can find a summary of the requirements applicable in other countries from reisitargalt.vm.ee (in Estonian).

Last updated: 18.03.2022 22:10

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No, you do not. It is not possible to issue an EU COVID certificate in Estonia based on vaccination that was done in another country.

• If you have been vaccinated in another country, you can prove your vaccination status with an immunisation certificate received in that other country. Estonia recognizes all those vaccinations that are recognized by the person's country of departure (including, for instance, vaccination courses completed with Sputnik V, Sputnik Lite, Sinovac, Sinopharm etc.)

The certificate issued in another country must be in Latin or Slavic alphabet, in Estonian, Russian or English.

Last updated: 21.01.2022 00:16

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No COVID certificate automatically renews itself after getting the so-called third shot, i.e. an additional or a booster dose. After an additional dose, you can create the new certificate yourself at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee and start using it.

After vaccination with a booster dose the vaccination certificate stays valid indefinitely, regardless of the number of booster doses received.

Important! If the additional dose is your second dose (e.g. you have previously been vaccinated with Janssen or have recovered from COVID-19 and received one dose of the vaccine) and you have created your certificate before February 1, 2022:

Create a new immunisation certificate at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee in order to receive a reference to the booster dose to it. If you do not renew your certificate, the checking applications could mistakenly consider the validity period of the certificate with the 2/2 marking to be nine months instead of a year. The booster dose will be marked as 2/1 on the renewed certificate.

The people who have to renew their certificates are those who have received:

• two single dose vaccines (e.g. one dose of Janssen + a booster dose)
• one dose of vaccine, recovered from the disease and then received a booster dose

How to renew the certificate?

1. Log into the Patient Portal digilugu.ee with an ID card, Mobile ID or Smart ID
2. Press the green button "EU digital COVID certificates" on the left
3. Press the button "Start the creation of an EU digital COVID certificate"
4. Choose a certificate from the drop down menu on the page (EU digital COVID vaccination certificate) and push the button "Continue"
5. Save or print the certificate. An expired certificate will be automatically replaced in Digilugu.

Using the additional and booster doses in other countries:

• We recommend to initially take along both your previous and your new vaccination certificate when you go on a trip, as, depending on the country, a maximum protection waiting period of up to 14 days might apply after a third dose (even if this is a third dose). The old certificate does not become invalid when a new one is created but if you have created the certificate before October 20, 2021, we recommend creating and downloading that one again as well to make sure that foreign checking applications do not show an error notification.
• Before going on a trip, make sure that your certificate meets the requirements of the destination and transit countries by using the Estonian checking application (after checking your certificate for the first time you can make sure that the certificate meets the requirements of other countries) and find out about other restrictions in force there as well. You can find the information from the web pages reisitargalt.vm.ee (in Estonian) and reopen.europa.eu.

Last updated: 13.02.2023 01:19

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A person can check the validity of their own COVID certificate by going to the web address kontroll.digilugu.ee (in Estonian) and scanning the QR code on their certificate there.

Prior to a trip it is also possible to check on this web page whether the certificate meets the requirements of the destination country but only if the destination country has made their requirements available in the application.

Important! We recommend that everyone create a new vaccination certificates for travelling, as certificates created before October 21, 2021 are starting to lose their technical validity in December. This means that they are no longer valid upon crossing the border. A new certificate can be created in the Patient Portal digilugu.ee.

Last updated: 23.11.2021 13:47

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Checking the COVID certificate is not required in Estonia. When travelling, however, both the restrictions at the destination country and the requirements depending on the risk level of the country of origin when returning to Estonia should be kept in mind. The risk levels of the countries are regularly updated on the web page kriis.ee . Overview of the control measures in force in other countries can be found in the reisitargalt.vm.ee travel portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Estonian).

Vaccination or immunisation certificate

Adults (18+)

• The certificate confirming that an adult has completed the initial course of vaccinations is valid for nine months or 270 days from the last shot. The number of doses received are generally marked on the certificate as one dose out of one (for one-dose vaccine or one shot along with recovery) or two doses out of two.

• The certificate issued after receiving a booster does not currently have a validity period i.e. the validity of the booster dose certificate is open-ended regardless of the number of booster doses. The number of doses received is usually marked as 4/4, 3/3 or 2/1 on the certificate.

• Important! If the booster dose was your second dose and you created your certificate before February 1. 2022, you have to renew your certificate at the Patient Portal digilugu.ee to receive a reference to the booster dose to it. Otherwise the checking applications could mistakenly consider the certificates that have the 2/2 marking to be valid for nine months, rather than a year as they should. The people who have to renew their certificates are the ones who have received two single-dose vaccines (e.g. one dose of Janssen + a booster dose) or received one dose of vaccine, have recovered from the disease and then received a booster dose. After renewing the certificate the number of doses received is marked on the certificate as 2/1.

Minors (under 18 years of age)

• The validity period of the vaccination certificate of children and youths under the age of 18 is valid without a term, including upon crossing the border within the European Union. The number of doses received in case of the initial course of vaccinations is generally marked on the certificate as 1/1 or 2/2.

• In case of a close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus, the minors who have been vaccinated are exempt from quarantine for nine months or 270 days from the last shot.

Good to know! If a young person becomes an adult during the period of validity of the certificate, the rules applying to adults will start applying to him as well, i.e. from the moment a person turns 18, the certificate of his initial vaccination is valid for nine months.

Recovery certificate

• The recovery certificate is valid for 180 days starting from giving a positive Sars-CoV-2 PCR test result. It is not possible to extend the validity of the certificate.

• Important! The EU COVID recovery certificate can be created in the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee on the 11th day after giving the positive SARS-COV-2 PCR test sample (the previous 10 days are counted into the validity period). The time of day has an important role: in order to create the certificate, at least 11x24 hours and no more than 180 days must have passed. (Starting from April 12, 2022) If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly, you can create a new recovery certificate at the Patient Portal on the basis of your last recovery, if the period between the two positive tests confirming the beginning of recovery is at least 60 days.

Last updated: 10.02.2023 13:27

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If a person does not have an Estonian personal identification code (e.g. foreigners, foreign students etc) but is vaccinated against COVID-19 or done a PCR test here, he can apply for the EU COVID certificate from the Social Insurance Board.

The certificate can be obtained by turning to the nearest service bureau of the Social Insurance Board (in Estonian) and presenting an identity document (preferably the same one that was used when getting the vaccination or doing the test).

Last updated: 15.11.2021 13:21

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The European Union (EU) digital COVID certificate allows persons who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, given a negative test, or recovered from COVID-19 (according to a positive COVID-19 PCR test) in Estonia to prove that based on the information that is in the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee.

The EU digital COVID certificate can be used in all European Union member states according to the requirements in force (e.g. to travel, to participate in activities etc.).

It is possible to create the certificate in the Patient Portal for oneself: see the instructions (in Estonian).

Last updated: 15.03.2022 00:02

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It is not obligatory. The objective of a digital COVID certificate is to offer a solution that would allow people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus in Estonia, given a negative test, or recovered from COVID-19 (according to a positive COVID-19 PCR test) to prove it based on the information that is in the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee.

Last updated: 08.10.2021 10:31

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If it is not possible for a person to enter the Patient Portal and create the certificate at home for technical reasons or there is no possibility to print out the certificate, the person can turn to the local library, for instance. This does presume the existence of a working ID card and passwords. If necessary, the social worker of the local municipality can also assist the person.

If the obstacle turns out to be the expiration of the ID card passwords or the passwords are lost altogether, it is possible apply for a new username and password from the Police and Border Guard Board. This service costs 5 Euros.

Estonians and foreign nationals with an Estonian personal identification code who cannot create their own EU COVID certificates in the Patient Portal can submit an application for it at all the service bureaus of the Social Insurance Board.

People who are turning to the Social Insurance Board must have an Estonian personal identification code and an identity document in order to create the certificate. All who wish to get the certificate can fill out the application (DOCX) beforehand and print it out. The application must be taken to the suitable service bureau of the Social Insurance Board after which the EU COVID certificate will be sent to the person's e-mail address within three working days. Even though it is possible to create a vaccination certificate after only one dose, in order to participate in different events in Estonia, the course of vaccinations has to be completed. The service is free of charge to all.

More info on the web page of the Social Insurance Board.

Last updated: 26.08.2021 13:52

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Estonians and foreigners who have an Estonian personal identification code for whom it is not possible to log into the Patient Portal for technical reasons or who cannot create the EU COVID certificates in the Patient Portal, can submit an application for that in all service bureaus of the Social Insurance Board.

In order to create the certificate, the people who turn to the Social Insurance Board must have:

• an Estonian personal identification code and an identification document
• the vaccine must have been administered in Estonia

Everyone who wishes to receive a certificate can fill out an application (DOCX) in advance and print it out. An application that has either been filled out in advance or on the spot must be submitted to a suitable service bureau of the Social Insurance Board and an EU COVID certificate will be sent to the person's e-mail address within three working days from that. Even though a vaccination certificate can already be created after one vaccination, in order to participate in different events and activities in Estonia, the course of vaccinations has to be completed. The service is free of charge for everyone. More info from the web page of the Social Insurance Board.

If a person does not have the possibility to print out the certificate or display it from a smartphone, they also have the opportunity, for instance, to turn to the local library. This, however, requires a working ID card and PIN codes. If necessary, a person can also be assisted by the social worker of the local municipality.

If the PIN codes of the ID card are expired or lost, it is possible to apply for a new username and password from the service offices of the Police and Border Guard Board. The service costs 5 Euros.

Last updated: 23.09.2021 15:32

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There are two QR codes on each certificate for checking: one (smaller) takes to the web page that has been designated for verification, and the other (larger) QR code allows verifying that the data on the certificate is correct and authentic.

The certificates can be checked with the QR code scanning application on the web page kontroll.digilugu.ee (it is not possible to do this with regular QR code readers).

The solution makes it possible to evaluate the authenticity of the certificate and whether it meets the requirements currently in force in Estonia. Upon scanning, the person doing the check will be displayed three colours: green (the certificate is valid), orange (the information on the certificate does not meet the requirements in force in Estonia or requires the checking of additional data, e.g. age), and red (technical error of the certificate, the certificate is not valid).

The checking application shows whether:

• the course of vaccination has been completed (1/1, 2/2, with the booster dose 3/3, 2/1)
• at least 14 days have passed since the last vaccination, or at least 7 days if the vaccine used was the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty
• the period that has passed since the last shot is no more than nine months from the initial course of vaccinations or a year since the booster dose for adults. The vaccination certificate of minors (under 18 years of age) is valid without a term or until they become adult.
• the sample for the PCR test with a negative result has been taken within the past 72 hours
• the sample for the rapid test with a negative result has been taken within the past 48 hours
• the sample of the PCR test with a positive result has been taken more than 11 days and no more than 180 days ago (i.e. the person has recovered from the coronavirus within the past six months)
• the sample for a rapid antigen test meant for professional use has been taken more than 11 days and no more than 180 days ago (i.e. the person has recovered from the coronavirus within the past six months).

If needed, the checking application can also be used to check whether your certificate meets the requirements in force in chosen other European Union member states.

More information: The guidelines for checking the EU COVID certificates (in Estonian).

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:42

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The checking website kontroll.digilugu.ee (in Estonian) is meant for checking the validity of the digital COVID-19 certificate, e.g. when crossing a border.

If needed, the checking application can also be used to check whether your certificate meets the requirements in force in chosen other European Union member states.

More information: The guidelines for checking the EU COVID certificates (in Estonian).

Last updated: 15.03.2022 00:05

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Each digital COVID-19 certificate contains a digitally signed QR code that contains relevant information on the certificate. A digital signature is created with the signee's cryptographic private key and a trusted institution's (TEHIK - the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre in Estonia) public key.

Each member state of the EU creates its own solution for checking the certificates, e.g. a web or mobile application through which it is possible to check the authenticity of the certificate in the destination country. When the owner of the certificate presents his certificate in some other member state, it is possible to check its authenticity, integrity and validity with a public key, as this key is being exchanged through a central gateway (EU Gateway) of the EU.

In Estonia, the web page kontroll.digilugu.ee has been created for that, allowing to check the authenticity of the certificate and whether it meets the requirements currently in force in Estonia. The person doing the check will be displayed three colours: green (the certificate is valid), orange (the information on the certificate does not meet the vaccination or recovery conditions in force in Estonia), and red (technical error and/or the certificate is not valid).

If needed, the checking application can also be used to check whether your certificate meets the requirements in force in chosen other European Union member states.

More information: The guidelines for checking the EU COVID certificates (in Estonian).

Last updated: 15.10.2021 12:07

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The QR code on the certificate cannot be read with a regular QR code reading application, it requires a QR code reading application that meets the European Union conditions. People who so wish can verify the validity of their certificate with the web application that can be found on the web page kontroll.digilugu.ee. The person doing the check will be displayed three colours: green (the certificate is valid), orange (the information on the certificate does not meet the vaccination or recovery conditions in force in Estonia), and red (techincal error and/or the certificate is not valid).

Last updated: 07.09.2021 21:54

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