EU digital COVID recovery certificate

It is possible to create an EU COVID recovery certificate based on a positive result of a rapid antigen test if the test used is meant for professional use and the testing was conducted by a health care service provider who entered the relevant data to the health information system (the Patient Portal). Additionally, the test used has to be in the joint list of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests compiled on the basis of the recommendation of the Council of Europe.

A result of a rapid antigen test bought from a store or a pharmacy and achieved at home or at a pharmacy is not a basis for an EU COVID recovery certificate.

Last updated: 18.03.2022 22:25

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An EU COVID recovery certificate can be created by any person who has given a positive Sars-CoV-2 PCR test or a positive rapid antigen test meant for professional use in Estonia, documented and entered into the Patient Portal by a health care service provider. In order to create the certificate, the person himself has to log into the Patient Portal digilugu.ee and create his certificate. The certificate does not appear automatically.

The certificate can only be created based on a positive PCR test or a positive rapid antigen test meant for professional use, an EU COVID certificate cannot be created based on an antibodies test or a doctor's diagnosis. The recovery certificate is valid for 180 days from a positive PCR result and can be created no sooner than on the 11th day after giving the sample (the 10 days are counted as part of the 180 days). 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. If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly within six months, you can create a new certificate once the old one has expired, or (starting from April 12, 2022) based on the last recovery if the period between the two positive tests confirming the start of recovery is at least 60 days.

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:47

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No, an EU COVID recovery certificate containing a QR code can only be created based on a positive PCR test or a positive rapid antigen test meant for professional use. A corona diagnosis that has been made on the basis of symptoms (an epicrisis) cannot be used for travelling or in other countries.

It is also important to remember that a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use cannot be done retroactively (i.e. after you have already recovered from the disease) to confirm recovery from COVID-19. Thus, if you know that you will need an internationally recognized recovery certificate (e.g. a person's vaccination certificate has expired or missing), you should confirm the diagnosis with a test done at a health care service provider.

Last updated: 31.10.2022 15:59

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If a doctor has confirmed the COVID-19 diagnosis and entered a relevant note to the Patient Portal, then in Estonia it is enough to present the epicrisis to prove recovery.

What needs to be taken into account?

• A doctor's entry cannot be used as a recovery certificate while travelling or in other countries: and EU COVID recovery certificate that contains a QR code can only be created based on a positive PCR test.
• A PCR test on a rapid antigen test meant for professional use cannot be done retroactively (i.e. when you have already recovered from the disease) to confirm recovery from COVID-19.

Thus, if you know that you will need an internationally recognized recovery certificate (e.g. a person's vaccination certificate has expired or missing), you should confirm the diagnosis at a health care service provider with a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use.

Last updated: 31.10.2022 16:03

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If a person has both been vaccinated and given a positive test (a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use), it is possible to create both certificates based on the data. The important matter is that the recovery certificate is valid for 180 days or 6 months after the positive PCR test. After that, a person has the opportunity to either get a new dose of the vaccine or use the vaccination certificate, if she was vaccinated before recovery.

Both certificates can be used equally as a COVID certificate, both in the country and for travelling, but it is important to find out the requirements in the destination country before the trip, as different countries have enacted different rules. The requirements in different destination countries can be seen at reisitargalt.vm.ee (in Estonian).

Last updated: 18.03.2022 21:20

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The EU digital COVID recovery certificate allows a person to prove recovery from the disease. The certificate is based on a positive result of a SARS-COV-2 PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use, given in Estonia, for which the information has been entered into the health information system (digilugu.ee). Creating an EU recovery certificate containing a QR code is not possible based on only the diagnosis of a doctor or an antibodies test.

An EU COVID recovery certificate can be created for oneself in the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee on the 11th day after giving the positive sample for a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use. The time of day is also important: in order to create the certificate, at least 11x24 hours and no more than 180 days must have passed since testing.

It is not possible to extend the recovery certificate. If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly within six months, it is possible to create a new certificate if the old one has expired, or (starting from April 12, 2022) based on the last recovery if the period between the two positive tests confirming the start of recovery is at least 60 days.

Recovery certificate is sufficient for proving one's infection risk status if fewer than 180 days have passed since receiving a positive test result.

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:46

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The EU COVID recovery certificate can be created after at least 11 days and no more than 180 days have passed since giving a positive sample for a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use. The time of day is also important: e.g. if the result has been entered into the system at 17 o'clock, the certificate can also be created on the 11th day starting from 17 o'clock.

The recovery certificate is valid for 180 days starting from when the positive test was entered into the system (the 11 days are counted as part of the 180 days). The recovery certificate cannot be extended. If you get infected with the coronavirus for several times during the six months, you can create a new certificate once the old one has expired, or (starting from April 12, 2022) based on the last recovery if the period between the two positive tests confirming the start of recovery is at least 60 days.

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:53

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The EU COVID recovery certificate can be created in the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee on the 11th day after giving the positive sample for a SARS-COV-2 PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use. 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.

The basis of the certificate is a positive sample given in Estonia for a SARS-COV-2 PCR or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use, for which there is data in the Patient Portal. It is not possible to create an EU recovery certificate containing a QR code based only on a doctor's diagnosis or an antibodies test.

The recovery certificate cannot be extended. If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly within six months, you can create a new certificate once the old one has expired, or (starting from April 12, 2022) based on the last recovery if the period between the two positive tests confirming the start of recovery is at least 60 days.

A recovery certificate is sufficient for proving one's infection risk status if fewer than 180 days have passed since receiving a positive test result.

Estonians and foreign nationals 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. All who wish to get the certificate have to fill out the application and take it 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. The exact addresses and working times can be found on the web page of the Social Insurance Bureau (in Estonian).

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:49

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The objective of the COVID-19 recovery certificate is to offer the user the opportunity to in three languages (Estonian, English, Russian) that they have recovered from COVID-19 based on a positive result of a Sars-Cov-2 PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use.

Last updated: 18.03.2022 21:44

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The COVID recovery certificate can be used for proving recovery from COVID-19 based on the information in the Patient Portal regarding a positive Sars-Cov-2 PCR test or a positive rapid antigen test meant for professional use and, depending on the requirements in force, it can be a basis for release from restrictions and participation in activities or events.

Last updated: 18.03.2022 22:08

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No, you do not.

If you have done a PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use, and the result was positive, you are able to create an EU COVID recovery test containing a QR code yourself at the Patient Portal www.digilugu.ee.

In Estonia, the recovery certificate is valid for 180 days after giving the sample. The certificate can be created on the 11th day after doing the PCR test or the rapid antigen test meant for professional use (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 from testing. The certificate cannot be extended. If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly within six months, you can create a new certificate once the old one has expired, or (starting from April 12, 2022) based on the last recovery if the period between the two positive tests confirming the start of recovery is at least 60 days.

Important! If a doctor has diagnosed the coronavirus based on the result of a rapid test or symptoms, it is not possible to create a certificate containing a QR code at the patient portal. That is, if you know that you need the digital EU COVID recovery certificate (e.g. if you are planning to travel, your vaccination certificate is about to expire or does not exist), make sure to ask for a referral to PCR testing or rapid antigen testing with a test meant for professional use. It is not possible to do the test retroactively.

Last updated: 11.04.2022 16:51

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Each person who has gotten a positive result to a Sars-Cov-2 PCR test or a rapid antigen test meant for professional use, for which there is information in the Patient Portal digilugu.ee can create himself an EU COVID recovery certificate containing a QR code, by logging into the portal.

Important! The EU COVID recovery certificate can be created on the 11th day after doing the test. 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.

The recovery certificate cannot be extended. If you get infected with the coronavirus repeatedly within six months, you can create a new certificate once the old one has expired.

Last updated: 18.03.2022 22:02

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