Last update: June 8th, 2021.
The Bulgarian COVID passport has officially been launched, making Bulgaria one of the first countries to join the EU Digital COVID Certificate program.
After months of planning and debating, this standardized European COVID protection certificate has been launched by a handful of countries. It will officially go Europe-wide on July 1st.
How does the EU Digital COVID Certificate work in Bulgaria?
The latest news on the Bulgaria COVID pass rollout is that the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria is re-issuing these certificates through the national health information system (HIS) online platform.
Bulgaria had previously launched a local vaccine certificate that was implemented within its borders.
Vaccinated individuals can now apply to have their Bulgarian certificate converted to the standardized EU certificate.
The application process is simple. Individuals must key in their identification number and vaccine reference number to complete the process.
If an individual has not yet been issued with a Bulgarian certificate they can also register on HIS at the vaccination center or their healthcare provider’s office. This registration requires a digital signature.
The certificate will be in digital format and can be displayed on one’s phone, or printed out if security is a big concern.
What information appears on the EU Digital COVID Certificate?
The certificate is a very basic verification and can be awarded to three categories of individuals.
- Vaccinated citizens are eligible after their first dose.
- Citizens who have recently recovered from the virus are granted a six-month immunity period.
- Citizens who have recently received a negative PCR or antigen test result can also use the certificate.
Very little information will be displayed on the certificate. It will show your name, identification number, and the type of vaccine or test you have received.
A QR code will be used to authenticate the certificate amidst growing data protection concerns.
When will the rest of Europe get Digital COVID Certificates?
All 27 EU member states will implement the Digital COVID Certificate starting on July 1st.
From July 1st, there will be a six-week phase-in period to allow time for countries to adopt necessary technology and infrastructure.
The first countries to connect to the EU Gateway and start issuing certificates were Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia, and Poland. On June 7th, Spain and Lithuania followed suit.
The European Commission said in a statement: “Certain countries have decided to launch the EU Digital COVID Certificate only when all functions are deployed nationwide. Therefore, more countries will join in the coming days and weeks.”
The Bulgarian COVID passport app will be replaced by the EU program. The European Commission has estimated that this method of certification should last 12 months.
COVID-19 health situation in Bulgaria
By the beginning of June, Bulgaria had nearly half a million COVID cases. Just over 17,000 fatalities have been recorded.
The country entered its second wave in February. But by mid-May, there was a sharp decline in case numbers. By the first week in June, they were reporting a new infection rate of only 5% of the peak.
The vaccine rollout in Bulgaria has been slow but steady. Around 15,000 doses are administered per week. Nearly 1,500,000 doses have been administered in total. Bulgaria has vaccinated just under 10% of its total population.