COVID-19 Certificate: FAQ

The EU COVID-19 certificate comprises three separate certificates:

• The EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate will be visible in your MyKanta once you have been vaccinated. The certificate shows the name of your last vaccine, the date it was administered and the number of vaccine doses you have received.
• The EU COVID-19 test certificate will be visible in your MyKanta once you have undergone a COVID-19 test and it has come back negative. The certificate in MyKanta is based on the results of your most recent test.
• The EU certificate of recovery from COVID-19 will be visible in the MyKanta once you have recovered from the disease and your COVID-19 infection has been confirmed with a positive PCR test result or rapid diagnostic test (antigen tests).

An individual will receive certificates from MyKanta service after the vaccination or COVID-19 test information has been saved in the correct manner in the Kanta services.

The certificate includes a QR code for verifying the contents and authenticity of the certificate. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is accepted in all EU countries and in countries that have signed a cooperation agreement with the EU on the equivalence of COVID-19 certificates.

In general, travel should still be avoided, as the coronavirus situation is bad in many countries. Before departure, you should carefully check the corona situation in the destination country and before you go back, the corona situation in Finland and the corona guidelines there.

The Re-open EU (europa.eu) website has information on travel guidelines and restrictions in EU countries.

How to get your vaccination certificate:

1. Log on to your MyKanta at kanta.fi using the identification token of your choice, such as online banking codes or mobile certificate.
2. Select COVID-19 certificate from the left-hand menu. There is also a link to the certificate section on the front page of MyKanta.
3. To get your certificate click on the link “Check if you have a COVID-19 certificate (pdf)”. If you have a certificate, it will open in a new tab in pdf format.
4. Load the PDF file onto your telephone, so the certificate will always be ready when you need it. You can also print out the certificate on paper.

The certificate will be available within five days of vaccination.

Read more on the use of MyKanta: MyKanta online school (Kanta.fi).

The COVID-19 vaccination certificate can be viewed in MyKanta within five days of receiving the vaccination at the latest.

The test certificate is usually available within 24 hours of taking the test.

The certificate of recovery is usually available 11 days after a positive test result.

If a person is unable to get the certificate from MyKanta, they must contact their healthcare provider and request a certificate in printed form. Persons who do not have access to their MyKanta or cannot for some reason authorise another person to use it on their behalf may obtain a paper version of the certificate from their healthcare provider.

You can get the vaccination certificate from MyKanta after the person who administered the vaccine has entered the vaccination data in the Kanta Services in the correct format. The certificate is usually available within five days of receiving the vaccine.

The test certificate is available as soon as the information about the test result has been entered in MyKanta. The test certificate is usually available within 24 hours of taking the test. There may be some delays in updating the information.

The certificate of recovery is usually available 11 days after a positive test result.

If you cannot find your certificate in MyKanta yet, please be patient – your information will be there soon. If you urgently need a vaccination certificate, please contact the organisation that administered the vaccine.

The MyKanta COVID-19 certificate consists of information recorded in the healthcare service. If there is an error in the information given in the certificate, please contact the healthcare actor where you got the vaccine or where the COVID-19 test was taken. Kanta services cannot correct erroneous information.

When the error has been corrected in the healthcare patient data system, a MyKanta COVID-19 certificate is also formed automatically as a PDF file with the correct information.

A minor can get the EU certificates on a COVID-19 test, recovery from COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccinations from MyKanta.

A parent or guardian can view the data concerning a child under 10 years of age in MyKanta and download the COVID certificate. A parent or guardian of a child over 10 years of age can view the child’s COVID certificate in MyKanta only if the necessary changes have been made in the patient data system by the healthcare organisation that administered the vaccine or where the COVID-19 test was taken.

A minor can also log in to MyKanta themselves. To do so, they must have a means of identification, such as online banking codes or mobile certificate.

If the minor themselves or their parent or guardian is unable to access MyKanta to view the data and print out the COVID certificate, a paper version of the certificate can be obtained from the healthcare service.

The printing service is available in most public healthcare organisations. The certificate must be requested from the healthcare unit where the vaccine was given or where the COVID-19 test was taken.

The healthcare organisations will provide further local guidelines on how to obtain a paper version of the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

More information:

• Re-open Europe (reopen.eu)
• Further information about acting on behalf of a minor (kanta.fi)

The certificate of recovery is issued for COVID-19 infections confirmed with a PCR test or rapid diagnostic test (antigen test). The certificate is issued based on the EU Regulation and
EU guidelines. The certificate of recovery is valid for 180 days from a positive test result.

In this situation, one option is to be tested and obtain a certificate of a negative test result. According to a recommendation in the EU Regulation, a negative rapid test result allows travel within 48 hours and a negative PCR test within 72 hours after taking the test. Check the latest border crossing requirements for your destination country before you travel.
 

You will get a COVID-19 vaccination certificate in MyKanta already after the first vaccination.

When you use the vaccination certificate for travel purposes, please check the requirements in the country of destination before travelling. Most countries require a full vaccination series.

The vaccination certificate is valid as a COVID-19 passport if you have received the full vaccination series.

You have received the full vaccination series if your vaccination certificate contains the entries 1/1, 2/2 or 3/3 under “Number in a series of vaccinations”. In these cases, the vaccination certificate acts as a COVID-19 passport after 7 days from the latest dose received.

The COVID certificate is also accepted as a COVID-19 passport when your vaccination certificate contains the markings 3/2 or 3/1. These markings indicate that the certificate is valid immediately and you have received a booster even though you have previously received the full vaccination series.

Vaccination certificate is not valid as a COVID-19 passport

The vaccination certificate is not valid as a COVID-19 passport if it contains the markings 1/2 or 2/3. In these cases, your vaccination series is still incomplete.

The certificate is issued based on the EU Regulation and EU guidelines. In this situation, the certificate of recovery based on a PCR test result or rapid diagnostic test result is used. The certificate of recovery is valid for 180 days from a positive test result.

According to a recommendation from THL, those who have received two vaccinations and have recovered from COVID-19 have no medical reason to take the third vaccination. However, THL also notes that a third vaccination can be given if necessary, for example, for travel abroad. After the third vaccine, the vaccination certificate is valid until further notice.

Positive COVID-19 home test results are not entered in Kanta. A certificate of recovery from COVID-19 can only be issued on the basis of a laboratory-confirmed PCR test or rapid diagnostic test (antigen test) confirmed by healthcare service.

According to the EU Regulation, recovery from COVID-19 is indicated on the COVID-19 certificate if the person has contracted COVID-19 before being fully vaccinated, which, in practice, in Finland means before receiving the first or second vaccination. In practice, recovery from COVID-19 can be indicated on the vaccine certificate in the following situations and in this order:

• 1 vaccination + recovery from COVID- 19 > certificate entry 1/1
• Recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 1/1
• (1 vaccination, no recovery from COVID-19 > certificate entry 1/2)
• 1 vaccination + recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 2/1
• Recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 2/1
• 1 vaccination + recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 3/1
• Recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 3/1
• 1 vaccination + recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 4/1
• Recovery from COVID-19 + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination + 1 vaccination > certificate entry 4/1

If you have contracted COVID-19 after the second vaccination, your recovery from COVID-19 will not be indicated on the certificate. In this case, the entry on the certificate will be either 2/2 or 3/3, depending on whether you have received 2 or 3 vaccinations.

More information on the validity of the different certificates can be found here: Changes to entries on and validity of COVID-19 certificates

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is used while travelling.  The COVID-19 vaccination certificate in MyKanta and the other COVID certificates are meant for personal use.

Use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate when travelling

Before travelling, the passenger must find out which kind of certificate the destination country requires. Each EU country decides for itself whether it requires the EU Digital COVID Certificate from persons arriving in the country. If you decide to travel, please check the destination country’s COVID-19 situation with care and, before the return journey, the COVID-19 situation in Finland and the Finnish guidelines on COVID-19.

Up-to-date travel guidance is published on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi). Further information about travel-related instructions and restrictions in the EU countries is also available on the Re-open EU (europa.eu) website.

The Re-open EU (europa.eu) website has information on travel guidelines and restrictions in EU countries.

Information in the EU COVID-19 certificate is in Finnish, Swedish, and English.

COVID-19 tests for the purpose of travelling from Finland to abroad are carried out in private healthcare. These COVID-19 tests are subject to a fee. It is also possible to get the EU test certificate from MyKanta when you have a COVID-19 test at a private clinic.

However, tests carried out upon return to Finland are free of charge in the public healthcare service. It is advisable to book the return test in advance.

Kela does not reimburse the cost of COVID-19 tests taken in private healthcare for travel purposes. By virtue of the Health Insurance Act, Kela will only reimburse the costs of COVID-19 tests for people with symptoms, and also COVID-19 tests carried out on doctor’s orders on persons who have no symptoms but who have been exposed to the coronavirus in accordance with the THL’s instructions.

It is recommended to use a certificate downloaded from MyKanta and shown on a smartphone. You can also print out the certificate from MyKanta yourself.

If the person is unable to obtain a certificate from MyKanta, they must contact the healthcare service and request a printed certificate. Persons who are unable to use MyKanta or authorise another person to use it on their behalf can get a paper COVID certificate from a healthcare provider.

Vaccination in an EU country

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine in an EU country you will, in principle, get the EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate from that country.
You must get the certificate from the member state that administered the vaccine even if you are no longer staying in that country.

If you have received the different doses of vaccine in a vaccination series in different countries, you will get the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the member state where the latter dose was given.

Vaccination outside the EU in a country with an agreement with the EU on the equivalence of COVID-19 certificates

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine in a country outside the EU, you can utilise the digital COVID-19 certificate granted by that country in the EU area in the same way as the EU COVID certificate if the EU and the country in question have agreed on the equivalence of the certificates.

• List of the countries that have agreed with the EU on the equivalence of COVID-19 certificates (commission.europa.eu)

Other situations

As from 1 January 2022, a municipality must grant the EU Digital COVID Certificate for a resident of that municipality who has a certificate of a vaccine received in an EU member state or in a country outside the EU.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate can be granted only with respect to vaccine products which have a marketing authorisation granted by the European Commission or which have obtained emergency use listing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Municipalities will provide their residents with further information about local operating models.

A resident of a municipality means a person who is domiciled in Finland or living in the municipality, for example, due to work or studies.

If you cannot obtain an EU Digital COVID Certificate, you will be able to get an EU COVID certificate of a negative test result by taking a COVID-19 test in Finland. Please check with a private operator whether it is possible to produce and print out an EU Digital COVID Certificate.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is available from the country where the COVID-19 test was taken. EU countries must also give the certificate afterwards. Therefore, you can request for the certificate from the country where you got the test result. A COVID-19 certificate granted by an EU country is valid in other EU countries as long as the certificate has been issued in accordance with the general practices.

Negative test results are valid for a short period, and therefore it is not worth requesting these results from the overseas country, but it is advisable to take a new test in Finland, if necessary.

If you have recovered from COVID-19 and the result is issued overseas, you can request a test certificate from the country where you were tested.

In such a situation it is probably easiest for you to get your second vaccine in Finland, in which case the information can be recorded in a way that allows you to get a vaccination certificate in MyKanta.

Contact an actor in Finnish healthcare in your area and make sure that you have a certificate or document of your first vaccine dose that was given in another EU country.

Ask a healthcare professional to enter the vaccine you received in Finland as your second vaccine dose and follow the instructions that you are given if the person giving the vaccine asks for more information.

The certificate can be granted for a vaccine preparation for which the European Commission has granted authorisation or which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved for emergency use.

• More information: Vaccine series accepted in Finland (in Finnish, thl.fi)

The EU COVID-19 certificate includes the following information on the COVID-19 vaccinations:

• the name and date of birth of the person who is vaccinated
• information on the vaccine that is given. If two vaccine doses have been given, the information is given only about the second dose.
• information on the number of doses the person has received.
• identifying data of the certificate, such as information on the organisation administering the vaccine
   

Because the electronic or printed COVID-19 certificate and its QR code contain personal data, we recommend that you not share the certificates or images of them for example on social media. Store and use the certificate carefully like any other document that contains information about you.

The change in the acceptance period is relevant for anyone using the EU Digital COVID Certificate during travel. It does not affect its use as a COVID pass in Finland.

The acceptance period of the certificate when used for travel purposes is 9 months (270 days) from the second dose of vaccine. Persons whose certificate has expired and who have received a third dose can visit the MyKanta to get a new certificate of vaccination, which will be valid for the time being.

According to the EU regulation which entered into force on March 31 2022, EU COVID-19 vaccination certificates used for travel purposes will remain valid until further notice for those under the age of 18 who have completed the full primary vaccination series (usually two doses).

The acceptance period of the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be shortened to 9 months (270 days) for persons who:

• have been vaccinated twice and received their second dose more than 270 days ago
• have been vaccinated twice, had COVID-19 after their second dose, and received the second dose more than 270 days ago
• have been vaccinated once, had COVID-19 before or after vaccination, and received the vaccine more than 270 days ago.

The acceptance period of the certificate is extended indefinitely for persons who

• have been vaccinated three times and whose number of doses is recorded as 3/3 on the certificate
• have been vaccinated three times and had COVID-19 before receiving their second dose. Their vaccination status will be recorded as 3/1 on the vaccination certificate.
• have been vaccinated twice and had COVID-19 before receiving their second dose. Their vaccination status will be recorded as 2/1 on the vaccination certificate.

The changes to the MyKanta vaccination certificate will be carried out automatically.

Before travelling, it is recommended to check that the information in the vaccination certificate is correct and, if necessary, to visit the MyKanta to get a new certificate.

Additional information:

• News: THL strongly encourages all those aged 18 and over to also get the third coronavirus vaccination (thl.fi)
• Press release: You can get vaccinated even if you have had COVID-19 – having the disease corresponds to one vaccine dose (thl.fi)

• According to the recommendation in the EU Regulation, people who have received a negative test result may travel 48 hours after sampling in the case of a rapid test and 72 hours after sampling for a PCR test.
• The recommendation states that a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 may be valid 11 days at the earliest and 180 days at the latest after the person has received a positive COVID-19 test result or a positive rapid diagnostic test result (antigen test).
• The COVID-19 vaccination certificate is valid for 12 months.

The authenticity of all COVID-19 certificates is verified with a QR code valid for one year from the date on which the certificate was downloaded from MyKanta. After this, a new certificate must be downloaded or printed from MyKanta. Always download and take the most recent certificate with you on your journey.

Note that EU countries only accept a COVID-19 vaccination certificate for adults for nine months after the second vaccine. If you have received the third vaccine dose, your certificate will remain valid indefinitely.

There are restrictions on the validity of test certificates and certificates of recovery from COVID-19. Travellers are responsible for determining the latest border crossing criteria in their destination country with regard to testing methods and the period of validity of the results. The Re-open EU (europa.eu) website compiles information on travel instructions and restrictions in place in the EU Member States.

Persons who don’t have a Finnish personal identity code can now obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate as a printout from the healthcare service. It is not possible to get the certificate from MyKanta without a personal identity code.

The certificate printed by the healthcare service is the same as the EU Digital COVID Certificate that can be printed from MyKanta. Only the healthcare unit that has recorded the data can print out the EU Digital COVID Certificate on the basis of a temporary identification code. The certificate is printed out of the temporary national printing and recording service or from the patient data system.

Persons who have a Finnish personal identity code and a means of identification, such as Finnish online banking codes, can obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate directly from MyKanta. You do not have to be a Finnish citizen in order to use MyKanta.

According to THL’s guidance, those who have had COVID-19 confirmed by a PCR test or rapid diagnostic test can have just a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine instead of two. If a person who has had a single dose of vaccine is infected with COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine, it is no longer necessary to have a second dose.

Persons who have recovered from COVID-19 and who have received one vaccine dose can get the EU Digital COVID Certificate from MyKanta as from 5 November 2021. The certificate also acts as a COVID-19 passport in Finland. In these cases, they will have the entry “1/1” in the vaccination certificate under “Number of doses received”.

Persons who have recovered from COVID-19 and have had one dose of vaccine can continue to use the EU certificate of recovery as a COVID-19 certificate and passport. This certificate is valid for 180 days after a positive COVID-19 test result.

Travellers must find out which COVID-19 certificate is required when crossing the border to the country of destination and how COVID-19 certificates can be used for other purposes in the country of destination. The requirements in different countries may also vary when crossing the EU’s internal borders.

For the passenger, this COVID-19 certificate will be easy to obtain and present: everyone will be able to present the certificate on their own mobile device or print it out on paper. The certificate will be free of charge.

No health professionals will be required to issue the certificate – it will be automatically generated in the MyKanta service, which will save resources for other tasks.

It will be easy for EU countries to read arriving passengers’ COVID-19 certificates that will be uniform across the Union. Each country will decide for itself what certificates will be required for entry into the country and whether they will require, for example, one or two vaccination doses. Under the EU Regulation, a member state is required to accept the EU COVID-19 certificate, if the member state also accepts other corresponding certificates.
 

Implementation and scheduling of the project would be the responsibility of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) would be responsible for the project as a whole and for the preparation of regulations and international cooperation among ministries.

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) will deal with making the necessary changes related to the COVID-19 certificate in the MyKanta service and will be responsible for MyKanta customer service and customer communications.
 

The preliminary cost estimate for the electronic COVID-19 certificate is € 3.5 million. The estimate includes, among other things, the costs of developing the MyKanta service and making changes to the patient information systems, so that the information they contain would be passed on to the Kanta services in the correct form.

The sum also includes costs of recording vaccination information using a possible separate Kanta-certified application or web service if the changes required by a vaccination certificate could not be implemented for all patient information systems that are in use.

In addition, the estimate considers costs of the work of experts from THL, Kela, STM, and other organisations, and communications and marketing of the COVID-19 certificate.

The goal is that in the future, it would be possible to get a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, as well as certificates of all other vaccinations, as well as laboratory work and other tests from the MyKanta service. The funding would be used to establish a foundation for this development work that would come later.

The authenticity of the EU COVID-19 certificates is verified digitally by QR code. The authenticity of a certificate printed out on paper is also verified by QR code.