Article: Europe Doesn’t Recognise Australian Vaccination Certificates

[AFF Editor]

Europe Doesn’t Recognise Australian Vaccination Certificates is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Europe Doesn't Recognise Australia's International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

In October 2021, the Australian government started issuing International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates. The government's Smartraveller website

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can discuss this topic or leave a comment below.

 

[ajw373]

This is not strictly true. The international certificates are only meant for border officials not for access into restaurants etc in Europe.

I was there last year and restaurants were more than happy with the Medicare certificate to allow entry, what they were looking for was double vacced and when.

It would be better of course if we used the European standard for QR codes, like NZ has done.

 

[kileskus]

Yeah, I agree with the previous user that it seems to just be for border officials. I had no problems flying with it, but I'm in Canada now and cannot get it to scan. It's actually becoming a bit of a problem because where I am now, they need scannable proof for you to go to liquor stores. It's also not easy to convert to a local QR code (at least in this province) because you need to be a resident...

 

[McGirls03]

We left Australia in late November 2021 on a 10 week trip around the world. Luckily for us we organised an EU certificate through Switzerland before we left. It’s extremely lucky we did as the Australian international certificate was not worth the paper it was printed on in Europe. It has been recognised at airports but the QR code doesn’t work on trains, and at attractions and restaurant. Some people may be willing to view the paper-based international certificate (if they can read English), but many will just turn people away without a valid EU pass. We observe this time and time again with American tourists trying to use their CDC cards. The EU pass was hands down the best money spent so far.

 

[Martin1]

So is there any other alternative to get the EU cert before we leave Australia ?

 

[Barry Russell]

Having just returned from 6 weeks in Netherlands, France and Belgium, I was surprised that my AU International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate QR Code was not recognised (except when checking in for airline flights) in European countries. However, in practical terms this did not seem to be a big deal - all venues accepted visual proof of my certificate which contains passport number and vaccination details. In Belgium, I was able to use these details also to generate for free a QR Code on the Belgium Covid app. In France, the Belgian code was not recognised, and yes, you can obtain a QR code for the French Pass Sanitaire at selected pharmacies, but it is a blatant ripoff at Euro36 - I refused to obtain, but in practice showing visual proof of the AU international certificate was all that was required during my two weeks in Paris. A pity our Australian Government has (once again) let us down in not ensuring the AU International Certificate is compatible with Europe’s standard.

 

[Jennifer Cook]

The Swiss route as explained in the article is fast and easy. My partner just used it in November, applied before he left, it took 48 hours and we used a cancellable hotel booking confirmation as proof of travel (he wasn’t going to Switzerland only Italy, France and Netherlands) and cancelled it soon as the certificate appeared in the app. Used it everywhere he went, not a problem.

 

[Martin1]

Fantastic! So it's the EU app thats required ?

 

[RTWtraveler]

We completed a trip in December 2021 to Munich, Milan, Zurich and San Francisco to visit family and friends for Christmas/New Years. In Germany and Italy our International certificate was accepted, but QR code could not be read.Recommend having a hard copy, as the digital copy was not always accepted and does not always show three vaccinations. In Munich you needed a RAT within 24hrs to visit museums. Be sure you have your passport, too. In both countries there were frequent, free RAT test stations. To enter Switzerland you need to fill out an on line declaration, to include where you will be staying and have a PCR with in 72 hrs. We took the train from Milan to Zurich, which I recommend, but there were no boarder checks. The next day the Canton contacted us send them a digital copy of our PCR result. At the tourist office at the main train station we converted our AU international certificate to the Swiss digital certificate ( 30 ChF). This certificate is good in the EU for one year. We are returning to Europe later in the year, so we are set.

 

[Barry Russell]

Not rocket science - NZer's have got compatable QR codes for their International Certificates

 

[bpcmemorial]

In Paris maybe, but not everywhere. I’m in rural southwest France at the moment (whooo!), though sadly not for that much longer, and the Oz international certificate won’t get you far here. I coughed up my €36 in a pharmac_, though I had to go a while to find one (I was their third conversion, previous two from USA and Mozambique). The converted certificate is valid everywhere in the EU, and can be uploaded into all EU countries’ covid apps. That’s part of the point - it’s not just for access, it’s also for their track & trace systems. I resented the €36, but it’s not the French government I feel it towards.

Having just returned from 6 weeks in Netherlands, France and Belgium, I was surprised that my AU International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate QR Code was not recognised (except when checking in for airline flights) in European countries. However, in practical terms this did not seem to be a big deal - all venues accepted visual proof of my certificate which contains passport number and vaccination details. In Belgium, I was able to use these details also to generate for free a QR Code on the Belgium Covid app. In France, the Belgian code was not recognised, and yes, you can obtain a QR code for the French Pass Sanitaire at selected pharmacies, but it is a blatant ripoff at Euro36 - I refused to obtain, but in practice showing visual proof of the AU international certificate was all that was required during my two weeks in Paris. A pity our Australian Government has (once again) let us down in not ensuring the AU International Certificate is compatible with Europe’s standard.

 

[windycityf]

HI
I have the US paper vaccine card. I went to Germany visited a pharmac_ and got the EU certificate. This allowed me to get TousAntiCovid app for France that I just scanned the EU QR code and it was done.
Basically if you want to make your life easy, take the AU certificate to get the EU certificate.

I have to my take my US one to an Australia vaccine provider to the Australia code for the QLD app.

It's going to be very interesting in the States when some states/cities are requiring proof of vaccine but there is not uniform approach on how to handle it. I have more apps/codes then I can manage at this point

 

[V1V2]

Can AFF take this up with the Government here in Australia and enquire if the Governmant has plans to adjust the certificate so that it's compatible in EU, especially considering NZ has easily done that? Please let us know if so. Thanks

 

[ajw373]

as mentioned the international certificate is border officials only. It is linked somehow through IATA and basically cannot be scanned by anyone other than border officials.

 

[Prof Henry]

Gold standard!
Best in the world!
Leading the world on this one!
... waiting for the next international embarrassment

 

[Jennifer Cook]

Fantastic! So it's the EU app thats required ?

Just follow the process here: Covid certificate immunity request and you can store the certificate in the app or print it out.

 

[Martin1]

Just follow the process here: Covid certificate immunity request and you can store the certificate in the app or print it out.

Thanks so much.

 

[desertrat]

Yeah, I agree with the previous user that it seems to just be for border officials. I had no problems flying with it, but I'm in Canada now and cannot get it to scan. It's actually becoming a bit of a problem because where I am now, they need scannable proof for you to go to liquor stores. It's also not easy to convert to a local QR code (at least in this province) because you need to be a resident...

Do you know if the EUDCC will work in Canada?

 

[Prof Henry]

Thanks v much Jennifer.

 

[justin23]

It is linked somehow through IATA and basically cannot be scanned by anyone other than border officials.

which likely answers my question. What about the IATA App, that I've added my passport details and vaccination details into, that seemd to go through some process of acceptance.....

Sounds like airports only for the IATA Travel Pass app.