Article: Europe Doesn’t Recognise Australian Vaccination Certificates

[PumaPilot]

I've just arrived in Norway and had a hard time at the border. I'm traveling not through choice but I have to attend training in Norway for 6 days

 

[AnnetteDo]

I just retu

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.

I just returned from a holiday in Germany to see family.
I was able to get my Australian International vaxx certificate transferred to a EU Certificate at the local pharmac_. They issue you with a QR code which needs to be scanned into the EUCovid Pass App.
Unfortunately the Google Play store informed me that - because I am on an Australian Play Store - I can't download the app. Switching the App Store to another country is only permitted once a year.
Solution:
1. the EUCovidPass App allows multiple certificates, so family members, partners, friends can be added. I added mine to my parents' and sibblings' apps so when we went out I just had to provide my ID
2. additional I got my International Australian vaccine certificate transferred to the little yellow vaccine passport (remember those?) by a local GP (some pharmacies do that too).

With those two resources, I enjoyed Christmas markets, retail therapy and nice pubs and restaurants.
I should add though, that some states in Germany don't accept the yellow passport anymore (too many counterfeits) and only accept the digital EUCovidPass app.

As for using the QR code on the Australian International Cerificate: none of the airlines/airports I travelled through and with used it - they all had to manually type in the data.

 

[wunala]

If you have an Irish passport you can have your Australian COVID Cert verified and issued as an EU cert. It took less than 24 hours from uploading the information, and the QR code can be uploaded into Wallet via GreenPass. I will still have several printed copies with me as well.

https://covidcertificateportal.gov.ie/en-US/third-country-cert-request/

 

[GlennT]

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.

Do you have to show a travel itinerary (air or rail) with Switzerland as your destination?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

So is everywhere but France free to do this transfer to EU?

 

[ajw373]

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.

Not sure. My point with the certificate was to reinforce it was designed for the border not for use in country except as a printed verification of vaccinations.

It runs by IATA as that’s what the airlines and borders use to share information like this.

 

[Anna]

So is everywhere but France free to do this transfer to EU?

No. Some EU countries won't do it at all for non citizens and non residents. Eg Netherlands won't do it. Italy I think will not do it. Hungary has a complex process involving some kind of govt interview that I think needs to be prearranged.

In France the pharmacies are allowed to charge up to €36 but they can also choose not to charge, or to charge less. I have heard of one person who found a place to get it done free in France but I'm not sure exactly where.

 

[Miksmith]

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.

I’m old enough to have a cobranded UN WHO/ Australian Government “International Certificates of Vaccination” book that lives with my passport. I have all my Covid Vaccinations stamped into my booklet along with all my others. It I presume is still an official document recognized by all UN Member Countries. No issues with reception or flat batteries and at the end of the day it has always worked for me with no issues.

 

[woodyren]

Is there any word of the Australia government working with EU to address this issue?

 

[vbap]

It I presume is still an official document recognized by all UN Member Countries.

Sure, but in the past how many pubs and restaurants were required to check your malaria and tetanus status....

 

[ozstamps]

I’m old enough to have a cobranded UN WHO/ Australian Government “International Certificates of Vaccination” book that lives with my passport. I have all my Covid Vaccinations stamped into my booklet along with all my others. It I presume is still an official document recognized by all UN Member Countries. No issues with reception or flat batteries and at the end of the day it has always worked for me with no issues.

I have travelled to 130 different countries and still use mine too. Yellow Fever and Typhoid shots seems to be the one thing that these yellow colour books trace, from memory.

So your GP was happy to stamp that book with COVID shot data? Seems quick and easy.

 

[Miksmith]

I have travelled to 130 different countries and still use mine too. Yellow Fever and Typhoid shots seems to be the one thing that these yellow colour books trace, from memory.

So your GP was happy to stamp that book with COVID shot data? Seems quick and easy.

The GP and chemist all stamped the book. I’ve also got a lot of other vaccinations ( 6 plus the Covids )in it.

 

[HenkE]

What is needed as a few have pointed out is for DFAT to simply include the EU QR code on our digital certificates.

However as usual the Australian government's problem has been made OUR problem. they have simply put the pressure on us to deal with it - time to put the pressure up. I will be contacting my federal member and complain about this.

That said, I have a Dutch passport. Will that enable me to get the EU app and upload my 3 shots ?

 

[woodyren]

I contacted Alex Hawke my local member asking if the Government has plans to rectify this situation. Awaiting a reply.

 

[ozstamps]

They will now be out ''War Gaming'' this with General Frewin.

By November (or later) we will have a White Paper, and 16 Committees almost appointed, and 4 consultants, to look at things.

And then we will again end up with yet other submarine that does not work! They will name this COVID CLASS as our Military has zero imagination.

 

[Traveltragic]

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.

That's exactly what a friend of mine did, and she said it was the best thing they did - no issues with entering any European countries, restaurants, museums or cafes.

 

[Traveltragic]

I contacted Alex Hawke my local member asking if the Government has plans to rectify this situation. Awaiting a reply.

Good luck! I find it amazing that Australia is so far behind the rest of the world on things like this. If it's good enough for NZ, why can't Australia also join up to the scheme? We are planning on travelling to Europe later in the year, and I certainly hope it is resolved by then!

 

[Traveltragic]

I have travelled to 130 different countries and still use mine too. Yellow Fever and Typhoid shots seems to be the one thing that these yellow colour books trace, from memory.

So your GP was happy to stamp that book with COVID shot data? Seems quick and easy.

Good idea, I might need to dig mine out! It's been a while since I last used it.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have posted elsewhere on the forum but I just returned from Italy. We had the Swiss passes and they worked perfectly. Entered Italy using our Australian Vaccine Certificate and then used Swiss pass seamlessly elsewhere.

 

[glennp]

The turnaround time for a Swiss Covid certificate is amazing. Applied last Sunday night, received it 12 minutes later.