Article: Europe Doesn’t Recognise Australian Vaccination Certificates

[Townsend]

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

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

Oh dear. We are hoping to go in about three weeks. Is there anything you could suggest we do?

 

[Bryce]

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.

How was your experience in Italy?
We’re booked for April-May. Where it is a little early I wish to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

 

[Princess Fiona]

How was your experience in Italy?
We’re booked for April-May. Where it is a little early I wish to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Fantastic. Masks compulsory everywhere including outdoors, must have FFP2/N95 for transport.

Mainly Italian tourists/ other Europeans but thin crowds everywhere.
Still a bunch of extremely persistent touts at the entrance to the Colosseum

 

[Anna]

@Princess Fiona did you get the swiss covid certificate just for convenience or because Italy won't do them for non citizens/non residents?

 

[Princess Fiona]

@Princess Fiona did you get the swiss covid certificate just for convenience or because Italy won't do them for non citizens/non residents?

There’s no current route for an Aussie tourist to get a vaccine certificate in Italy.

 

[Danger]

Is there an advantage in waiting to get the third dose before applying for the EU-equivalent through the Swiss method? For example, does the EU pass shown the number of vaccinations the person has received?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Is there an advantage in waiting to get the third dose before applying for the EU-equivalent through the Swiss method? For example, does the EU pass shown the number of vaccinations the person has received?

Yes it does show the number of doses, mine shows that I have 3. There’s no specific advantage to waiting right now but might be if and when they mandate 3 doses as fully vaccinated in the EU.

 

[bpcmemorial]

I just retu

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.

There is also a Germany-specific app called Luca: luca - Apps on Google Play

I’m on iPhone not Android, it‘s in the Australian iOS App Store but I don’t know about the Android one, but if you’re on Android try that link and see.

If you can use it, it’ll get you into anywhere in Germany.

Side note: at Toulouse (France) the customs official didn’t scan the code or enter it, didn’t look at the test result printout I had ready, just glanced at the paper certificate and waved me on. I was surprised but didn’t argue (it was Christmas Day mind, that may have had something to do with it .

 

[bpcmemorial]

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

It’ll likely get you through border control but it won’t get you into restaurants, museums, cinemas etc.

 

[Anna]

I can see this is going to do my head in for the next few months until govts sort themselves out. It is going to be a country by country proposition.

Apparently in Italy, according to Traveller Letters today, you can get an Aust certificate converted as follows:

you can get your details entered into the Italian Health System by a GP at certain area health centres (ASL or Azienda Sanitaria Locale). It is free and you just need your vaccination certificate and passport....We received an email about an hour later with a code to login and download our Green Pass. This one lasts for nine months.

I suspect that being able to speak Italian would be a distinct advantage if attempting to do this. I might stick to the Swiss process.

 

[Anna]

Yes it does show the number of doses, mine shows that I have 3.

Is there a way to get my Aust certificate to show 3? After I had my booster I went to download my updated certificate but it only shows my most recent 2 . I have a little hard copy booklet that shows all 3 though.

 

[Lynda2475]

Is there a way to get my Aust certificate to show 3? After I had my booster I went to download my updated certificate but it only shows my most recent 2 . I have a little hard copy booklet that shows all 3 though.

If you download the international certificate it will have all 3 doses on it (this is what you need for international travel as it contains your passport details), the domestic digital certificate is only useful for local apps, it will not be accepted overseas.

How do I get an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate?

The easiest way to get your international certificate is through your Medicare account in myGov or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. See the video below for advice on how to get one. Go to Services Australia for further details.

www.passports.gov.au

 

[pn1]

Early March, my partner and I are due to fly from Melbourne to Sydney to San Francisco. Then from San Francisco to Rome via Frankfurt. I see that Italy requires a "Super Green Pass" but I am not clear on how to obtain that. The websites I've looked at are somewhat confusing. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Hvr]

@pn1 This article may be of assistance:

Traveller Letters: Here's what to do to avoid vaccine certificate problems in Italy

There is some reason for concern about travel to Italy but it shouldn't stop you.

www.traveller.com.au

Good luck.

 

[vbap]

There is also a Germany-specific app called Luca: luca - Apps on Google Play

I’m on iPhone not Android, it‘s in the Australian iOS App Store but I don’t know about the Android one, but if you’re on Android try that link and see.

If you can use it, it’ll get you into anywhere in Germany.

Side note: at Toulouse (France) the customs official didn’t scan the code or enter it, didn’t look at the test result printout I had ready, just glanced at the paper certificate and waved me on. I was surprised but didn’t argue (it was Christmas Day mind, that may have had something to do with it .

I installed Luca on my Android phone just now. I am still in Aus but may travel to Germany for work late next month.

Seems it only generates a QR code for your contact details (name address phone number). I guess I would still need to convert my Australian international vaccine certificate into Euro format at a pharmac_ in Germany then use Luca to add the QR code? (tried adding aus ivc but of course it could not read the format)

 

[MelMel]

I asked my cousin-in-law who is working at the Embassy in Rome for DFAT (trade side). They said the problem is a combination of both Governments being stubborn. Australia won’t issue certificates with a QR code that can be read in the same way as EU certs and Italy won’t (easily) allow Australian certs to be converted to the EU pass.
They have a work colleague arriving from Australia and they have been strongly advised to travel to Paris, Geneva or Brussels first and get their EU pass there.

 

[SydY]

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.

Thanks for the update. Does the Swiss Certificate has a limited life and does it come electronically

 

[Oubline]

Thanks for the update. Does the Swiss Certificate has a limited life and does it come electronically

It comes electronically (via email and into the app as well if you want to install that). You can scan the QR code from the email certificate into some other countries apps (e.g. France) although I don’t think it’s necessary.

The expiry listed on it is one year after the date of your most recent shot. But it’s caveated as being the expiry date for the pass ‘in Switzerland’. I think it might be up to other countries how long they accept the certificates to last (I think the EU standard is currently nine months).

 

[Duffa]

My son is currently on holiday in Paris.
He sent me photos from the Louvre yesterday. And various restaurants and public places. No problems with access.
I recall him telling me with glee that he had downloaded the French Covid app and had managed to upload his Aussie details onto it.
I'm not sure if he was talking about his RAT result or his Covid cert but I will update you all when he wakes up.
I can also say for CERTAIN that he has not spent any money in a pharmac_ for I have no doubt that he would have been whingeing about that!! (Chip off the old block, really)

EDIT:
He went to a pharmac_ as soon as he arrived and paid 36 Euros !!! Maybe he isn't a chip! Though he did try in vain to find someone NOT charging the 36. The French Govt website says that the maximum fee a pharmacist may charge is 36Euros so no surprises that they're charging the top fee.

 

[Anna]

Some French pharmacies don't charge but I haven't found out any specific ones yet.