Article: Europe Doesn’t Recognise Australian Vaccination Certificates

[Princess Fiona]

I wonder if they are just checking in Geneva for the free option, and for the paid option in other cantons happy to take the $?

For anyone who has been in the UK recently, is there an app you need to attend hospitality venues etc?

No App
There are no check-ins

 

[woodyren]

Reply from my local member to my question on where we are going with compatibility.



"Thank you for your email to Alex Hawke MP regarding international vaccination certificates. Alex has asked me to reply on his behalf and our office has been investigating this issue on your behalf with the Foreign Minister.



Australia has adopted the international standard for the COVID-19 vaccination certificates developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which leverages global ePassport technology used by more than 140 countries. These certificates are widely accepted at borders around the world, including in Europe.



Most countries, including major travel destinations for Australians in North America and Asia, are not using the EU’s format. The EU’s software for checking vaccination certificates can’t scan QR codes in other formats. We are working with other countries to encourage the European Commission to address this problem.



This is a European problem; its systems are currently incompatible with vaccination certificates used by the majority of the world’s travellers. The Australian Government has been engaging intensely over the past year with the European Commission, both directly and in coordination with other countries also affected; and, individual EU governments on a country-by-country basis to encourage them to implement interim options for travellers without DCC certificates until a global interoperable system is in place.



Applications for ‘equivalence’ are only successful if countries agree to issue vaccination certificates in the EU’s format. No other formats, including the international standard, can be accepted. Most countries outside Europe already have their own systems, are not seeking to adopt the EU format and have arrangements in place to accept other types of foreign vaccination certificates. Examples include the United States, Canada, China, India, Brazil and Japan.



We will continue to work with EU countries on taking a flexible approach to the acceptance of foreign vaccination certificates. Some European countries have systems for vaccinated travellers to get EU certificates if they show foreign proof of vaccination. In France, this involves going to a pharmac_. Belgium and Switzerland offer an online service. Others, such as Denmark and Iceland, accept Australian certificates to enter venues without any need to scan the QR code.



Our embassies in Europe are encouraging other European countries to streamline arrangements in similar ways to make things easier for travelling Australians.



Given COVID-19 restrictions in other countries change frequently, travellers should always research what they will need when travelling into and within different countries. The latest guidance for each country is available on Smartraveller: Homepage | Smartraveller. We would strongly encourge you to check out the Smartraveller website.



If we can be of any further assistance on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch."



Kind regards



William Olive

Office of the Hon Alex Hawke MP | Federal Member for Mitchell

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs

 

[Must...Fly!]

You'd hope mandates for dining at restaurants etc would be a thing of the past well before global bureaucracy gets around to having a worldwide accepted vaccine certificate...

 

[jrfsp]

Sounds like its not going to happen! How many people in the wider community (especially people less confident with technology etc) will be put off going to the EU because its all too hard.

If NZ can do it, i cannot understand why we cant.

 

[Lynda2475]

The response from Mr Hawke's office seems to based on waiting for EU to change their app to accept ICAO format. What is needed in the mean time is needed is an online service for Aussies to upload their international vax certificate and then have an EU compliant one issued in return. TBH this should be a service offered at the EU airport you enter through, since the airports accept the international certificates for entry.

Individuals can then just upload their EU compliant certificate to which ever EU app they need.

 

[geoffro_22]

Does anyone know what the Belgium online system is that he is referring to?

 

[Duffa]

Good news thanks. What were the 6 forms? I see the 2 vax and CRA test result.?

2x EU certificates 2xAus certs (which don't work/scan in EU) and 2xRAT results

 

[Duffa]

Sounds like its not going to happen! How many people in the wider community (especially people less confident with technology etc) will be put off going to the EU because its all too hard.

If NZ can do it, i cannot understand why we cant.

Having now read the politican's reply, I respectfully disagree. It would seem that the UE are being the being the bunch of sh!ts here. Why cant they adopt the ICAO standard? 3.5 billion people in the other nations can't be wrong!
Maybe we should boycott the EU until they come into line?

 

[Lynda2475]

It would seem that the EU are being the being the bunch of sh!ts here.

Yes likely assuming only intra-EU tourism will be a thing for the time being.

If the ICAO standard is what is being accepted at airports, then why are all nations also using that for domestic apps?

Australia is guilty of this too though, as our state based apps don't accept ICAO QRs only medicare issued vax certificates.

 

[infoworks]

Update from Paris
Flew MEL Dubai CDG with Emirates
Arrived at MEL checkin with Australian Vaccine certificate, EU vaccine certificate and negative Covid RA test (done the night before at 9.30pm at departure area Qantas terminal in 20 minutes - lovely staff and very efficient). She looked at all 6 forms and nodded her approval. Nothing scanned.
Got to Dubai - no scans or document checks - straight to the lounge
Arrived CDG - handed over passport - 10 seconds later - stamped and on my way - no forms or Covid documents requested or checked
Taxi from CDG to Montparnasse (fixed prix 58 Euro - Uber 57-64 Euro estimate) No Covid check
Arrived at small boutique hotel - FINALLY got asked to produce EU documents which she scanned with a smartphone app. All good

Good news thanks. What were the 6 forms? I see the 2 vax and CRA test result.?

2x EU certificates 2xAus certs (which don't work/scan in EU) and 2xRAT results

OK, thanks. We are navigating that minefield at the moment!

 

[pn1]

I applied for the Swiss certificate through the Geneva canton and got rejected.

"Reason for refusal : Pour des raisons de fraude, les réservations annulables gratuitement ne sont plus acceptées. Nous vous remercions de refaire une demande en fournissant un justificatif valide. (Due to recurrent fraud attempts, we no longer accept proof of stays which can be canceled for free. Please fill another form with a valid document)"

So I guess they do check. Since my travel isnt till April, I might wait a bit for options before booking a non-refundable hotel

My partner has had the same experience. I applied separately last week and must have got in by the skin of my teeth! What options should we try now? We depart in two weeks.

 

[Bryce]

My partner has had the same experience. I applied separately last week and must have got in by the skin of my teeth! What options should we try now? We depart in two weeks.

What is your first destination?

 

[pn1]

What is your first destination?

My partner has made a non refundable reservation in Geneva ($A140) and has resubmitted her application so fingers crossed this works. We are planning to use the certificate in Italy next month.

 

[madrooster]

It would seem that the UE are being the being the bunch of sh!ts here. Why cant they adopt the ICAO standard? 3.5 billion people in the other nations can't be wrong!
Maybe we should boycott the EU until they come into line?

If the ICAO standard is what is being accepted at airports, then why are all nations also using that for domestic apps?

It's easy to confuse the issues, however the fact is the "ICAO standard" QR code isn't actually being accepted as such at borders. No foreign border has the capability to scan the AUS vaccination certificate QR codes. They just look at the text, see the pertinent details (vaccine type, date, etc) and wave you through.

For that matter, no other country in the world has adopted the ICAO standard, so that's why no one can scan the QR codes on our certificates, unless they download the DFAT provided app.

50+ countries are part of the EUDCC system, so that's basically nearing 1/3 of the world. Why would the EU adopt the ICAO standard if there's 50 countries using the EUDCC system and just 1 using the ICAO standard?

AUS could've brought in a vaccination certificate with no QR code and it'd likely be accepted at a foreign border. There are numerous countries out there with non-QR coded vaccination certificates that look far less authentic than ours yet they are acceptable at a foreign border.

NZ has obviously been smart enough to join the EUDCC system for maximum compatibility. Ironically NZ can't scan EUDCC certificates domestically within NZ so a tourist in NZ from the EU can't easily get around in NZ, yet a NZ'er in the EU would have no issues.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just received my email in the last couple of hours approving my Swiss EU-DCC via the free Geneva option. Downloaded the PDF and imported in to the app, looks all good to me.

I note that the certificate is valid 270 days from my last vaccination (which was on Monday) despite being a booster. Hopefully we won't need further jabs and Australian certificates will be valid for scanning etc (if still required in EU) by then.

Thanks to the posters in this thread for the great info on how to apply (particularly the Geneva method).

Edit: Forgot to mention, for reference I used a flight booking as evidence of travel to Geneva. Not sure I will use the flight as I might now fly in to Zurich and then go to Genvea by train.

Just to highlight the benefit of issuing these certificates, I was not really interested in visiting Switzerland this time around but now I will spend up to a week there just because of how convenient this process was. Compared to visiting any other EU country where getting a certificate is absurdly difficult (if not impossible).

 

[Bryce]

My partner has made a non refundable reservation in Geneva ($A140) and has resubmitted her application so fingers crossed this works. We are planning to use the certificate in Italy next month.

Yes, Italy appears more difficult to get in country.
I’m going to try the free cancellation again for our daughter when she has her new passport.

 

[pn1]

Yes, Italy appears more difficult to get in country.
I’m going to try the free cancellation again for our daughter when she has her new passport.

The Swiss application has been amended to specifically prohibit "refundable" hotel bookings.

 

[Bryce]

The Swiss application has been amended to specifically prohibit "refundable" hotel bookings.

Was like that when I applied, mine went through anyway without question.

 

[aaa99]

Was like that when I applied, mine went through anyway without question.

May I ask who you booked your hotel through. Maybe the provider I am using makes it very obvious.

 

[Lynda2475]

Maybe use a classic reward flight from UK to ZUR, then cacnel flight later ?