How to Get an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code

If you’re thinking of traveling to Europe soon, you may be wondering how to get an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code. Especially if you got vaccinated somewhere outside of the EU, like USA.

First things first though — right now, not every country in the EU requires you to have the EU Digital Covid Card. But some of them make it mandatory to have to enter. See my last post about How to Find Travel Restrictions Per Country to check if where you’re going requires it.

This is important because if the country DOES require it (like Norway did which required me to cancel my group trip there), you technically need to go to a country that doesn’t require it first. If the country doesn’t require it, you’re good, and can skip the first section!

Update: You May be Able to Get an EU Digital Covid Card through Switzerland!

According to one of our comments below, someone was able to get the EU Digital Covid Card online through Switzerland! They said all they needed in addition to passport and vax info was a hotel reservation, which they said you can book to use it as proof, then cancel.

You Can NO LONGER Get an EU Digital Covid Card Online

Supposedly this was an option, but it’s not anymore. Unless you’re a student I believe, but I couldn’t find enough information on it to be sure.

Now, you can ONLY get your vaccine card converted into an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code, if you go to a pharmacy in the EU. Which brings me to:

You MUST Enter an EU Country that Does NOT Require an EU Digital Covid Card for Entry

You can’t enter a country that requires the EU Digital Covid Card. If you have your heart set on it, just fly into a country that doesn’t require it, get your vax card converted to an EU one (see below), then take a cheap flight to your desired destination.

For example, I wanted to go to France, but they require the EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code. So I flew to Spain first, which lets you in with your US paper Covid card, then flew to France and got it converted there.

How to Get Your Paper Vaccine Card Converted to an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code

It’s very easy. Simply bring your paper vaccine card and your ID to any pharmacy and ask them to convert it. It will cost you a maximum of 37 euros (that’s how much it was in France), but in some countries, like Germany, it’s free!

If they give you a paper with the QR code, all you have to do is take a photo of it and save it in your phone.

What is the Benefit of Having the EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code

This is also dependent per country. I’ve only been in Spain, Greece, and France in EU so far this year, but I know you MUST show the QR code OR your paper vaccine record to eat at restaurants. Having the QR code is just easier so you don’t have to carry the paper one around.

Also, this may very well change soon, and it may be mandatory to have the EU one for restaurants as well.

What if You’re Not Vaccinated?

If you’re not vaccinated, the only way to get an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code is if you have proof from a doctor that you’ve recovered from Covid.

Otherwise, you don’t get the card, and you don’t get to eat at restaurants, or enter certain countries.

What About Boosters?

Definitely check my post about finding the latest updated travel restrictions starting a month before you travel. Some countries, like France, are now requiring the booster shot for your EU Digital Covid Card to be valid!

They’re also no longer allowing Johnson and Johnson as a single dose. It needs to have a second dose, plus a booster. The good news is that you can get the vaccine and boosters in Europe!

If you have any up to date, accurate tips to share about how to get an EU Digital Covid Card with QR Code, please let us know below!

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xx, Alyssa