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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Please don’t forget! I work extremely hard to produce these free travel guides and posts! If it helped you, or you enjoyed it, PLEASE give it a share on social media, and follow me to keep up with more posts! You’re two minutes of effort truly helps keep my business running! Thank ya!
xx, Alyssa
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It looks like as of March 14th France is doing away with the mandatory vaccine pass to eat at restaurants etc. but you still need to show proof of vaccination + booster to enter the country which can be in the form of a CDC card. When I was there last fall before my booster they were still offering the pass online - but of course, now my original pass is no longer valid. I would think it's still worth getting the updated QR code at a pharmacy when I arrive as other EU countries may still require it. Thoughts?? Am I reading this correctly? https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/pass-vaccinal
Nice! Great to know! Thanks!
I was lucky enough to get my QR Code in Paris when it was still free last August 2021. This was before everything was streamlined. Looking back on it, it was like the wild Wild West then lol. You’re right though mine became invalid January 14th and I had to have the booster added to it. France is the key. I found out from another blog and really risked everything to do it. I’m so happy it worked out as at the time Norway was the one country requiring the digital QR code. Hey, next time you’re in Svalbard, come by the pub! I’m a bartender there. 🙌🏾
I'm glad you wrote this, because some people on IG have been saying they got in somewhere without the booster...not realizing the QR code itself can expire if you don't have it.... Actually I had to cancel my group trip in Feb to Norway because my group couldn't get the QR code (from the US). Annnddd, I was actually contemplating adding Svalbard as an add-on to the postponed Norway trip next year! Very interesting that you work there! It was one of the strangest (in a good way) places I've ever been!
You can get Swiss covid pass online for 30 Swiss francs. It comes in an email as a pdf attachment with QR code. Then you can scan that QR code with Anticovid app (for France) or with Covpass (for Germany) and you are good to go. In order to apply for Swiss one tho proof of travel to Switzerland is required (flight booking and hotel reservation). Turnaround time is about 3 business days from the date you submit the application online.
Super super helpful!
That is GREAT to know! Thanks for sharing!
I just updated mine with the booster. Hotel reservation to any Swiss hotel (that you’ll cancel later penalty free wink, wink) is all one need besides passport photo and vax card. It can be used throughout EU and it updates as valid in all EU Covid apps. It is valid for 270 days after the last booster shot. Turnaround time was 24 hrs this time.
Super good info to know! Thank you!!