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While the roller coaster ride of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t come to a complete stop, many European countries are once again opening their borders to leisure travel. While quarantine restrictions have been lifted in many nations, you will still need to provide proof of vaccination. If you aren’t fully vaccinated, you will need to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within 14-180 days. Although your CDC-issued vaccination card is widely accepted as proof of vaccination, if you'd like to partake in the digital passport, there are different ways to go about it. To help streamline the process, various apps and digital passes are available for the EU and the U.K. If you have family coming over from the States, be sure to inquire if they are able to obtain a digital passport. Here’s a quick look at what’s available.
EU Digital COVID Certificate. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is issued by your host nation, which can vary slightly. For those stationed in Germany, there are a few different steps to take. Find a participating “Apotheke” or local pharmacy. Bring your CDC-issued vaccination card and either your passport or military ID. You’ll receive a paper certificate with a QR-code for each dose you’ve received. Once you’ve got the codes, download the CovPass app from the German version of your smartphone’s app store. Follow the instructions and scan your QR-codes. When they’ve been loaded into the app, you’re good to go. Note that you don’t necessarily need to download the app—the QR-code on the paper certificate is sufficient enough.
France Health Pass. Dreaming of enjoying a delicious meal at a cafe in France? If you don’t have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, you will want to apply for a French Health Pass. You’ll need to send a completed application form, a copy of your vaccine certificate, passport and return travel ticket to the French government, who will verify your documents and email you a QR-code that will serve as your health pass. The CDC-issued vaccine card may work for a handful of venues, so you will want to make sure you have your QR-code handy before you go. For more details and the application form, visit diplomatie.gouv.fr.
U.K. NHS COVID Pass. If you were vaccinated on the local economy using the NHS in the U.K., you’re eligible to use the NHS COVID Pass app. You can get the digital version via the NHS app, but you must be registered with a local general practitioner (GP) to use it. Countries such as Spain, France and Malta will accept the NHS COVID Pass as proof of vaccination. However, others may not, or they still may require a quarantine if you are traveling from the U.K. If you received your vaccination at an MTF or on-base clinic, be sure to keep a copy of your vaccine card with you.
If you are traveling back to the U.S., there is still a pre-travel testing requirement. You will have to show a negative test result taken no more than 72 hours before departure, regardless of vaccination status. There are a few digital apps to help keep your vaccination status handy, including Verifly and CLEAR. Certain states, such as New York, have created their own vaccine passport, although it is not nationally accepted or mandated. Check your state’s status before traveling.
