Digital vaccination card: What else do you need it for and how long is it valid?

Created: 05/18/2022Updated: 05/18/2022 12:04 p.m

By: Judith Brown

Apart from in hotspots, there are currently hardly any corona restrictions.

What else do you need the digital vaccination certificate for?

Munich – Fortunately, anyone who is vaccinated against Corona and wants to prove their vaccination status does not always have to have the small, yellow vaccination booklet with them.

Nowadays there is the digitized vaccination card, which you can easily load onto your smartphone.

In the meantime, however, numerous corona rules have long since been relaxed and, except in so-called hotspots - where 2G or 3G rules could apply - owners of restaurants or organizers of concerts, for example, refrain from checking the vaccination certificate.

But what else do you need it for and how long is the proof valid?

Corona: Digital vaccination card - What else do you need it for and how long is it valid?

With the digital vaccination card you can prove your vaccination status.

(Iconic image) © Fleig / Eibner-Pressefoto/IMAGO

While Germany, like other European countries, continues to adhere to the mask requirement on airplanes despite relaxed EU recommendations, you still need a corona vaccination certificate for travel to various countries.

The EU Covid certificate in the form of a digital vaccination card consists of a QR or barcode that you can show with the Corona-Warn-App or the CovPass-App, for example.

The Covid certificate is accepted in all 27 EU member states, but also in some countries and regions outside the EU such as Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Andorra, Montenegro, Albania, Switzerland and Turkey.

However, travel regulations differ by country.

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Digital vaccination card: When entering certain countries, proof is no longer required

It is true that you no longer need proof of being fully vaccinated or recovered or a corona test to enter certain European countries.

For the return to Germany, however, yes.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the test requirement.

Fully vaccinated persons currently (as of May 18, 2022) no longer require proof to enter the following European countries:

• Denmark

• Greece

• Great Britain and northern Ireland

• Ireland

• Croatia

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Norway

• Austria

• Poland

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Slovenia

On the other hand, those who have recovered or have been vaccinated must still be able to show proof of recovery or vaccination when entering the following European countries:

• Belgium

• Finland

• France

• Italy

• Malta (Certificate must not be more than 180 days old)

• Portugal

• Spain

• Turkey

However, other regulations apply to those who have not been vaccinated.

Here, for example, a rapid PCR or antigen test is required.

In some countries, however, people who have not been vaccinated can also enter the country without proof.

Does the digital vaccination certificate have an expiry date and how long is it still valid?

When preparing for a vacation, some travelers may wonder if the digital vaccination certificate has an expiration date and how long it is valid.

After all, there should be no nasty surprises at the airport.

In fact, both the CovPass app and the Corona-Warn-App contain a note that “try to have a new digital vaccination card issued in good time”.

In addition, there is a technical expiration date on the vaccination certificate.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), this only applies to the digital vaccination certificate.

There is initially no validity date for the vaccination certificates themselves.

However, this could change from October.

Because with the new Infection Protection Act, which came into force in April, people who have been vaccinated twice will no longer be considered fully vaccinated against Corona from October.

Only those who have been boosted would then be basic immunized from the autumn.

Individuals who have received a booster vaccination are considered boosted indefinitely.

However, they also have to take care of a new digital vaccination certificate, as this is about to expire for technical reasons.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.