Traveling to Europe? You May Need the Hospitality Green Pass

Europe has been open for tourism, for Americans in particular, since early Summer. But with new COVID variants going around, and some of the population as yet unvaccinated, travelers are facing a new hurdle. Enter the ‘green pass.’ Many European countries are introducing this as a requirement for tourists to be able to visit certain tourist attractions, restaurants, and other public places hosting large groups. 

In July 2021, the EU Commission introduced a new initiative that would allow Americans to visit their local pharmacies to obtain a European document with a QR code confirming their vaccinated status. Similar to the CDC card obtained upon vaccination, the QR code could then be loaded into an app on their smartphone that they could carry with them to prove their status as needed. However, this program has not gone smoothly and many pharmacies have chosen not to participate in the program. 

A Digital CDC Card

But now, travelers are able to obtain this QR code via other means. For example, France has eased the process of converting a foreign (American) CDC vaccination certificate into a QR code for download on the app. Beginning August 9th this has been possible so that travelers can have it on hand before their international trips. In order to obtain the QR code, travelers to France must email their airline reservation, a scan of their CDC vaccination card, a scan of their passport, and a complete application to the French government. Additional details can be found here. We have received reports that processing time ranges between 2 hours for one very lucky traveller to 4 days for the least lucky one.

This process was set up to encourage people to travel to France, however it can be used to also travel to other countries in Europe. In addition, Germany and Denmark have a similar program to convert a CDC card into digital form. However, participants would need to apply locally in person to obtain it. 

What Is the Hospitality Green Pass?

Essentially, the hospitality green pass is a digital or paper form of proof of vaccination, a Covid testing result, or a Covid recovery result with a QR code which can then be validated in participating EU countries so that tourists can visit certain attractions. This includes restaurants, bars, museums, public events, gyms, archeological sites, spas, indoor pools, casinos, cinemas, conference meetings, entertainment venues, etc. This is generally the same as the EU digital Covid certificate. Some EU countries have developed their own apps for people to upload and carry as digital proof.

It is important to note that vaccine certificates issued by the United States, Canada, Israel and Japan will be accepted for tourists who arrive into Europe from those countries. 

Currently, 16 EU countries have implemented this ‘green pass.’ They are detailed as follows:

• Austria – beginning August 15, The Green Pass will allow travelers into the country using their uploaded vaccination or Covid status. More information can be found here.
• Belgium – beginning August 13, The Covid Safe Ticket will allow travelers into the country using their uploaded vaccination or Covid status. More information can be found here. 
• France – beginning August 9, The Health Pass is available to obtain via email with the proper documentation. More information can be found here. 
• Italy – beginning August 6, The Green Pass will allow only Italian residents who have registered with the National Health Service are able to convert their foreign vaccination status into a digital one locally. Starting September 1, it will be needed to get onto public transportation such as planes, trains, buses, ferries, etc. More information can be found here. (Instructions are in Italian)
• Ireland – beginning July 26, the EU Digital COVID Certificate can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here. 
• Slovenia – beginning July 26, the EU Digital COVID Certificate can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here. 
• Spain – beginning July 22, the EU Digital COVID Certificate can be obtained by certain individuals and varies from region to region, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Greece – beginning July 15, the CovidPass app can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Cyprus – beginning July 9, the SafePass can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Netherlands – beginning July 1, the CoronaCheck can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Latvia – beginning July 1, the Covidpass can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here. 
• Lithuania – beginning July 1, the National Certificate can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Luxembourg – beginning June 10, the CovidCheck certificate can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Portugal – beginning June 17, the EU Covid Digital Certificate can be obtained by certain individuals, but for now, it cannot be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here.
• Germany – beginning Jun 10, The CovPass app can be obtained from local pharmacies to be converted to foreign vaccinations, but restrictions vary from state to state. More information can be found here.
• Denmark – beginning April 6, the Coronapass can be obtained by local physicians in Denmark, to be converted to foreign vaccinations. More information can be found here. 

As the situation all around Europe is changing, American travelers to these countries will need to check the latest before their scheduled trip to these countries. Having said that, if they are traveling to France, it may be possible to travel to other EU countries from France without having to apply for each destination individually.