German QR Certificates

California offers a QR code to the vaccinated. Perhaps Illinois also does or will.

Hi Russ, thx for the reply

Indeed CA also NY offer but a friend with the CA one was rejected because that QR wasn't in the German database the Pharmacist enters one in to. Basically ' you can come to Germany but you can do this, can't do this' all varies by state also by ' employee to employee.' I think there is just no national German directive as to what to do w the CDC cards other than let us in. A system is ' in the works' but has been for months and w no reciprocity on travel from the EU to the USA if we Americans won't develop a synced system I do not see the EU incentive...

In all fairness to the Germans, they just let us back in they just came out of harsh lockdowns maybe in a few weeks will know more and hopefully some travelers return and/or post their experiences ...

Some readers on the Reddit r/travel sub-Reddit reported that they were able to use their CDC card to get a German CovPass at a German pharmacy. Others on the same sub-Reddit reported no luck.

The California vaccination QR codes are "Smart Health Card" URI codes (Uniform Resource Identifier) and requires a separate verification app to actually process it. They are not compatible with the EU "Green" certificates.

My American friends who got their vaccines in the US were able to get the QR code and digital pass at the German Apotheke with no problems showing their CDC card.

I have been vaccinated since July but for some reason couldn't get that app to work on my phone. And I get along with my paper certificate just fine, so why shouldn't you?

I was in Berlin for three days last week and can report on this.

On the morning of the first day after my arrival, my mission was to find a pharmacy that would convert my CDC vaccination card into an EU Digital Covid Certificate (DCC). I went to three pharmacies before I found one that would do it. The first one had no idea what I was talking about, the second said they could only do it if I was living in Germany, but the third one gladly entered the data from the card into the computer and generated a document with the QR code. (The pharmacy that did it was a couple blocks east of the Brandenburg Gate... not far from the US Embassy.)

Once I had the EU DCC document, I installed the CovPass app (from the Robert Koch Institute) and scanned the QR code. This loaded the pass into the app and only needs to be done once.

Doing this saved me a TON of time on the rest of my trip. I had to show the QR code before being allowed to enter numerous places - restaurants, museums, etc. On the second half of my trip, I also used the pass to enter restaurants in Estonia. Once you have the EU DCC loaded into the app from any EU country, it can be used in any other EU country.

So, if you are going, I encourage you to get your CDC card converted. It will save you a lot of time and hassle - no need to carry your CDC card with you, and you will have no trouble with businesses that may not be familiar with the card. Everyone in the EU is familiar with the EU DCC.

I am heading to Amsterdam and Luxembourg next week and expect the EU DCC will continue to make life easy - especially to avoid the daily testing requirement in Amsterdam (for those without a DCC.)

Happy travels!
Dan

Yes, you can enter Germany with your CDC card with at least 2 vaccinations, better 3. - Once you're in the country, it all depends on how you prove your vaccinations on a daily basis. You can try the CDC card but some places (or transportation) can refuse it. For several months now, you could walk into a pharmacy and have them generate a barcode (so called QR code) that verifies/trusts the data you supply. This is not so straightforward, unfortunately. Pharmacies are now required to refuse this transcription if the vaccination was not administered locally. They can't verify the "charge" number nor place and who gave the shot, even within Germany. Fraud is rampant and the Government is clamping down with heavy fines. Bars, restaurants, train conductors, taxi drivers, etc are now very much aligning with these rules.
Bottom line: the EU is not open for business even to vaccinated people. You can get in but that's it, quarantine for two weeks or get a test every day!
Update 2: it's 3G as of today in Europe. Geimpft (vaccinated), Genesen (recovered) or Getestet (a current test) everywhere, including transportation systems. All bars, restaurants, museums and public markets (if their are open) adhere to these rules because of the virulence of the D-Variant.

I live in Germany but was vaccinated on base with a CDC card. I got my CDC card to get the QR code from my doctor, but you can also do it at a pharmacy (apotheke), although in honesty you can get by in Germany at least with just the CDC card. Many military stationed abroad have not bothered to get the EU QR code and get by fine with the CDC card, but it is easier to have the QR code physically in the document they give you or on an app. There are different apps, some work OK with american app stores, like Luca, which is widely used here to both show proof of vaccination and to check in to a location for contact tracing purposes.

For any questions about the EU Covid certificates, it can be worth looking at the official website: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en

In reality, it is not one certificate but a bunch of national certificates with mutual recognition. And not only in EU countries, the EU has also offered other countries to be part of the same system and so far 22 other countries have joined. Mostly European countries but also Israel, Panama, Morocco, New Zealand and a couple of Asian countries.

That offer has also been made to the US and Canada, but they have not been interested. Hence US and Canadian QR-codes are not accepted in Europe. I don't mean to get political, but if you are upset about that, contact your politicians.

As we still see some rumors, individual experiences and heard-ofs here in the discussion I like to contribute the official position again.

The official statement is:
"No information is currently available about how those with a foreign vaccine card (e.g. from the US) can receive a digital COVID certificate which is recognized in Europe. Talks are currently underway regarding recognition of international vaccinations (i.e. received outside the EU). As soon as such information becomes available, we will communicate on this site."

Whatever German pharmacists are doing out here in Germany, it is not compliant with current laws and regulation.

I already informed Thomas Bareiß, still acting Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, about it - without any reaction of course.

so if you've read all the replies, this question started in June and now we're almost in December, one thing is pretty clear: Don't travel to Germany now. They have lost their collective mind. I have asked six people and got six different answers. Because we're having a change in Government ongoing, very little useful is trickling down so the States are making their own rules. But I think the majority of people is now for a mandatory vaccination. It is de facto already now, you can't do anything without it.

As we still see some rumors, individual experiences and heard-ofs here in the discussion I like to contribute the official position again.

Good one, lol. Some real strange stuff here, anyway, as an American who lives in Germany who possesses both a CDC card and a EU Digitales Covide-Impfzertifikat the "official position" isn't the lived experience of the 30,000 or so Military-affiliated Americans who live in BW. But I'm sure quoting the regulations - ooh, and writing in! - will change that.

This isn't to say that Americans should be traveling here as tourists right now, that would be pretty silly just from a practical standpoint.

Don't travel to Germany now.

You can safely leave out the "to Germany". Just don't travel anywhere if you can avoid it while this pandemic is going on and gaining strength again.

Yes, that's an unpopular thing to say on a travel forum, and it's certainly not what I myself want to hear. But basically, that's what it all comes down to. We have known all along that things can get worse again and rules can get stricter again, anywhere we go, and now they have.

They have lost their collective mind.

Not sure what you mean. We're all in this together, all countries, and we're all continually trying to figure out how to best handle this. I am very glad that we have a democracy and a parliament which by definition means pluralism and diverging opinions. What would be the alternative?

Whatever German pharmacists are doing out here in Germany, it is not
compliant with this.

The essence of the official statement is "We don't know". What is there for German pharmacists to be compliant about?

What is there for German pharmacists to be compliant about?

They are simply not allowed to do this. I can assume the reasons why they likely did/do it (get money for not done Covid test) but they have no legal base to do this. I am not even sure that tourists are not cheated - or cheat themslves by misunderstanding - so they do not get a full vaccination pass but only a test result in the app. Pharmacists who do that on regular base can be sure to close their business immediately and get sentenced by court on top.

Additionally everybody shall become clear that Germany has comprehensive crime law parts in Infection Protection Act (IfSG) which uses high penalties and partly prison terms for people who do follow the Covid rules. If visitors from other countries are sentenced for a crime and not only for a regulation offence they might exprience difficulties to travel to EU after, up to denial of entry.

It is not about making fear here, it is about clarity what can happen in worst case when handling this serious topic opportunistically.

They are simply not allowed to do this.

Do you have any kind of evidence for that? I don't see how German pharmacists should be accountable to US government agencies. So I still don't quite see the connection to that "official statement" (which doesn't really say anything anyway).

prison terms for people who do follow the Covid rules.

I assume there is at least a "not" missing in your sentence, but aren't you exaggerating a little? I have never heard of anyone going to prison for not following Covid rules. Now, forging a vaccination certificate would be a different matter, but obviously that's not what we are talking about here.

Hi again, I think it is time to close this tread. We started in June and now we're almost in December. Everything changed and is still changing on a daily basis. Maybe we can start a new thread with the question:
When and how can I go to Germany/Europe as a vaccinated US citizen.

I don't see how German pharmacists should be accountable to US government agencies.

Nothing to do with US government; they are not allowed by German law to declare somebody as vaccinated in Germany based on a US vaccination pass.

but aren't you exaggerating a little?

No. Do not trust your own heard-of in this case. Regulation and law was enforced on June 1st 2021. Several specialist articles about that. Most easy to read for amateurs is this (see chapter "Freiheits- und Geldstrafen für Test- und Impffälschungen").

Translated with DeepL: "Section 75a IfSG has been in force since 1.6.2021. According to this, anyone who knowingly fails to correctly certify the performance of a protective vaccination or the performance or monitoring of a test for the purpose of deception in legal transactions will be punished with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine. A person who uses such a falsified certificate to deceive in legal transactions is liable to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine. Incorrect documentation of a vaccination with intent to mislead is also punishable by up to two years' imprisonment or a fine (Section 74 (2) IfSG)."

Another reinforcement was established valid from Nov. 22nd 2021.
edit: I used the wrong word "enforcement" before (sorry for misleading)
Translated with DeepL: "Any person who prepares the production of an incorrect vaccination card by documenting in a blanket vaccination card a vaccination that has not been carried out, or who procures for himself or another a blanket vaccination card supplemented in such a way, or who displays it, keeps it, gives it to another person, or undertakes to import or export it, shall be liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding two years or to a monetary penalty."

Travelers shall know this.

MarkK writes, Another enforement was established valid from Nov. 22nd 2021... Travelers shall know this.

The appearance of this new law (not enforcement) must mean that someone somewhere has been forging these cards. Indeed, I read this morning somewhere that something like 2,500 cases of Covid-doc forgery have been reported to authorities in Germany.

But you're saying that holiday travelers to Germany from my country (or any other, for that matter) must be aware of new laws against document forging because... they might be tempted to create false documents for the purpose of attending Christmas markets or visit museums or whatever? If that's what you mean, that's really a stretch, I think (especially in light of the shuttering of these venues in certain popular Bavarian destinations and of the near-imminent closing of these public venues elsewhere around Germany.) Anti-forging laws or none, I rather think that 99.9% of us would just as soon pick a different destination - or travel domestically - or just stay home! The travelers I've been in contact with are making these alternative choices.

The difference between laws and "enforcement" is important. Punishments only happen through enforcement and the courts. Anna is just saying she hasn't heard of the court process actually resulting in SENTENCES for individuals found guilty of forgery. But as they say, "the jury is still out on that one." The German courts may in fact find the time to process crooks of this nature.

Actually, what I had been trying to say was this: Forgery has always been punishable, that's nothing new. Why should forged vaccination certificates be handled any differently? And yes, it is common knowledge that there have been cases of such forgery.

But that's not what we are talking about here, is it? This thread is not about people traveling to Europe with a fake vaccination certificate, intending to get a forged QR code. So what is there to warn travelers about?

My sister and I just returned from Germany a week ago. We visited Cologne, Aachen, Trier and Dusseldorf. Most hotels, restaurants and museums asked to see our CDC cards and then our passports to prove the name on the CDC card was the same as the passport. That was all that was required. Everyone seemed happy that we were visiting their part of the country. The very helpful Welcome Center in Trier was able to connect us with a test site to do our PCR test which was required to fly home to the United States.

I arrived in Germany on Saturday morning and have used my CDC card and passport for hotels and restaurants with no issues.

I am in Nuremberg now, that is 2G for restaurants and hotels, but 2G+ for museums. Stopped at the TI office yesterday, they explained the 2G+ rule, pointed me to a test center, where I had a rapid test, and was able to automatically link the result to the Luca app, I had downloaded on my phone. With my negative result, CDC card, and passport, I am off to the museums this morning fulfilling the 2G+ rules.

Hi all, I just want to clarify something for visitors, so that they know how to calibrate their expectations based on the helpful input from other travellers. Many rules about things like what type of proof is acceptable for what are decided on the state rather than national level. So, what works in one state may not in a different one. Checking with tourist information centres in specific towns seems like a good idea.

Relevant for tourists currently in the country is this: The state of Baden-Württemberg has mandated digital proof for all 2G purposes, beginning on 1. December. A statement about this from a reliable news source that can be translated with DeepL or so is here. I have not found any written exception for people without access to EU-compliant immunisation documentation, though that may exist.

Berlin also has had a rule about digital proof of vaccination for 2G events for some time (see here), although the make a specific exception for those vaccinated outside of the EU.

I genuinely have no idea how someone showing up with a CDC card in Baden-Württemberg or Berlin will be received, particularly in light of rising case-numbers and tightening restrictions, but I have not found much information about this in English, and thought it might be helpful for some to at least be aware of.

It is entirely possible that spaces that are used to dealing with lots of tourists will be aware of the exceptions and be willing to accept people with CDC cards. But it is also possible that one may come across businesses that are unwilling to make exceptions. The rules are all rather complex and ever-changing, and one will have to see how strict enforcement ends up being. (Anyway, I can also say anecdotally that I had my immunisation documents checked at a public library, a museum, and a cafe this weekend in BW, and all three wanted already scannable documentation).

Just spent the day at the Nazi Documentation Center and Nuremberg Trials Courtroom/Museum, where my CDC Card, Passport, and negative covid test on the Luca app, granted me admission, without hesitation. Both places had no more than four other patrons. The Trials Museum is excellent.

I have not tried to get a QR code for my vaccination at a pharmacy.

I did get a QR code with my negative test result.

Stopped into a pharmacy today with my passport and CDC card, asked about obtaining a QR code for the CovPass app, the pharmacist said yes, was surprised I had three shots, took my CDC card to the back and returned with three QR codes, that he uploaded in order, to the CovPass app on my phone.

Thank you to prior posters on this forum, especially Dave, as I arrived in Germany with the CovPass and Luca apps already on my phone, and had an understanding of the process.

One suggestion that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to enter Europe through a country with an established, consistent process for issuing a European proof of vaccination QR code to a person visiting from abroad.

France is such a country. Formerly, you could apply online for free before traveling, and upload your ticket and your CDC card. Now, you must go to a pharmacie and pay them to read your CDC card. At least the process is standard and the fee is capped.

Once you have a QR code from any EU member country or from cooperating neighbor countries like Switzerland, you can present it in any of those countries. Showing your French QR code on paper in Germany is fine. Showing it in the French Tous AntiCovid app, in Germany, is fine. Importing it (from paper, or from the screen of a second device) to the German CovPass app is fine. All options work. It is, fundamentally, a Europe-wide standard QR code.

I imported my French QR code (obtained through the original, online process) into CovPass, Luca, and also the Swiss Covid-Cert app, with no problem. If importing from the screen of a second device, be sure to choose «Partager» first, in the Tous AntiCovid app. This allows you to save a working screen shot, to send to your other device. Display that image on the screen of your other device and scan with the camera of your main device, to import into the national app of your choice.

Be aware that Schengen-internal travel restrictions can be reimposed at any time. For example, France might drop off another European country's green list, requiring you to register electronically before entering the new country from France, or to get a test before or after entry, or even to quarantine upon entry.

If you are planning a multi-country trip, it does make sense to choose your starting point based on the ease of obtaining a European proof of vaccination QR code.

(Note: As a handwritten paper document not backed by any national database, the CDC card can never be verified — not even in the US. It can just be read and trusted. US states are all required to have vaccination registries and could conceivably verify the data, but US states and foreign health authorities don't talk with each other. The QR codes issued by some US states, like California, follow a global standard, and the fact that they are digitally signed, i.e., that they haven't been tampered with, could he verified anywhere in the world, but unfortunately, the EU and its neighbors have chosen a Europe-only standard for their QR codes, and won't pay any attention to QR codes from the US states that issue them.)