international travel qr code

Traveling to the Philippines: How to Get eTRAVEL QR CODE Online (Arrival Card)

Are you traveling to the Philippines? ALL incoming international travelers including Filipino citizens and foreigners, adults and children, must secure an eTravel QR code online 72 HOURS or THREE DAYS before your arrival.

Just like the old One Health Pass and eArrival Card, this new eTravel QR system serves as an all-in-one online platform for the arrival card, health declaration, and contact tracing.

But don’t worry, it’s easy to get one. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process one step at a time. Here’s how to do it.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

1. Go to eTravel official website.

The official website is https://etravel.gov.ph .

Make sure it’s the legitimate website. Note that eTravel QR Code is FREE of charge. If you landed on a website requiring you to pay for the service, it’s a scam.

2. Start your registration.

On the home page, you’ll see the registration section. For Filipino citizens, click the PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDER box. Then, start entering the following details:

• Transportation Type
• Date of Arrival
• Email Address

Tick the DATA PRIVACY AND AFFIDAVIT OF UNDERTAKING box. It’s easy to miss because the tick box is quite small, but you’ll find it before the CONTINUE button.

When you check that, a page will pop. Read first, then click the YES, I AGREE button.

Finally, hit the CONTINUE button.

3. Provide your Personal Information.

Enter the following details:

• Passport Number
• Citizenship
• Country of Birth
• Mobile Number

If the system detected that you belong to the (legal) working age group, it will require you to answer the OCCUPATION section. Choose your professional field. If you can’t find it in the choices, select OTHERS . When you are done, click NEXT .

4. Enter your address.

You will be asked to provide your specific address down to house number or unit number.

If you live in Metro Manila, choose National Capital Region or NCR.

5. Submit your travel details.

Enter the following travel information:

• Arrival Date
• Country of Origin
• Purpose of Travel
• Flight Number
• Seat Number (optional)
• Name of Airline
• Airport of Arrival
• Traveller Type (aircraft passenger or flight crew).

When you are done, click NEXT .

6. Accomplish the Health Declaration Form

This includes your Vaccination Details. If you are fully vaccinated, answer NO for the section asking if you have a negative Antigen Test result. After that are the usual ‘Yes or No’ questions about history of exposure and if you’ve been sick in the past 30 days. After answering all the items, click ‘NEXT’.

7. Review the information you encoded.

Read the summary of all the details you provided. If you need to change or correct something, just click the pencil symbol on the upper right portion of the category you want to edit. If you are good and you have nothing to correct, click SUBMIT .

8. Download your QR Code.

Congratulations! You will instantly receive your QR Code.

Don’t forget to download or screenshot it! You’ll be presenting it upon arrival in the Philippines.

• If your QR Code page is GREEN , it means you met the travel requirements and you can directly go to express lane where you will have the BOQ officer scan your QR Code.
• If your QR Code page is RED , you have to let the Quarantine Officer manually verify the required additional documents to determine if you are compliant with the entry protocols set by the Philippine government. Travelers who usually get RED-marked QR Code are the unvaccinated and the partially vaccinated. Again, check the entry guideline set by the Philippine Government first before traveling to the Philippines.

One QR Code is issued per transaction and per entry. You can only use it once and you need to register again and get a new QR Code the next time you travel to the Philippines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I want to change something after generating the qr code. how to correct it.

You can still edit your info if you noticed a typo error or you entered wrong data. However, note that you can only do this BEFORE it gets validated or verified by the BOQ officer upon your arrival sa Pilipinas. Ensure that you make your corrections before your flight to the Philippines.

To do this, just go to the main page or home page of eTravel, then click the UPDATE REGISTRATION button. Provide your reference number or transaction number and birth date.

At what point of the airport process should I present the QR code?

From the team’s experience, we were asked to present our QR Codes at these stations:

• Check-in Counter, before departure abroad (at the country of origin)
• Bureau of Quarantine Area, after deplaning and before the Immigration counters in the Philippines. The staff/officers will be scanning the QR code. It’s a very quick and smooth process if you have a green QR code.

The staff may also ask for it at the boarding gate (country of origin/abroad), so just ready your copy during these times.

ATTENTION! Travel requirements change from time to time, so it’s best to check with the government of the country you want to visit the updated travel restrictions and requirements before you travel. For the Philippine’s updated entry requirements, you can check the official eTravel website: https://etravel.gov.ph/entry-guidelines.

Do I still need to accomplish One Health Pass and eArrival Card?

No need. The eTravel has officially replaced the now obsolete One Health Pass and eArrival Card starting 2 December 2022.

To be honest, all these systems are very similar. The changes are not too drastic. Some items were removed such as the Philhealth Number, and then some required items are now optional. The noticeable difference is not really the content but the appearance or the user interface.

Do I have to pay for eTravel QR Code? How much is the charge?

No, you don’t need to pay anything for the eTravel QR Code. It is FREE of charge. If you landed on a website requiring you to pay for the service, it’s a scam.

Is there a Tagalog version of this article?

Yes. Ganito Friend has a Tagalog video version on YouTube. You can find it here .

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Is this post helpful to you?

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what option should I choose after my vacation in let’s say Japan, and I’m just going back home to the Philippines?

purpose of travel: what option should I choose after my vacation in let’s say Japan, and I’m just going back home to the Philippines?

I’m vaccinated with j&j. do I need to have booster for my etravel application

Hi Mary Grace, ‘yan ung 1 dose lang po ano? Afaik, hindi na required ang booster now.

yes po.color blu3 nging color ng qr code ko then n/a Yung lumabas dun sa health survey.ok lng po b yun?

ohhh.. for departure pala ung Blue QR code.. ung health declaration daw will be edited for Arrival na.

naku blue din ung sa akin.. nagskip siya sa health declaration na part. tapos di naman ma-edit. weird.

hello po ano po update sa color blue na qr code po? color blue rin po sakin

nakaalis naman po kayo ng walang issue sa blue QR code?

Ay. Naku di ko po alam pag blue yung QR code. Green and red lang po ung naeencounter namin. Green is diretso na, tas pag red, need pa ng additional docs to verify. Pero pag blue po, hindi ko po alam. :(

Manila to cebu need pa ba etravel again? If Foreign passport holder

Hi just to clarify, do employees fall under worker/labourer? Ty

Pano ung unvaccinated ..no chance po ba mkatravel po? Salamat po sa sasagot?

Wat if the qr code or reference# can’t save immigetly and the fillup form back again for signing? Please helo

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How to use vaccine passports for international travel

Your cdc card can work overseas, but some countries want to see a qr code.

The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service.

Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts.

Countries around the world have eased entry requirements for international travelers, but many still require coronavirus tests or proof of vaccination to enter. And for some, not just any proof will do.

Depending on where you’re headed, showing a vaccination card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may not be enough. You may need to take extra steps before your trip to set up a “ vaccine passport ” that can be digitally verified.

Below, experts detail how vaccine passport s work, how to get them and where you might need one now.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

How Americans Can Obtain Proof of Vaccination for Travel

Your vaccination card might not be enough. Here's how to make sure you have the documentation you'll need to travel freely in other countries.

By Jason Cochran

June 30, 2021

Last update: July 26, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden has said he has no interest in creating a federal system for verifying vaccination status. But local and international governments and private business still might want to check your credentials, and their requirements are ever-changing.

For example, the government of the Bahamas has said that only vaccinated travelers may dine indoors . In Abu Dhabi, unvaccinated visitors will be barred from many public spaces. Even on Broadway, Bruce Springsteen has requested that only vaccinated ticket-holders be permitted into the theatre.

But how can you prove you've got your shots? Each place has its own standard.

Here's how to go about voluntarily obtaining acceptable proof.

Paper cards aren't always enough.

The paper record that every vaccinated American is issued might be enough to get by in casual domestic settings. But it's only paper, it's not durable, it's awkwardly sized, and paper documents can be forged. Take a photo of the card and store that on your phone—it's wise to have a backup method for proving your status.

If you lose your card, you must go back to the entity that provided your vaccination. They can usually help you out.

Most places in the United Stats will accept your CDC-issued card, despite its flaws. But for full flexibility, it would behoove you to augment your paper-based proof with a more secure digital format. The dominant digital method of proving your vaccination status is a QR code that can be called up on your smartphone. When scanned, that code uses data from medical institutions to verify that you did indeed receive the shots you say you got.

We're gradually moving toward a system in which one QR code can work everywhere, but we're not there yet. It's still a patchwork, so you may need to obtain multiple versions of proof to satisfy all the checkpoints along the way.

Ask your state immunization authority. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not retain your vaccination information, so that agency won't issue you a QR code. Instead, each state, territory, and protectorate has its own health office that keeps track of immunization records and will tell you how to get digital proof. 

The first thing to try is asking the organization that administered your dose to begin with. Sometimes, obtaining a QR code is as simple as that.

If that doesn't work, your local government might have the credentials you need. The CDC provides a helpful list of all the state- and regional-level vaccination registries. Go to the official CDC list  to find the right link for your location.

In many cases, states have joined a program that can check residents' names against a vaccination database. Once you verify your identity, the state can issue digital confirmation that you can show to others.

The free QR code you are issued will often be PIN-protected with a code you choose so that it cannot be accidentally accessed.

Generally, you can only get a pass from the state where you got your shot. For example, New York State has its own system, the Excelsior Pass , but a person who got vaccinated in any other state won't show up in the Excelsior database and therefore can't get that pass. 

Fortunately, if a business uses a state-based system that doesn't connect with other systems, that business will often accept a paper vaccination card from out-of-state residents. That's a big reason you should always have your I.D. with you; you might be asked to prove your card belongs to you.

The proof you require depends on the destination.

Places in the United States might accept your flimsy vaccination card as proof, but when you travel to other countries, you have to play by their rules.

Airlines and some of the countries they serve are cooperating to use the free  Travel Pass , which the International Air Transport Association has gotten behind. That may take care of your requirements for many trips. ( Click here for the list of participating Travel Pass airlines.)

Some airlines are using a different system, VeriFLY . That's a free app that validates passengers' backup forms, and it's gaining traction. Both British Airways and American Airlines use VeriFLY at some of its destinations and the country of Malta has also signed up to use the system to approve its tourists' paperwork. 

But the European Union has its own system for citizens to use. If you intend to travel to any of the EU's member states, border agents in a growing number of countries will accept a free EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC), which began rolling out in force in June 2021. 

There is no central website for obtaining a DCC. Instead, you're expected to obtain one in advance from the government of the first country you will visit. A simple internet search usually uncovers the right government page, but your airline should also be able to tell you where to go to get your DCC.

The process will require a little legwork on your part and you'll probably have to upload an image of your vaccination card—the system is still coming together and execution varies by nation. 

The ultimate goal is for Europe and the United States to decide on validation systems that can talk to each other, but that hasn't happened yet. Until then, it's up to you to apply for a DCC from your destination. Tourists are all part of the plan, so your request is likely to be approved as long as you show the proof you have.

It's crucial that you always check with your destination country from home to see what they will demand from you when you arrive. Usually, the nation's official tourism website or embassy will have a page that explains the documentation that's expected and how to obtain it.

Ask the business where you got your shots.

The jumble of multiple, localized pass systems has prompted the formation of the Vaccination Credential Initiative, a coalition of some 300 providers (including dozens of insurers and health care providers) to come up with a single, widely accepted format for validation called the SMART Health Card.

Walmart vaccination sites , for example, use the SMART Health Card standard, and if you received your shots there, you'll now be in that system.

Walmart and Sam’s Club are also providing digital access to vaccine records through the  Health Pass by Clear  and the  CommonHealth  and  CommonPass  apps from Geneva-based nonprofit the Commons Project Foundation. (Health Pass by Clear is useful for domestic attractions and sporting events but isn't accepted at international borders.)

Patients can also recover digital records from CVS and Walgreens by contacting those providers directly, but it's up to you to make sure the format of the proof works for the destinations you want to visit.

Yes, it's a mishmash of systems and you might wind up holding a full house of multiple QR codes from several sources. That's the result of a federal government that is reticent to get into the practice of retaining your health info.

Think of it this way: Our grandparents usually had to plan months ahead to obtain visas for the countries they wanted to visit. Because of the European Union and other diplomatic agreements, most travelers haven't had to deal with that burden often in their lifetimes.

But now it's back to an old global reality. Covid-19 vaccination QR codes are a return of the kind of bureaucracy that often must precede the rewards of travel.

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How the International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate works

Your certificate has a QR code that protects against forgery in the same way as the chip in your passport.

The QR code is in a format called VDS-NC, which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has specified as its worldwide standard for digital vaccination certificates.

Authorities can verify that your certificate is true and unaltered by checking the QR code against the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) public key that secures Australia passports. One way they can do this is by using an Australian Government app called VDS-NC Checker .

Why is the passport office involved?

Your certificate uses the same digital security technology as the chip in an Australian passport. The Australian Passport Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) administers this technology for the Australian Government.

How is my privacy protected?

When you request an international certificate, you provide informed consent for Services Australia to send DFAT the personal information so that DFAT can issue your certificate.

DFAT purges this personal information from its systems as soon as it issues your certificate. DFAT doesn’t keep a copy of your certificate or keep a record that it has issued you a certificate.

DFAT sends your certificate to Services Australia so that, from your myGov account, you can view it, print it, save it, or upload it to a digital wallet or travel app, and so that Services Australia can provide you with technical and other support.

More information is in the privacy policies of DFAT and Services Australia .

Is my International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate linked to a database?

No. Authorities anywhere in the world can authenticate your international certificate offline, without connecting to an Australian Government database.

Is my certificate recorded on my passport chip?

Although it contains your passport number and uses the same verification technology as your passport chip, your certificate is separate to your passport.

When you get a certificate, nothing happens to your passport chip.

Does my certificate go into my passport?

To prove that you’re the rightful holder of your certificate, you’ll generally need to show it together with your passport. But your certificate and your passport are separate documents.

Can someone forge an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate?

The QR code with your passport details and COVID-19 vaccination history is as secure from forgery as the chip in your passport.

How can I test if my International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate works?

You can authenticate your international certificate QR code by using the free VDS-NC Checker app, available in the Apple and Google Play stores.

The name on my Australian passport is different to the name on my Medicare card. Do I need to change my passport details?

To make sure the right person is getting a vaccination certificate the name on your passport needs to be the same as the name you use with Medicare.

If your name is different, you can ask Medicare for help to change the name on your Medicare record to match it. Once your name matches, a vaccination certificate can be issued.

If you don’t want to change your name permanently with Medicare, you can request an international certificate by calling the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm).

If you want to change the name on your Australian passport, standard fees and processing times apply.

• Eligibility for the International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate
• How to get an international certificate
• Using your international certificate overseas
• Leaving and entering Australia

Vaccine passports: How to prove you've gotten your COVID-19 shots for travel and avoid scams

Beth Marcus wants a vaccine passport. She's had both of her shots but can't prove it. Unless she can, she's afraid she may not be allowed to visit Europe.

How do you get a vaccine passport ?

The clinic where she received her shots issued a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – a small, white paper card where she recorded both her vaccinations. Marcus, a retired finance worker from Frederick, Maryland, took a picture of the card, so she could show it to anyone who asks. She suspects it's not enough.

"I would like more substantial proof," she says.

New York launches nation's first 'vaccine passports': Others work on similar ideas, but many details must be worked out

Will you need a COVID-19 'vaccine passport' to travel?  Here's what they are and how they might work

Israel and Europe have taken the lead on developing a secure digital immunity certification. You may be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine passport by enrolling in one of the tests underway. In the meantime, you have a few imperfect options for showing you received your shots.

What is a vaccine passport? How would it work for travel?

"There's no vaccine passport in the United States," says Peter Vlitas, senior vice president of airline relations for Internova Travel Group. But we're close. The most promising one is the IATA Travel Pass . It's being tested among 22 airlines, and the airline trade organization expects to release it this month. It will be limited to air travel and border crossings.

Vaccine passports: The documents should be free, private and secure, White House says, but who will issue them?

TripActions ' app-based health passport, a private initiative that launches early next month, will allow travelers to upload and store all necessary documentation required for domestic and international travel within a centralized hub.

The only vaccine passport in widespread use is Israel's Green Pass . The certificate, available as either a smartphone app or paper ID using a QR code for authentication, allows users to prove their vaccine status in Israel. Passholders use their credentials to visit the gym, pool, restaurant or participate in any other activity previously restricted because of COVID-19. Only Israeli residents qualify for a Green Pass, but Israel is in discussions with other countries to have the passes accepted outside the country, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

The European Union is developing a Digital Green Certificate   to prove people have had their shots and "facilitate safe free movement" inside the EU during the pandemic. The vaccine ID, which is likely to be available by June, will be available in digital or paper format. 

In the USA, airlines have been pushing the government to create a vaccine passport for Americans , saying verifiable testing of vaccination data is "critical to the return of travel." 

New York  launched a version of a vaccine passport. The first-in-the-nation certification, called the Excelsior Pass, will be accepted at dozens of event, arts and entertainment venues statewide.

Patchwork problems:   Airlines ask White House to develop standardized COVID-19 travel 'passports'

There are so many vaccine passport proposals that it's almost impossible to track all of them, but they all have one thing in common: They are not officially recognized, at least for now. 

What should travelers do?

"There's a rush to deliver a digital vaccine passport solution, as many countries will make it mandatory to have proof of vaccinations and actively court vaccinated travelers," says Rajeev Shrivastava, CEO of VisitorsCoverage . 

How do you prove you're vaccinated? Here are your options:

Think about laminating your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

That's what Paula Miller and her husband did. 

"We felt that they would hold up better when we need to present them while traveling domestically or internationally," says Miller, a retired teacher from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Like Marcus, she'd prefer the real thing. 

"We have flights to Paris scheduled for November," she says. "I hope that issue is resolved by then."

The biggest problem with lamination: The document isn't secure. (You can buy a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card online for about $20 and fill it in yourself.) If boosters are needed, a laminated card might be a problem. But until we have a vaccine passport, this may have to do.

Fill in your WHO Yellow Card

If you received shots for a previous international trip, you have a World Health Organization (WHO) Yellow Card (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis). "The Yellow Card has been the de facto standard for proving international vaccination compliance for decades," says Warren Jaferian , the dean for Endicott College 's Office of International Education in Beverly, Massachusetts.

I have a Yellow Card from previous trips, and when I received my shots, I asked the clinic to record the vaccines. I had to ask a supervisor, but he did. There are two issues with the Yellow Card. They are scarce (some have reported they're unavailable), and they are not secure. An e-Yellow Card is reportedly under development. 

Fly on a Travel Pass airline

If you can book a ticket on one of the airlines testing the IATA Travel Pass , you may be able to access the IATA vaccine passport. Those carriers include Virgin Atlantic, Japan's ANA, Emirates and Singapore Airlines. Travel Pass is still being evaluated, so there's no assurance that your digital passport will work on your next flight or that it will be accepted anywhere.

Until there's a real vaccine passport, you'll need to get creative. Marcus, who plans to visit the Baltics next year, created her own makeshift vaccine ID.

"I made a color copy of the original and had it laminated at Staples," she says. "I didn't laminate the original because I want it to be possible for boosters, if needed, to be recorded on the same document."

She hopes it will work. Timing is everything when it comes to certifying vaccination. At the rate things are going, the pandemic will end before America has a real vaccine passport.

Avoid these vaccine passport traps

Don't pay for it. A legitimate vaccine ID is free. Both the Israeli and proposed European version cost nothing. There are some unofficial vaccine IDs in the USA that make you pay for certification. They are not legit.

Make sure it's secure. You can buy a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or a World Health Organization Yellow Card online and fill it out. But it's not a secure record of your vaccination, and it probably won't work when the real thing comes along. Avoid any vaccine passport that doesn't have a QR code or a way to authenticate your vaccine status securely.

Find out if it's accepted. Several cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean ,  Virgin Voyages , Crystal Cruises and American Cruise Lines , announced they will begin to require proof of vaccination for passengers (at least on some of their voyages), though they haven't specified which records will be accepted. Your travel adviser can tell you what type of proof will be accepted by the cruise line. Don't take chances – get the right vaccine passport, or you could be left high and dry.

COVID-19 vaccine tracker: How many people have been vaccinated in the US?

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Help! What Will I Need to Show When Traveling, and Where?

Proof of vaccination has become increasingly vital to accessing local restaurants and distant countries alike. Our columnist takes a deeper dive into what that means for travelers.

By Sarah Firshein

Dear Tripped Up,

I am writing with a simple question: What is an acceptable proof of vaccination for U.S. travelers? I have the C.D.C. card, but that’s just a piece of paper that anybody can easily recreate, and its authenticity cannot be verified in the same way as a passport or driver’s license. What if I am given this argument at the airport check-in counter? George

Dear George,

The physical C.D.C. card is precisely what you’ll need to travel anywhere that requires proof of vaccination. The much-publicized reports of counterfeiting are daunting to read about, but those are in the ultra-slim minority. If your card is real, you’ll be fine at the airport.

Because it’s likely you’ll be asked to show other virus-related documents and attestations while traveling, it’s important to stay on top of countries’ individual requirements. On a recent trip to France, Mari Hawkins, the president of the travel agency Gemini Travel based in Mount Kisco, N.Y., was asked to show her C.D.C. card at the Delta Air Lines check-in desk at Kennedy International Airport and again upon landing. She was also given general Covid-19 attestation forms to fill out on the inbound and outbound flights, though the one she filled out while heading to France, she said, was never collected.

Although the United States does not have a universal, countrywide digital health pass that stands in for the physical card, there are ongoing efforts by states and private businesses to ease the vaccination-verification process through digital means. United Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways and others have all rolled out varying technologies that allow passengers to upload proof of vaccination before a flight. In July, Clear, the biometrics company, began a digital initiative that allows Hawaii-bound tourists to upload their vaccination records directly into the Clear app, facilitating entry into the state and allowing them to bypass the 10-day quarantine. Two apps in New York — the statewide Excelsior Pass and NYC Covid Safe — prove vaccination status and ease entry into restaurants, gyms and other indoor settings.

We’re both fully vaccinated and hoping to go to Florence later this month. But Italy has just announced that a nationwide “green pass” is now required to enter museums, restaurants and other indoor venues. For Europeans with the E.U. digital Covid certificate , this should be no sweat. But for Americans, will C.D.C. cards suffice? If not, how do we get a substitute? If we can’t go into museums or restaurants, there is little point in going. Ann

In recent weeks, Italy and France have announced separate, yet similar, green pass requirements for indoor venues. The initiatives have sparked major protests across France but have been generally accepted in Italy.

They have also left those who work on the ground in travel and tourism perplexed, if not outright concerned about exactly the issue you raised: If vaccinated Americans can fly to these countries but can’t actually go inside venues once they’re there, will they bother going at all?

The situation in Italy is straightforward: According to recent ordinances issued by the Italian Ministry of Health, Americans can simply show their C.D.C. cards — no “conversion” to a “green pass” needed (nor possible). Unvaccinated Americans (or those without their C.D.C. cards) will have to present a virus test within 48 hours of entering an indoor venue.

Fundamentally, said Candice Criscione, who shares tips for planning family vacations in Italy on her blog the Tuscan Mom , “this is Italy’s message to Americans and other tourists: Get vaccinated before coming to visit. It’s too complicated and expensive to have to get an official Covid test every time you want to enter a museum or eat at a restaurant, and your vacation options will be extremely limited.”

Things have been a bit more complicated for tourists in France, which since July 21 has required a health pass to access public venues, including museums, with more than 50 people. In late July, one Times reader reported that he was turned away from a museum: “They will not accept my paper record,” he wrote.

Others have had no issues entering museums with C.D.C. cards. In an email, a spokeswoman for the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, two major museums in Paris, said American vaccination cards would be accepted at both institutions.

“I get that it’s confusing,” said Meg Zimbeck, the founder of Paris by Mouth, which ran 1,000 food tours a year before the pandemic, and who has been monitoring the issue closely. “But what I’m emphasizing to everyone is that your C.D.C. card is probably fine. I’ve heard about one person in a hundred being turned away. And that’s because of an individual employee as gatekeeper.”

There have also been diverse anecdotes about French pharmacies’ ability to convert C.D.C. cards into scannable French QR codes. That process took Mallory Shaw, a luxury travel adviser and the owner of the Virtuoso-affiliated Trouvaille Yacht & Travel, around 10 minutes when she popped into a pharmacy between the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Tuileries Gardens in Paris.

Jodi Kennedy Gaffey, whose company the Epicurean Concierge organizes bespoke tours and experiences throughout France, had no issues using her C.D.C. card to gain entry into museums in Paris But she had zero luck when she tried to convert it into a French health pass at two different pharmacies in Provence in early August.

Unlike in the United States, there are no chain pharmacies in France. All are independently owned, and they have not been uniformly converting C.D.C. cards into French health passes. This has left tourists in trial-and-error mode — to varying success, as revealed by the firsthand anecdotes that Ms. Zimbeck has been collecting and publishing on the Paris By Mouth website .

“We’ve been seeing some ad hoc solutions where some pharmacies in touristy neighborhoods will say, ‘Sure, I’ll do it for 20 bucks,’” she said. “But it’s not an official thing. That’s why I’ve been telling people, ‘Look, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t spend an hour and a half trying to convert anything.’”

Last week, France started requiring the health pass for smaller indoor venues, including restaurants. And although the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has also instituted an official application process by which non-E.U. citizens who were vaccinated abroad can obtain the French pass (including a QR code linking to their vaccination status), for now the system will handle applications for foreigners already in France and will be made available to future arrivals on a rolling basis. There’s also little insight into how long processing time will take.

That’s why even visitors who apply for the health pass through official channels should also carry their C.D.C. cards.

“The bottom line is that France depends heavily on tourism and, as we all know, last year was horrific,” said Ms. Gaffey. “I have to think that restaurants and cafes will work with customers. It’s not in their best interest to turn people away who appear to be vaccinated.”

Be sure to have the physical card — not a photocopy or digital version — and a passport.

“Word is out that the C.D.C. paper card is OK, but it’s also about meeting the restaurant owner halfway: realizing they’re taking an order at the table next door, they’re trying to deliver a plate of food, they’re trying to take a check,” said Ms. Zimbeck. “So don’t make it hard on them by bringing a blurry Xerox.”

Sarah Firshein is a New York-based writer. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

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• Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

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Transcript: https://www.cbp.gov/video/ofo/new-mpc-video.srt

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) allows eligible travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device. The use of MPC streamlines the traveler’s entry process into the United States by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time. Use of MPC does not require pre-approval. Travelers who successfully use the MPC app will no longer have to complete a paper form and may be provided a designated queue. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and efficient processing.

The CBP Mobile Passport Control App

CBP’s MPC app is a free application that can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play and is currently available for eligible travelers to use upon arrival at MPC approved sites . See FAQ question number 2 to see a complete list of current MPC Sites.

New MPC App Experience

• On November 9 - MPC travelers will no longer need to scan the QR code to validate their submission with the CBP officer.

Visit our Mobile Apps Directory for other approved CBP applications for easy download from the Google Play and the Apple App Store.

How does MPC Work?

After downloading the MPC Application from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, eligible travelers will be prompted to create a profile with their passport or LPR card information. Upon arrival at eligible Preclearance locations users must select their mode of entry in the application as "Preclearance" before selecting their departing Preclearance Port of Entry. If a traveler is not using preclearance, upon landing in the United States, travelers will select "U.S. airport" as their mode of entry and then select their arrival airport or seaport and terminal. Travelers will then take a self-photo and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions. Once the traveler submits their transaction through the app, travelers will then bring their physical passport to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States.

Cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is required to send information, but travelers may complete profile(s) without being connected to the internet.

Where can eligible travelers use MPC?

CBP uses the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) application to streamline the processing of eligible travelers entering the United States. Eligible travelers with a smartphone or tablet may voluntarily download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC)-enabled mobile application (app) from a mobile application store (e.g., Apple App Store or Google Play Store).

The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA. MPC is currently available at the following 51 sites, including 33 U.S. International Airports, 14 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:

• Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) 
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
• Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
• Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Calgary International Airport (YYC)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Dublin Airport (DUB)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
• Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
• Las Vegas Harry Ried International Airport (LAS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Miami Seaport
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
• Palm Beach Seaport
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Port Everglades Seaport
• Portland International Airport (PDX)
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• San Juan Airport (SJU)
• San Juan Seaport
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Shannon Airport (SNN)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Winnipeg James A Richardson International Airport (YWG)

What are the benefits of using MPC?

MPC provides a more efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler. Since the administrative tasks are performed by the traveler prior to the passport control inspection, MPC reduces passport control inspection time and overall wait times.

When will I be able to submit my information to CBP through an MPC app?

Travelers should submit their information upon arrival at the port of entry, including preclearance locations.

Does MPC replace my passport?

No, travelers must present a valid U.S. Passport, U.S. lawful permanent resident card, Canadian passport or a Visa Waiver Program passport to a CBP officer upon arrival.  

Will I still have to go through the processing lines if I use MPC?

Yes, travelers will still be processed by a CBP officer. Travelers using MPC will be directed to a specific processing lane for a streamlined entry process.

Do travelers still have to fill out a declaration form?

No. Travelers will answer CBP inspection-related questions electronically via their smartphone or tablet. If a traveler has already filled out a CBP declaration form, it can be turned in to a CBP Officer.

Can families use MPC?

Yes, up to 12 profiles can be created for family members. All authorized MPC apps allow for a single household to submit one MPC transaction, including answers to CBP inspection-related questions.

Is using MPC secure?

Yes, the traveler’s document information and answers to CBP inspection-related questions are submitted directly to CBP via secure encryption protocols. The information you enter on the authorized applications are securely transmitted to CBP which sends a response to the apps, generating the electronic receipt you may display when entering the MPC queue. The authorized apps provide the option to store your profile on your smartphone or tablet for future travel or deleting it after your trip. Please note that the photo taken on the application will need to be updated periodically. CBP recommends travelers review the application’s privacy policy prior to download and use. Only information entered after the traveler acknowledges CBP’s notices (i.e., CBP’s mobile privacy policy, Section 311 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, Disclaimer Statement and the Paperwork Reduction Act Notice) is required to be compliant with CBP’s MPC business requirements.

What happens if my flight is diverted to a different airport?

Travelers will not be able to use MPC if their flight is diverted to a U.S. airport that does not utilize MPC processing. Upon arrival at the diverted airport, travelers will follow standard processing procedures. If you were processed by a CBP officer in Preclearance, you would land as a domestic passenger and can proceed to your destination or connecting flight.

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International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)

How to fill out an icvp, how to reissue an icvp, vaccine exemptions (medical waivers), contraindications to required vaccines, where to order icvp.

International Health Regulations (IHR) allow countries to require arriving travelers 1 to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases. The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also referred to as the “yellow card,” is the official, internationally recognized document that travelers use to document proof of vaccination for diseases included under the IHR.

Currently, vaccination against yellow fever, and in some instances, polio, must be documented using the ICVP. Travelers should check CDC’s webpage for their destination to learn if vaccination is required before entry.

There are currently no requirements to use the ICVP to document vaccination(s) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Some countries require all travelers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before entering the country. Other countries require proof of vaccination from travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever virus exposure; for people visiting multiple countries, the order of travel may be important. Travelers should check CDC’s webpage for their destination to learn if yellow fever vaccination is required or recommended before entry.

Yellow fever vaccination (travel) clinics  administer yellow fever vaccine and issue ICVPs to vaccine recipients. The ICVP must be validated with the Uniform Stamp of the center where the vaccine was given. CDC does not issue ICVPs.

ICVPs are valid beginning 10 days after the date of vaccination. Travelers who do not provide a valid ICVP may be denied entry, quarantined, or asked to get revaccinated at the point of entry to a country.

Travelers who received the yellow fever vaccination after December 15, 2007, must provide proof of vaccination on the new ICVP. If a person received the vaccine before December 15, 2007, their original ICVP card is still valid as proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

For more information, visit the CDC Yellow Book chapter: Yellow Fever .

Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)

Travelers should check CDC’s webpage for their destination to learn if polio vaccination is recommended before entry. Even previously vaccinated travelers might need a one-time booster shot before traveling to countries with a risk of infection with polio virus . Travelers visiting a country with a high risk for polio may be required to show proof of vaccination against polio on their ICVP when departing that country.

For more information, visit the CDC Yellow Book chapter Polio and the Polio Vaccine for International Travelers webpage.

Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY)

Some countries require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against meningococcal disease. Some people who received a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine might need a booster shot. It takes 7–10 days after a person has been vaccinated before they have maximum protection against the disease.

Travelers aged 2 years or older visiting Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah are required to submit proof of vaccination against meningococcal disease administered no less than 10 days and no more than 5 years (or 3 years for polysaccharide vaccine) before their arrival. This proof of vaccination can be documented on an ICVP, but can also be documented elsewhere. For more information, visit CDC’s Yellow Book chapters: Meningococcal Disease and Saudi Arabia: Hajj/Umrah Pilgrimage .

For all required vaccines

(1) Print the traveler’s name exactly as it appears on their passport.

(2), (5), (7) Enter all dates as shown: day (in numerals), month (in letters), year. In the example above, the traveler’s date of birth is correctly entered as 22 March 1960. Do not use DD/MM/YY or MM/DD/YY format.

(3) This space is reserved for the traveler’s signature.

(4) Write the name of the vaccine (yellow fever, polio, meningococcal) in this space. Other vaccinations can be listed on the other side of the ICVP card.

(5) Enter the date of vaccine administration, as shown.

(6) This space is reserved for the clinician’s handwritten signature. A signature stamp is not acceptable.

For Yellow Fever Vaccine

(4) Print “Yellow Fever” in both spaces.

(6) The clinician signing the ICVP can be the yellow fever vaccine Uniform Stamp owner, or another healthcare provider authorized by the stamp owner to administer or supervise the vaccine administration.

(7) The certificate of yellow fever vaccination is valid beginning 10 days after the date of primary vaccination. Add that date to this box along with the suggested wording “life of person vaccinated,” as shown.

(8) Imprint the Uniform Stamp of the vaccinating center in this box.

For Polio Vaccine

(4) Print “Polio” (or “Poliomyelitis”) in both spaces and the specific vaccine that the traveler received in the box.

(6) The clinician administering the polio vaccine should sign their name and indicate their professional status. If transcribing the record of a polio vaccine administered by another clinician in the past 12 months, the transcribing clinician should clearly record the administering clinician’s name and professional status and sign their own name.

(7) The certificate of polio vaccination is valid from the date of vaccination for 1 year.

For Meningococcal Vaccine

(4) Print “Meningococcal” in both spaces and the specific vaccine that the traveler received in the box.

(6) The clinician administering the meningococcal vaccine should sign their name and include their professional status. If transcribing the record of a meningococcal vaccine administered by another clinician in the past 5 years (3 years for polysaccharide vaccine), the transcribing clinician should clearly record the administering clinician’s name and professional status and sign their own name.

(7) For Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, the vaccine must have been administered between 10 days to 5 years (3 years for polysaccharide vaccine) before arrival to Saudi Arabia.

Clinicians may reissue a replacement ICVP to the traveler if they can confirm that the traveler’s vaccine information is accurate.

For All Vaccines

In addition to following all directions in the How to Fill Out an ICVP section, follow these steps to ensure certain sections of the replacement ICVP are correctly filled out

• Date: Enter the date of the original vaccination, not the date of reissuance.
• Signature and professional status of supervising clinician: The clinician who has confirmed the traveler’s information and is reissuing the ICVP should sign.
• Manufacturer and batch no. of vaccine or prophylaxis: Print manufacturer name and lot number.
• For Yellow Fever Vaccine Only: Official stamp of the administering center: The Uniform Stamp of the vaccinating center reissuing the ICVP card should appear in this box.

For international travelers with a medical contraindication to a required vaccine, it is up to the discretion of the clinician to provide them with a medical waiver. Advise the traveler that the destination country might not accept a medical waiver. Acceptance of the medical waiver is at the discretion of the destination country.

To improve the likelihood that border officials at a travelers’ destination will accept a medical waiver and approve entry, travelers should

• Obtain specific and authoritative advice from the embassy or consulate of the destination country or countries.
• Request documentation of requirements for waivers from embassies or consulates and present these, along with the completed Medical Contraindication to Vaccination section of the ICVP.

How to Fill Out an Exemption (Medical Waiver)

Complete and sign the “Medical Contraindications to Vaccination” section of the ICVP. Reasons other than medical contraindications are not acceptable for exemption from vaccination. Yellow fever vaccine providers should validate medical exemptions to yellow fever vaccine using the Uniform Stamp of the yellow fever vaccination center.

Clinicians should also provide the traveler with a signed and dated exemption letter on letterhead stationery, clearly stating the contraindications to vaccination (e.g., age, diagnosis of an immunocompromising condition, allergic reaction). For medical contraindications to yellow fever vaccine, include on the exemption letter an imprint of the Uniform Stamp used by the yellow fever vaccination center to validate the ICVP.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever vaccine is contraindicated for people with certain underlying health conditions because of the increased risk for serious adverse events. Visit CDC’s Yellow Book chapter: Yellow Fever or the Yellow Fever Vaccine Recommendations webpage.

Do not administer IPV to people who have experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of IPV or a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine. For moderately or severely ill people, delay vaccine administration until they recover. Visit the CDC Yellow Book chapter: Polio or the Polio Vaccination webpage for more information on who should not get the polio vaccination.

Meningococcal

MenACWY vaccines should not be administered to people who have experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction after a previous dose of the meningococcal vaccine or a severe allergy to any part of the vaccine. Pregnant people and people who are moderately or severely ill should talk with their healthcare provider before receiving the vaccine. Visit the CDC Yellow Book chapter: Meningococcal Disease or the Meningococcal Vaccine webpage for more information on who should not get the meningococcal vaccine.

ICVPs are available for purchase from the Government Printing Office bookstore. Individual copies are not available. To order, please visit U.S. Government Bookstore or call toll-free (866) 512-1800. Packages of 25 are available for $25 for the United States and $35 for international. Delivery time for orders varies based on shipping options. To have orders mailed via a shipping service, please place your order by phone.

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How To Get Digital Proof Of Your Vaccine Record — No Matter Where You Live

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There are now more ways to get digital proof of your vaccination status.

W ith a growing number of countries around the world now requiring visitors to present some form of digital proof of vaccination, international travelers have become used to having to prove their vaccination status at one or more stages of their journeys. For example, visitors to Canada are required to  download the free ArriveCAN app to prove their vaccination status before crossing the border. And all of the European Union’s 27 member countries are now using the  EU Digital Covid Certificate , which allows for free movement between all the countries within the bloc.

But digital verification is becoming more commonplace at home, too. Anyone road-tripping across the United States will likely encounter more than one restaurant, entertainment venue or sports stadium that requires proof of vaccination as a condition for entry.

The Biden administration has declined to get behind a national vaccination verification app here in the United States, and the topic of vaccine passports is a political hot potato, with 15 Republican-leaning states limiting or banning vaccine passports via legislation or governors’ executive orders.

That leaves Americans still relying on paper vaccination records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — an analog solution that can be lost or  easily faked , and which requires human scrutiny to confirm authenticity.

“The root cause of this paper-first orientation is due to the general lack of verified digital identity that is accurate and secure,” explains Amena Ali, CEO of Airside Mobile. “Identity proofing and verification is the first step in addressing this issue and many others where we have to rely on paper.”

Airside Mobile is just one of a handful of technology companies offering modern solutions to age-old travelers’ conundrums. The company’s  Digital Identity app lets travelers securely manage all of their verified identity credentials —passport, driver’s license, Covid vaccination record, testing results and more — in one place, their smartphone.

As Americans encounter an increasing number of places asking them to show proof of their vaccination status, it’s become clear that a paper solution is not going to cut it. Luckily, Americans who want a digital vaccination record now have more ways than ever to get one.

The U.S. is Getting SMARTer

A private-public partnership of technology and health care companies called the  Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI), which includes Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, the Mayo Clinic and other heavyweights, has created a verifiable digital proof of vaccination called the  SMART Health Card that has been gathering steam.

The SMART system generates a QR code that can be accessed through a smartphone or printed out on paper. When the code is pulled up, only the individual’s name, date of birth and vaccination information is visible. No other medical information or personal data is shared. This code is also digitally signed to ensure that the card was issued from a verified location and to prevent forgery.

SMART Health Cards are already available to nearly 100 million US residents.

You currently have access to a SMART Health Card if you live in a state that was an early adopter of the SMART system. New York has its  Excelsior Pass and California has its  Digital Covid-19 Vaccine Record . Residents of Louisiana can add their Covid-19 vaccination records to the  LA Wallet , which uses the SMART system. And just yesterday, Hawaii began offering the Hawaiʻi SMART Health Card , a state-issued digital record that may be used to confirm vaccination status to businesses and venues that require it. In addition, some cities — like New York City and Los Angeles — offer their own digital vaccine mobile wallets to residents.

If your state does not offer a SMART solution, perhaps your county does. Maryland does not offer a statewide SMART Health Card but residents of Calvert County, Carroll County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County, Talbot County and Wicomico County can get a free SMART Health Card through a partnership with VaccineCheck . (And, regardless of where you live, you can subscribe to VaccineCheck for $24.95 per year to get a verified digital vaccination card.)

The logical place to begin looking for a digital solution is where you were vaccinated. Every state’s health department keeps track of immunization records and can tell you whether it’s possible to get a digital proof of your Covid status. Start by finding your state on the  CDC’s list of state and regional immunization registries . 

Eight states and territories use a platform called  MyIRMobile , which allows residents to obtain their immunization records on a PDF that can be either printed or stored on their phones. MyIRMobile is available in Arizona, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington and West Virginia, and it is rolling out soon in Puerto Rico. While it MyIRMobile does not provide a QR code, it does offer an official, verified record from each participating state.

Two states — Utah and New Jersey — are using a CDC-approved app called Docket , and it is rolling out soon in other states. Docket gives users electronic access to their own Covid-19 vaccination records and provides a QR code to attest vaccination status.

Does your state offer a digital driver’s license? Some states, including Colorado, let residents store their vaccination information in the same digital wallet. “Coloradans may add a photograph of this vaccine record or of their paper vaccine card to their  MyColorado app  to have an easily accessible digital vaccine record,” said Jessica Bralish, Director of Communications at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

SMART Healthcare Providers

No matter whether your state is red or blue, your healthcare provider or health insurance company might be able to provide you with a digital vaccination record. Dozens of major health systems and hospital groups across the country now offer SMART Health Cards to patients. These include Kaiser Permanente, Tenet Health, Scripps Healthcare, Cerner and other healthcare heavy hitters. Big regional healthcare groups in the SMART consortium span the country, from Centra Health in Virginia to UCHealth in Colorado and from CoxHealth in Missouri to SoutheastHEALTH in Alabama and Georgia.

Pharmacy and Grocery Chains That Issue SMART Health Cards

You can also obtain a free SMART Health Card if you were vaccinated at any branch of Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Kroger, Rite-Aid or any of the dozens of other companies participating in the  retail pharmacy program . To access an electronic version of your vaccination record, log into the online Covid portal of the brand where you got your shots.

Airlines Using Vaccine Verification Apps

If you travel outside the U.S., you may have to download an app to verify your vaccination status, depending on where you go and how you get there. Nearly four dozen international airlines have adopted the free  Travel Pass , which is backed by the International Air Transport Association. Both British Airways and American Airlines use an alternative solution called  VeriFLY .

SMART Digital ID Apps

Obtaining a digital vaccination record is considerably more challenging if you get vaccinated outside the mainstream system, points out a reader named Joe. As a 30-year veteran of the U.S. military, he and his wife each received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and were issued the usual paper CDC Covid-19 vaccination cards.

But Joe had many excellent reasons for wanting a digital record, too. “An electronic verification is much more secure and that's why many states and foreign governments have implemented their use,” he writes. “And mandatory proof of vaccination is becoming more prevalent for attendance at performing arts venues, indoor seating at fine dining restaurants, and foreign travel.”

When he attempted get a digital vaccination record through Maryland’s MyIRMobile portal, Joe discovered that his health records were outside of the state’s system. “Walter Reed indicated that if desired, only we can obtain paper print-outs of our electronic health record vaccination records, but apparently MyIRMobile doesn't accept any vaccination information from private citizens for inclusion in their databases.”

For members of the military community who want a digital proof of their vaccination record, this is a frustrating roadblock. “There are well over nine million people who are registered to receive health care in the military health care system and potentially all of those people who are 12 years of age or older face the same dilemma of being unable to obtain official digital proof of Covid vaccination status from any government office,” says Joe.

“We certainly understand your reader’s frustration,” says Ken Lisaius, Vice President Public Affairs & Communications at CLEAR, whose biometric-driven Health Pass has become a go-to verification app for airlines, sports stadiums and many companies. “Right now, official vaccine records live in various locations, depending on where a person was vaccinated.”

That makes it relatively easy these days to get digital proof of vaccination if you got your shots at a state-run site, a national pharmacy chain or a local healthcare provider. But getting vaccinated through the Department of Defense’s military healthcare system means that, at least for now, Joe ’s electronic records are effectively outside the SMART system.

The next-best option may be to scan his paper Covid vaccination card into a digital ID app that verifies his identity. “CLEAR has built our digital vaccine solutions to ensure we cover as many people and scenarios as possible,” says Lisaius, but unfortunately, “in some cases, a person's only record is their CDC card. In that case, users can upload their CDC card and information.”

Similarly, “he and his wife can use the Airside Digital ID app to verify themselves and scan in their paper CDC vaccination card to get a digital, self-attested copy of their vaccination status,” says Ali. “First, we verify passports and U.S. driver's licenses against government sources. Then, we associate that proven ID to an image of the user's vaccination card for a convenient, portable way to share one's status.”

“What's different about the Airside Digital ID App is that all of the user's data stays with the individual,” says Ali. “Once someone downloads the app and adds their IDs and vaccination card, that info stays on the app until and if they choose to share it by either showing the phone's screen or providing digital consent to share for a limited time. Other apps don't necessarily use the same principles.”

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International covid-19 vaccination certificates.

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. Foreign governments may need evidence of the COVID-19 vaccinations and tests you’ve had before they let you enter.

The Australian-issued International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) is a free and secure way to prove your COVID-19 vaccination history when you travel across borders overseas.

Read this page to learn about:

How to get your ICVC

How to use your icvc.

This page provides general information about the ICVC. It’s your responsibility to be informed about the destinations you’re visiting. Including understanding entry requirements, risks and planning for your safety. Read the travel advice for your destination for details.

The easiest way to get a certificate is by using your Medicare account through myGov , or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app . If you can’t use these options

• visit a Services Australia services centre or
• contact the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) on 1800 653 809 (in Australia) or +61 2 8633 3284 (from overseas).

To get a certificate, you’ll need to have your valid passport with you. Your COVID-19 vaccinations will need to be registered on the AIR before you can apply.

• If you got your vaccinations in Australia, the details are added to the AIR for you.
• If you got your vaccinations overseas, you’ll need to get them recoded on the AIR before you can get a certificate. Only an Australian medical professional in Australia can add records to the AIR. Ask your GP or other medical practitioner for help.

Your international certificate features a secure QR code. It includes all the information you need to prove to airlines and authorities that you’ve had your COVID-19 vaccinations.

Some authorities may accept the QR code on its own, but some may not. Carry a printout of the PDF version in case you need it.

You’ll need to show your international certificate and passport when you check in at the airport in Australia. Depending on your destination, you may need to show your certificate to local authorities when you arrive.

Check the local requirements

The destination you’re going to determines their public health requirements.  Some destinations:

• don’t exempt vaccinated travellers from quarantine
• have different policies to Australia about the vaccines they accept and the length of time between doses, and/or
• need evidence of a negative COVID-19 test in addition to a vaccination certificate

Some destinations will only accept certificates that show your COVID-19 vaccination batch numbers. If the destination you’re visiting needs these details and your certificate is missing it, go to the Services Australia website .

You may also need a local ‘vaccine passport’ to access certain services and venues at your destination.

To find out more about these requirements, read the travel advice for your destination . Or check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

More information on the international certificate is available from the Australian Passports Office , including:

• How the international certificate works
• Eligibility
• How to get an international certificate
• Using your international certificate overseas
• Find more on COVID-19 vaccinations
• Learn about Australia's biosecurity and border controls
• Learn about the best proof of vaccination for your situation (Services Australia)

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COVID-19 proof of vaccination in Canada

On this page, get your proof of vaccination.

• About the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination

Travel outside Canada

Travel within canada, if you have problems using your proof, choose your province or territory.

Select your province or territory to find out how to get or download an updated version of your COVID-19 proof of vaccination.

• go to the  Alberta COVID Records portal
• complete the form to get your proof of vaccination

Alberta: Proof of vaccination

• log in to your  Health Gateway account
• save or print your  federal  COVID-19 proof of vaccination
• you can also request it by phone or visit a Service BC office

British Columbia: Proof of vaccination

• go to  Manitoba's immunization card portal
• request the Pan-Canadian Proof of Vaccination Credential

Manitoba: Proof of vaccination

• go to the  New Brunswick MyHealthNB portal
• log in to your existing account or create an account
• select 'View Immunizations' to access, download and print your proof

If you cannot access MyHealthNB, you can still use your provincial proof of vaccination (Record of COVID-19 Immunization).

New Brunswick: Proof of vaccination

• go to  Newfoundland and Labrador's portal and click on 'View Immunizations'
• download the Vaccination Record

Newfoundland and Labrador: Proof of vaccination

• go to the  Northwest Territories' self-serve COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Credential request form
• once completed, you can download your digital proof of vaccination

Northwest Territories: Proof of vaccination

• go to the  Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination portal
• your proof will be emailed to you

Nova Scotia: Proof of vaccination

• call your local health centre, Iqaluit Public Health, or Qikiqtani General Hospital
• schedule a time to pick up your proof of vaccination certificate in person

Nunavut: Proof of vaccination

• go to  Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination portal
• enter your health card number
• download your enhanced vaccine certificate

Ontario: Proof of vaccination

• go to the  Prince Edward Island COVID-19 Immunization Record website
• get your immunization record (also called the PEI Vax Pass ) from the My COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Portal

Prince Edward Island: Proof of vaccination

• go to  Quebec's self-service portal
• download the vaccination passport for travel outside Quebec

Quebec: Proof of vaccination

• access your  Saskatchewan account
• you can print it, download it, store it in the SK Vax Wallet app or view it on your mobile device

Saskatchewan: Proof of vaccination

• go to  Yukon's website
• apply online or by phone for your COVID-19 vaccine credential

Yukon: Proof of vaccination

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces

Contact your nearest  Canadian Armed Forces Health Services Centre  for more information on the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination.

About Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination

The Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination is a secure and reliable way to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination history when you travel outside of Canada. It's meant to simplify and help with border processing abroad.

This proof:

• was developed by provinces and territories with support from the Government of Canada
• is a recognized, trusted document that has been shared with our international partners

The Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination is available across Canada, though your province or territory may call it by a different name. For instance, it's also referred to as the 'pan-Canadian', 'standardized' or 'travel' proof of vaccination.

Some provinces may still issue a separate provincial COVID-19 proof of vaccination with a QR (quick response) code in addition to the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination. However, you should only use the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination when you travel internationally.

It's recommended to download a recent version of your COVID-19 proof of vaccination prior to your departure outside of Canada. Once you get your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination, you can access it:

• as a digital file on a mobile device, computer or mobile wallet
• on paper by printing the PDF file with the QR code

If you were vaccinated  outside  of your province or territory, you may register your vaccination records with your home province or territory. Check with your province or territory to see what steps to take before trying to access your proof.

Protecting your privacy

The Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination shows only a record of your vaccination status. It doesn't expose any of your other health data. The management of your health data is the responsibility of your province, territory or Indigenous organization.

The only medical information contained in this document is related to your COVID-19 vaccination history. It doesn't contain your health card number, so it can't be used:

• to access other health information
• for other health services

If you travel, you may need to present your:

• COVID-19 proof of vaccination  and
• another form of identification (ID), like your passport or status card

Your name and date of birth may be checked against your other ID, such as your passport or status card.

Your proof of vaccination and your passport or status card are separate documents and aren't digitally connected.

Outside of Canada, you may need a proof of vaccination to enter another country, board a plane or train, or participate in some activities. Before you travel to another country, be sure to check their vaccine requirements and restrictions.

However, your proof  does not guarantee entry  to another country. The destination country decides whether or not to accept your proof of vaccination. Other countries set their own requirements for entry at their borders.

If you do  not  meet the country's vaccination requirements, you may:

• be denied entry
• need to quarantine
• need to take COVID-19 tests
• need to meet other requirements when you arrive

The Government of Canada doesn't provide assistance to change travel plans that would be affected by public health measures associated with COVID-19. Such changes would be at your own expense.

Learn more about:

• Travel advice and advisories by destination
• Health and safety outside Canada

As of October 1, 2022, proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter Canada, or board a plane or train in Canada. This applies to travel within Canada and flights or trains leaving Canada.

If you're outside of Canada and are having difficulty using your proof of vaccination, you can visit your province or territory's website.

Download an updated version of your COVID-19 proof of vaccination

If that doesn't solve your issue, you can contact the Public Health Agency of Canada for information using the options below:

• toll-free number: 1-833-784-4397 (North American Access)
• calling from abroad: 1-613-957-0653 (collect calls are accepted)
• teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-465-7735 (North American Access)

The hours of operation for these numbers are 8 am to 8 pm ET , Monday to Friday. Lines are closed on statutory holidays.

Call centre agents won't be able to access your proof of vaccination.

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If not, tell us why:

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Accessing My Vaccination Certificate and Vaccination Certificate QR Code in VAMS

Frequently asked questions, when is my vaccination certificate available.

• A vaccination certificate is created in VAMS after a healthcare professional logs a COVID-19 vaccine dose for a recipient in VAMS.
• VAMS automatically updates vaccination certificates if healthcare professionals make applicable edits to the recipient vaccination records in VAMS.

What is in my vaccination certificate?

• The vaccination certificate will include information about the date(s) of COVID-19 vaccine administration, vaccine manufacturer, lot number, and clinic (vaccine administration site) name.
• The recipient’s vaccination certificate only reflects the COVID-19 vaccination dose(s) documented in VAMS.

How can I use my vaccination certificate?

• After the recipient receives the required number of COVID-19 vaccine dose(s) to complete the vaccination schedule, the certificate can serve as a recipient’s COVID-19 vaccination record documented in VAMS.
• Recipients can access their vaccination certificate in the Recipient Portal at any time.

How to View Your Vaccine Certificate and Generate Your Vaccines Certificate QR Code

View my vaccination certificate.

• If you selected VAMS Recipient Login , enter the email and password associated with your VAMS Recipient Account.
• If you selected Proceed as Guest , select Manage Appointments . Enter all required information to identify your Recipient Profile. A Confirmation Code will be sent to your preferred method of contact. Enter this Confirmation Code into the blank field in the Verification Code pop-up window. Click Verify .
• Within the Recipient Portal, select the My Appointments tab at the top of the screen.
• Click the blue hyperlinked text, View Your Vaccination Certificate .
• A pop-up window will display your Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination.

Generate my vaccination certificate QR code

• From the pop-up window with your Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination, select Generate QR Code .
• The PIN needs to be 6–8 alphanumeric characters.
• Click Save .
• VAMS will return you to your Recipient Portal.
• To print the QR code, select Print , located under the QR code.
• To change the pin for accessing your vaccination certificate, select Change QR Code PIN . Follow the same steps as you would to initially set up your QR Code PIN.
• When scanned by an external user, the QR code will generate a link to an external site. The page will prompt you to enter your QR Code PIN. Enter your PIN and click Continue . Once you enter your PIN, vaccination details will display.

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone

Learn about the options and benefits for using eSIM while traveling abroad.

Learn about the benefits of traveling with eSIM

eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because it can't be removed if your iPhone is lost or stolen.

With eSIM, you don't need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards (which can also be lost), or wait for them to arrive by mail.

You can have two eSIMs active on supported iPhone models at the same time. This could, for example, include one eSIM for your home and another eSIM for the place you're visiting.

You can swap which of your stored eSIMs are active simply by changing your selections in Settings. This might be helpful if you travel regularly to the same places.

What you need

An iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later

A wireless carrier or worldwide service provider that supports eSIM

Your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network*

If your iPhone has a SIM tray, you can use both a physical SIM and an eSIM while traveling internationally

Learn more about eSIM on iPhone

eSIM on iPhone isn’t offered in China mainland. In Hong Kong and Macao, some iPhone models feature eSIM. Learn about using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards in China mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao . For travelers visiting China mainland who wish to use an eSIM for prepaid data plans, these are offered by many worldwide service providers .

Roam internationally with your existing carrier

Carriers might include international roaming on select data plans without additional fees.

Alternatively, your carrier might offer affordable travel passes or plans that you can purchase ahead of time to use at your destination.

International roaming with an eSIM works the same as roaming with a physical SIM.

Your carrier might offer the ability to digitally manage your eSIM plan and add more data as needed.

To learn more, contact your carrier.

Learn more about cellular data roaming options for traveling internationally

Purchase an eSIM from a local carrier in the country or region you're visiting

Find carriers around the world that support eSIM on iPhone .

If your iPhone is locked to a carrier, it can be used only by that carrier. You can add multiple eSIMs and plans through that carrier. To check if your iPhone is unlocked, go to Settings > General > About. If your iPhone is unlocked, "No SIM restrictions" appears next to Carrier Lock. Learn how to unlock iPhone for use with a different carrier .

Many carriers offer prepaid plan options that you can purchase from the carriers' websites or apps before you arrive, or in person after arrival, through a carrier kiosk at the airport, carrier store, or other location. Carriers will provide steps to activate your eSIM digitally, like with a QR code or carrier app. Depending on local regulations, you might be asked to show identification (like your passport) to purchase. These prepaid carrier options might offer more affordable local plans for data, voice, and text. Check with individual carriers for details.

In addition to purchasing a prepaid eSIM plan, you might wish to get a postpaid account if you plan to be in another place for an extended time.Carriers around the world that support eSIM offer postpaid plans. Depending on the country or region, you might need proof of local residency, an established local bank account, or credit card.

On your iPhone, you can store eight or more eSIMs, which can be used as needed. On supported iPhone models, you can use two eSIMs at the same time . Carrier fees might apply. Contact your carrier for information.

Purchase a prepaid data eSIM from a worldwide service provider

Many worldwide service providers offer prepaid data plans . These plans allow you to stay connected in over 190 countries and regions when you travel. Carriers offer plans that differ by the amount of data and duration. You can also purchase a plan before you travel.

Apps that offer data only eSIM plans are available on the App Store on your iPhone .

While you're abroad, you can use a data-only eSIM as your secondary line and have two active eSIM plans on supported iPhone models.

The capabilities on your primary line will continue to work when you add a data-only eSIM for cellular data. For example, you might keep your primary line for your home and set up a data-only eSIM plan as your secondary line while traveling.

To choose your data line, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. You can continue to use FaceTime, iMessage, and other apps to make VoIP calls or send messages while you're traveling.

You can also turn data roaming on and off on your home line in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Carrier fees might apply.

If you purchased an iPhone 14 model or later in the United States but will use it while living in a different country or region

You can activate an unlocked iPhone 14 model or later that you purchased in the United States with over 400 carriers in 100 markets worldwide that support eSIM on iPhone . Contact your carrier to confirm that they support eSIM on your cellular plan. Also, check iPhone cellular band support for country compatibility.

Many worldwide service providers also offer prepaid eSIM data plans for long-term use in countries and regions across the world.

* iPhone 14 models and later that are eSIM-only can activate without a Wi-Fi network.

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