How to get the EU Green Pass as an American Citizen

The European Union has instituted a Green Pass, a digital and/or paper form that will allow free movement for those people within its borders that are vaccinated against Covid-19. This pass will allow you to enter museums, eat indoors at restaurants, check-in to hotels, and more.

Currently, this Green Pass is only available to residents of the European Union, but that doesn’t mean that as an American you’re out of luck.

Here’s how to travel around Europe with no issues and get your own Green Pass

What is the Green Pass?

The Covid Green pass is required for travel across Europe and for most indoor activities upon your arrival. Each country has their own specific requirements of how to obtain one (for example, which documents you need) but the jist is the same:

• You must be vaccinated with either Pfizer, Moderna, J&J or AstraZeneca
• You have to have a negative Covid-19 test
• You have to show recovery from Covid-19

Each of the above requirements comes with a certain amount of validity. For example, the negative test pass only lasts 48 hours while the vaccination gives you six months of validity.

How can you get a Green Pass as an American?

There are two ways as an American to get a Green Pass. The first might seem kind of obvious, but it’s by being a dual citizen. If you only hold a USA passport, you won’t be able to get a green pass before you get to Europe.

Once you’re IN EUROPE, however, you can get a Green Pass by simply getting a Covid test in Europe. On our recent trip to Italy, we presented ourselves at a pharmacy, took a quick antigen test, and the Green Pass was in our email inbox within about 30 minutes.

a man sitting in a white tent

No Green Pass, No Problem

As Americans can’t get the digital version of the Green Pass, all isn’t necessarily lost. If you have your CDC White Card showing your vaccination, this will be accepted in all establishments that require a green pass.

When we arrived in Italy, we showed the pass upon arrival and it was no problem. The same goes for the Vatican Museums, outdoor restaurants, and the train station.

When we went to the airport lounge, we had to have our Green Pass to get in. The lounge is considered indoor dining, so if you don’t have the pass, the lounge would not admit you.

a sign on a table

What if you’re not vaccinated

The simple answer is that if you don’t have a vaccine, the ONLY way to travel to Europe is with a new test every 48 hours, as the Green pass version is good for only 48 hours.

a sign on a street

The even more simple answer is that you should get the vaccine and wait 14 days after your second dose, that way you can travel to Europe and protect yourself and others.

Bottom Line

As an American, you won’t be able to get the Green Pass before you head to Europe. You will only be able to enjoy normal activities in Europe if you have a Covid test on European soil OR you show your CDC White Vaccination card along with your passport.

Author: Jon Nickel-D'Andrea

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23 Comments

    • Good call out. This will end in a week so let’s hope
      For an extension! Thanks for the comment

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    • France’s system has been so overloaded with Americans that the one-time 24 hour delay has stretched to the point that ours were not processed before we left the ocuntry a week later.

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    • They no longer offer this service,and you need to go to a selected pharmacie, none of which are in Provence, for example. Bring your CDC vax card and get help from a hotel, or keep your ID and card with you at all times. The restaurants and other places do accept the CDC card and your ID for entry.

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    • Can you update this? It appears the rules change daily and this was done in August 2021. We are just trying to find out correct information.

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      • Hey Tessa. Sorry that it’s out of date. I hope you find the correct info, but at this point as long as your vaccinated, things will be a lot easier!

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  1. I have been innOtaly since July ans not having a green pass since August 6 is a problem. Many restaurants do not accept the vaccination card. Museums and government run establishments do but smaller businesses do not always recognize it. I got a green pass by going to the municipal office of the small town I was staying in and explained the problem (in broken Italian) ans they were able to send me a green pass to my email in a few hours. The system needs to be.better than it is and easier for American travelers to get a green pass because not everyone accepts the vaccine card as they are supposed to.

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  2. If this statement is true:
    “As Americans CAN’T get the digital version of the Green Pass, all isn’t necessarily lost.” (Emphasis on “can’t” added)

    How did you get a green pass in your email in 30 minutes?

    “On our recent trip to Italy, we presented ourselves at a pharmacy, took a quick antigen test, and the Green Pass was in our email inbox within about 30 minutes.”

    Post a Reply
  3. If this statement is true:
    “As Americans CAN’T get the digital version of the Green Pass, all isn’t necessarily lost.” (Emphasis on “can’t” added)

    How did you get a green pass in your email in 30 minutes?

    ” …. and the Green Pass was in our email inbox within about 30 minutes.”

    Post a Reply
  4. Good article! I am schedule to go to Italy soon. The green pass received with the in-country COVID test, is that good for a limited time (like 48 hours, etc.)? I have my CDC vaccine card but if I can get a digital, that seems easier.

    Thank you!

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    • You’re correct. I’d suggest carrying the CDC card as that’s accepted in 99% of the locations. You can get a rest if you feel better and want the digital version QR code.

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  5. I have used my CDC card everywhere I’ve gone in Italy that requires it. As I speak Italian, it has been no problem to provide additional explanation if requested. If you are traveling to Italy, I suggest you Google translate an explanation in Italian of our CDC card, print it out and carry it with you. Be sure to mention that our date format is opposite of the Euro one. They use day, then month. We use month, then day. That could cause some confusion when people see the date of vaccination.

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  6. My husband and I both got tested in Austria about a week ago and didn’t get the green pass, just an email with the test results. So this might be true for Italy, but not other countries.

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    • The email should work for most people in lieu of the green pass no? We had to ask the pharmacy to make sure to send the paper green pass via email

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    • Any American Citizen (or foreign Citizen) fully vaccinated in the US can get the European Green Pass without being in Europe. This company provides you with the European Green Pass sibmitting your US certificate: http://www.europeancovidgreenpass.com It is a reliable company and service fee is very reasonable. The sencond info I would like to correct as EU Citizen and US residence is that your CDC card (vaccination certificate) is accepted until the end of August 2021 because having a Green Pass became mandatory to access public indoor places at the beginning of August. Now it is requested pretty everyeare (paper or digital version), in some countries like Italy even to take a train.

      Post a Reply
    • CDC card won’t work in France. They started issuing the QR code if you apply for it online at https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/users/sign_in, but they rejected our application as they processed it 10 days after our return from the trip.
      Anybody can obtain QR code in France by stopping at the pharmacy, pay 25 euro for a rapid test and get printout and email from the pharmacy in 20 mins. It is valid for 72 hours, so we have to do it twice for our 4 days trip to Paris.

      Post a Reply
  7. I would like to share and correct some information reported here that may be useful for everyone. Any American Citizen (or foreign Citizen) fully vaccinated in the US can get the European Green Pass without being in Europe. This company provides you with the European Green Pass sibmitting your US certificate: http://www.europeancovidgreenpass.com It is a reliable company and service fee is very reasonable. The sencond info I would like to correct as EU Citizen and US residence is that your CDC card (vaccination certificate) is accepted until the end of August 2021 because having a Green Pass became mandatory to access public indoor places at the beginning of August. Now it is requested pretty everyeare (paper or digital version), in some countries like Italy even to take a train.

    Post a Reply
  8. I have also vaccinated in Austria but been waiting to get a green card. How long do i have to wai?

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  9. This article that seems to suggest a way when there is nothing practical being suggested. 🙂

    To the person who suggested https://www.europeancovidgreenpass.com/: Are you serious? $99-$139 per person is reasonable price?

    Our family was in Germany, Austria and Italy for a few weeks this past summer. US CDC card was widely accepted by hotels, museums, shops et al in big cities and small towns.

    Exception: France requires foreign nationals to present Passe Sanitaire by visiting designated local pharmacies with your passport + forty euros (?) application fee. Online application is no longer accepted unless you are a foreign student. Therefore, the only reason to get this green pass ahead of time is if you are travelling to France during Christmas time, when most if not all pharmacies/testing centers could be closed during that holiday period.

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  10. Your info is misleading.
    Covid test will give you “green pass” only for 48 hours, meaning you would have to take every other day.

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  11. What about natural immunity? Can a US citizen get the Green Pass with proof of recovery? Same as EU citizens? This article is quite dated. What is changing now?

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    • It’s dated because I stopped updating it. The rules changed so often that most people just say “google for the latest”

      Post a Reply
  12. What does anyone know about the covid requirements to enter Potugal? I have been vaccinated with the first two doses plus two booster shoots the last one on Apr 8, 2022, do I need a test before entering? If I do, then will I get a Green Card? If I get a Green Card but I am in Portugal for more than 48 hrs., do I need to get another test?

    Post a Reply

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