EXPLAINED: What people vaccinated in Italy need to do to get the 'green pass'
If you've been vaccinated in Italy, here's how to access the digital green pass - even if you have not yet received an 'authorisation code'.
From Thursday July 1st, the EU's much talked-about Covid travel ‘health pass’ has been in use across the bloc to facilitate quarantine-free travel.
It shows proof via a QR code that the holder has either been vaccinated, recently recovered from the virus, or recently tested negative for Covid.
Italy launched its version of the digital (and printable) pass on June 17th, and this document is now valid for travel within the EU from July 1st under the international scheme.
TRAVEL: How does the new EU Covid certificate work and how do I get one?
The Italian health pass is also needed when attending large events, and may soon be expanded and required for access to more venues.
As the goverment looks at expanding the scheme however there has been increased concern about access, with widespread reports of people not receiving a access code or having other difficulties using the app.
Here’s a closer look at how people in Italy can get the pass after vaccination.
Note: If you're looking for information on how people vaccinated in the US can access Italy's 'green pass', see here.
Versions of the health pass from all EU countries are accepted in Italy. Photo: Denis LOVROVIC/AFP
How it works
It should be possible to claim your health certificate 15 days after your first dose of a vaccine (including the Johnson & Johnson single shot), and within 48 hours of your second dose, according to the health ministry’s green pass website.
After vaccination, your green certificate will be automatically issued in a digital and printable format via a national platform run by the Italian health ministry.
The official website says that, once it’s available to download or access, you should receive an SMS or email (at the number or address you provided on your vaccine registration form) containing an authentication code and further instructions.
EXPLAINED: What is Italy’s digital ‘green pass’ used for and how do you get it?
You should in theory be able to use this code to access the certificate itself via either the official website, the IO public administration app or the Immuni contact-tracing app, or by accessing your electronic health records (Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico, available on your regional health system’s website).
What if you didn't receive a code?
The Italian health ministry initially said there may be a delay of up to a week for the codes to be sent out to people who had been vaccinated before the system went live.
“If you have already had the vaccine, when the certification is available you will receive an email or SMS to the number given during the vaccination," the website states.
However, many of The Local’s readers (and writers) still hadn't received these codes as of July 1st - two weeks after the scheme launched in Italy, and up to a month after they had received a first vaccine dose.
People who have had their second dose however do appear to be receiving the authorisation code within 48 hours without any problems.
If you have had only had one dose and have not received the code, there does seem to be a way to access the certificate.
We found that on logging in to the official website or apps using an electronic ID, the certificate was in fact available for download.
The system can only be accessed without the missing 'authorisation code' however if you have a digital identity document: either the SPID digital ID or an electronic ID card (CIE).
You would not be able to log in without the code using your tessera sanitaria (health card).
To log in, go to either the official website login page, or use the IO public administration app or the Immuni contact-tracing app.
While this is not the procedure outlined by the health ministry on the official website, it worked for several of The Local's members and writers as of July 1st.
Others however were given a message saying that their certificate was still not avalaible and "would be made available by June 28th".
The health ministry advises people to contact the green pass helpline for support on 800 91 24 91 (freephone) or email [email protected].
However many readers have reported getting no response to multiple emails, and being unable to get through on this number. The Local has been unable to successfully contact anyone via this email address or phone number so far.
Vaccination centres have been advising people to email the following address with their codice fiscale, date of vaccination and the email address they would like the authoritisation code re-sent to: [email protected]
Alternatively, anyone who has not received their code or cannot otherwise access the pass is advised to contact their doctor or pharmacist, who should be able to dowload the pass on their behalf.
The certificate, once you get it, features a scannable QR code, and you can show it directly on your smartphone or choose to print out a copy if you prefer.
Certificates will remain valid until you get your second vaccine dose (if applicable), and for nine months after you are fully vaccinated.
While Italian authorities will recognise equivalent documents issued in all EU and Schengen zone countries, as well as those from the US, Canada and Japan (more about these requirements here) the Italian version of the pass is only made available to people who were vaccinated in the country, or recovered or recently tested negative here.
Find further details on the green pass official website (currently only available in Italian).
For more information about the current coronavirus situation and health measures in Italy please see the Health Ministry’s website (in English).
Comments (6)
See Also
From Thursday July 1st, the EU's much talked-about Covid travel ‘health pass’ has been in use across the bloc to facilitate quarantine-free travel.
It shows proof via a QR code that the holder has either been vaccinated, recently recovered from the virus, or recently tested negative for Covid.
Italy launched its version of the digital (and printable) pass on June 17th, and this document is now valid for travel within the EU from July 1st under the international scheme.
TRAVEL: How does the new EU Covid certificate work and how do I get one?
The Italian health pass is also needed when attending large events, and may soon be expanded and required for access to more venues.
As the goverment looks at expanding the scheme however there has been increased concern about access, with widespread reports of people not receiving a access code or having other difficulties using the app.
Here’s a closer look at how people in Italy can get the pass after vaccination.
Note: If you're looking for information on how people vaccinated in the US can access Italy's 'green pass', see here.
How it works
It should be possible to claim your health certificate 15 days after your first dose of a vaccine (including the Johnson & Johnson single shot), and within 48 hours of your second dose, according to the health ministry’s green pass website.
After vaccination, your green certificate will be automatically issued in a digital and printable format via a national platform run by the Italian health ministry.
The official website says that, once it’s available to download or access, you should receive an SMS or email (at the number or address you provided on your vaccine registration form) containing an authentication code and further instructions.
EXPLAINED: What is Italy’s digital ‘green pass’ used for and how do you get it?
You should in theory be able to use this code to access the certificate itself via either the official website, the IO public administration app or the Immuni contact-tracing app, or by accessing your electronic health records (Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico, available on your regional health system’s website).
What if you didn't receive a code?
The Italian health ministry initially said there may be a delay of up to a week for the codes to be sent out to people who had been vaccinated before the system went live.
“If you have already had the vaccine, when the certification is available you will receive an email or SMS to the number given during the vaccination," the website states.
However, many of The Local’s readers (and writers) still hadn't received these codes as of July 1st - two weeks after the scheme launched in Italy, and up to a month after they had received a first vaccine dose.
People who have had their second dose however do appear to be receiving the authorisation code within 48 hours without any problems.
If you have had only had one dose and have not received the code, there does seem to be a way to access the certificate.
We found that on logging in to the official website or apps using an electronic ID, the certificate was in fact available for download.
The system can only be accessed without the missing 'authorisation code' however if you have a digital identity document: either the SPID digital ID or an electronic ID card (CIE).
You would not be able to log in without the code using your tessera sanitaria (health card).
To log in, go to either the official website login page, or use the IO public administration app or the Immuni contact-tracing app.
While this is not the procedure outlined by the health ministry on the official website, it worked for several of The Local's members and writers as of July 1st.
Others however were given a message saying that their certificate was still not avalaible and "would be made available by June 28th".
The health ministry advises people to contact the green pass helpline for support on 800 91 24 91 (freephone) or email [email protected].
However many readers have reported getting no response to multiple emails, and being unable to get through on this number. The Local has been unable to successfully contact anyone via this email address or phone number so far.
Vaccination centres have been advising people to email the following address with their codice fiscale, date of vaccination and the email address they would like the authoritisation code re-sent to: [email protected]
Alternatively, anyone who has not received their code or cannot otherwise access the pass is advised to contact their doctor or pharmacist, who should be able to dowload the pass on their behalf.
The certificate, once you get it, features a scannable QR code, and you can show it directly on your smartphone or choose to print out a copy if you prefer.
Certificates will remain valid until you get your second vaccine dose (if applicable), and for nine months after you are fully vaccinated.
While Italian authorities will recognise equivalent documents issued in all EU and Schengen zone countries, as well as those from the US, Canada and Japan (more about these requirements here) the Italian version of the pass is only made available to people who were vaccinated in the country, or recovered or recently tested negative here.
Find further details on the green pass official website (currently only available in Italian).
For more information about the current coronavirus situation and health measures in Italy please see the Health Ministry’s website (in English).
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.