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Covid-19 rules For Members

Reader question: Can I convert my foreign vaccination certificate into an Italian Covid green pass?

Clare Speak
Clare Speak - [email protected]
Reader question: Can I convert my foreign vaccination certificate into an Italian Covid green pass?
A staff member flashes a QR code of a suporter's Covid-19 health pass before the start of the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais Football Club and RC Lens at The Roazhon Park Stadium in Rennes, northwestern France on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP)

Italy is accepting proof of vaccination against Covid-19 in certain other countries in place of the Italian ‘green pass’ health certificate. But can you now also ‘convert’ any foreign vaccination certificate into the Italian version? Here's what you need to know.

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Question: I've heard that it's now possible to upload a vaccination certificate issued in another country in order to get an Italian 'green pass'. Is this correct and, if so, how do I do it?

Since Italy began rolling out its health certificate- – the so-called 'green pass' - in June this year, it has only been available to people vaccinated, tested or recovered in Italy.

So far, the only way for people vaccinated in other countries to download the Italian version of the health pass has been to get a coronavirus test in Italy, as a negative result generates a pass that's valid for 48 hours.

EXPLAINED: Where do you now need to show a Covid green pass in Italy?

People who have a certificate from another country in the EU or Schengen Zone, or one of these five countries outside the bloc, do not need to download the Italian version of the pass: certificates from your home country will be accepted in Italy.

Until now, there hasn't been a longer-term solution available for people vaccinated in other countries, or for second home owners and others who spend longer periods of time in Italy and would prefer to access the country's own pass with the scannable QR code.

While it's not mandatory, it appears that using foreign certificates to obtain a green pass is now an option for those who would like to do so.

Photo: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP

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Aside from the convenience of having one, many readers have reported difficulties when attempting to use UK, US or other non-European vaccination certificates at certain venues in Italy - particularly with passes which don't feature a QR code - even though technically these should be recognised.

Being able to quickly and easily use a scannable health pass is becoming increasingly important after it was made an everyday requirement for entry everywhere from gyms and cinemas to long-distance public transport. From October 15th, it will become mandatory in all workplaces.

Several readers have written to The Local in recent days to report that they were allowed to submit their proof of vaccination abroad and claim an Italian 'green pass' using an online process. This included readers vaccinated in the UK, France, and Australia.

So what are the rules?

There hasn't been a rule change - at least, not recently.

The Italian health ministry confirmed that certain groups of people could use foreign certificates to apply for an Italian health 'green pass' In a circular published on August 4th.

However, with every local authority responsible for setting up a system to allow this, in some areas the conversion only recently became possible in practice.

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According to the health ministry, this option is open to all Italian citizens as well as any family members who live with them. That includes Italians who do not live in Italy and who are not enrolled in the Italian public health service.

The circular also states that “all subjects registered with the National Health Service on any basis” are eligible to add their foreign vaccination or recovery certificate to their Italian health record and receive a 'green pass'; effectively converting a foreign certificate into an Italian one.

That suggests that the rule also applies to non-Italians who live in Italy and are enrolled in the public health system, but got vaccinated elsewhere.

READ ALSO: ‘Be tenacious as hell’: How people in Italy have managed to get vaccinated without a health card

Photo: Andreas SOLARO / AFP

It was not initially clear from the ordinance whether this could also apply to visitors or second-home owners who are neither Italian citizens (or their immediate family members) nor registered with the national health service.

Since then however, many local health office (Azienda Sanitaria Locale or ASL) websites such as this one in Veneto have stated explicitly that they will convert certificates belonging to non-Italians and, in some cases, anyone present in the area they cover.

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Readers also report being able to convert passes via their local health authorities in Bologna and Rome.

Other local health offices, such as this one in Bergamo, only refer to Italian citizens, their close family members, and those who are registered with the national health service - as specified in the health ministry's ordinance.

Overall, while it appears that it is possible to submit a foreign vaccination certificate to the local health authority and receive an Italian 'green pass', who will actually be able to do so and the exact process they'll need to follow seems to depend on where in Italy they are.

READ ALSO: ‘Mixed dose’ Covid vaccines – what are the rules in Italy?

This is because implementation is down to individual local health authorities across Italy, meaning that each region has some scope to adjust the rules, and each local health office or ASL is responsible for setting up its own system for handling the process.

All health authorities however were clear that the process must be completed while you're in Italy (and in the comune covered by the relevant health office). So you couldn't apply for the pass from another country in advance of a trip to Italy.

It’s not obligatory to register jabs received abroad - and for some people it wouldn’t make much difference: since Covid certificates from any EU country contain QR codes which are valid throughout the bloc, anyone who recovered or got vaccinated elsewhere in the EU does not actually need the Italian pass.

As no specific countries were named in the ordinance: it appears that the conversion process could be used for certificates from any country as long as your vaccine was approved by the European and Italian medicines agencies.

Currently there are four vaccines on this list:

  • Comirnaty (made by Pfizer-BioNTech)
  • Spikevax (Moderna)
  • Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)

To find out more, contact the local health office (Azienda Sanitaria Locale or ASL) for the part of Italy where you’re based, who will provide further information about the documents you should provide and how. The ASL will check your documents are genuine and valid, then log the details in their records.

Once you’re registered as vaccinated or recovered, the Ministry of Health should generate an authorisation code and send it to you by text or email.

There are several different ways in which you may be able to download your pass, depending on what documents you have.

Find full details of how to download the green pass here.

Find the latest updates in our green pass news section and further details on the Italian government's official website (currently only available in Italian).

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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.

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Anonymous 2021/10/14 01:06
I tried to do an online application, I have an Italian passport registered in Veneto, duly emailed the relevant documentation and received this reply: "Buongiorno, deve sentire la sua ulss di appartenenza Cordiali Saluti" I think I understand but can someone translate this for me? I assume I need to go there personally.
Anonymous 2021/10/13 22:57
How is and will be Non EU vaccine conversion
Anonymous 2021/10/06 16:15
I just submitted applications for my wife, a dual US-Italian citizen, and myself, her "cohabitating family member" at: https://www.uslsudest.toscana.it/riconoscimento-vaccinazioni-covid-estero It was straightforward. I received an acknowledgement in seconds.
Anonymous 2021/10/04 15:32
Where can I get a green pass for my Italian vaccination? I can't get it in the Netherlands, they refer to the Italian system, but here in Rome nobody seems to know who can help me.
Anonymous 2021/09/22 22:23
This is great news from readers that the CDC card can be converted! I intend to give it a try. Question: To get the codice fiscale, which I understand I must get first, does my husband have to accompany me to the local tax office, or should I be able to get both of ours if I bring the forms and passports for both? I'm sort of assuming we'd both have to be there in person at the ASL to get our green passes?
  • Anonymous 2021/09/24 01:45
    I think I found out the answer to my own question: Although you can delegate someone to go get your codice fiscale, that delegate needs to have a codice fiscal. So we'd both have to go. By the way, in Safari the form to fill in to get it didn't work so well from my MacBook (it wouldn't let me select #4 but kept changing it #3 and it wouldn't print), but it worked in Chrome. Note: In Modena they want you to either reside in Emilia Romagna or be assisted by a general practitioner, and it seems you can submit the form online. The form itself doesn't seem to require that you show you've seen a general practitioner. https://www.ausl.mo.it/vaccino-covid-registrazione-dose
Anonymous 2021/09/20 11:30
I was successful in converting my US CDC card to a green pass in Lazio at the Rome convention center without a tessera sanitaria. You need to bring copies of your CDC card, passport, and codice fiscale. Very quick and easy.
Anonymous 2021/09/20 10:13
I simply scanned my UK vaccination QR code into the Italian Green Pass app and it generated a Green Pass. And I am not even in Italy yet.
Anonymous 2021/09/18 15:06
In Sassari ASSL I submitted the required documents ( Moderna in the US) according to instructions and received the code. The code did not work on any of the apps for the green pass, I communicated the problem and await a response. My partner did the same submission and received a response that it may take some time since the ASSL is busy. In the meantime the CDC vac card is working perfectly.
Anonymous 2021/09/18 14:37
In Florence it was very easy to get a green pass even though i was vaccinated in the USA. All i needed to show was my passport and my CDC card. I received the email with the authorization code within hours of leaving the office. It was the Santa Rosa office. I waited only 30 mins to meet with the rep for 15 mins and it was complete. For Italy, this was very fast!!
  • Anonymous 2021/09/18 14:38
    Correction: i needed my codice fiscale also.
Anonymous 2021/09/17 20:11
Hi Local community, In July I have been vaccinated in Italy with J&J, which made it possible for me to go back to Canada (where home is), however, my husband who got the same vaccination, exactly the same process, received the QR code with his vaccination details. I only got the attesta, which I had officially translated to use it as proof for the Canadian customs. I try almost every day looking at the Italian Government website, if I can get a green pass one way of the other. I have planned to join my husband in Rome again in October. Any suggestions?
Anonymous 2021/09/17 19:01
Can anyone comment about success - or difficulties-- in using public transportation, meaning train (high speed and other), and public busses from FCO to Rome, and/or Rome to Campania using just a US CDC vax card and proof of negative test prior to arrival in IT? This is all very confusing and difficult to know how difficult access to the Amalfi Coast will be in the next few weeks.
Anonymous 2021/09/17 18:14
My partner (American, vaccinated in America, resident in Milan) has been attempting to retrieve the green pass through ASL in Milano for several weeks now. He's repeatedly been referred to ATS, which does not have an active phone line, but there is a form you can fill out on the ATS website. My partner received an AUTHCODE via email after completing this form, however, the AUTHCODE doesn't work online, in apps, or at the pharmacy. Communicating via email with ATS has not provided any clarification. Has anyone been successful converting their foreign vaccine documents in Milan/Lombardy?
Anonymous 2021/09/17 13:02
I have successfully converted my NZ vaccination into a green pass in Bologna. It required proof of vaccination, passport and codice fiscale. It was all done via the internet and took about 10 days to process after submission.
  • Anonymous 2021/09/17 17:50
    Hello - Can you please provide the site address you used to submit your "conversion" request? Thanks!

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