Covid-19 vaccines received abroad can soon be registered in Groningen

Groningen will become the second city in the Netherlands for citizens and residents to register Covid-19 vaccinations received abroad. The starting date for on-site vaccination registration is expected to be Saturday. GGD workers in Utrecht already carry out the task.

Many people who were vaccinated abroad have experienced issues registering their Covid-19 vaccine in the Netherlands. That has made it difficult for them to obtain a coronavirus access pass needed to enter restaurants, bars, cafes, theaters, cinemas, and many other venues.

The pass often takes the form of a QR code in the CoronaCheck app. The pass is given to those who tested negative for the coronavirus infection, those who recovered from an infection, and people who received their last dose of a Covid-19 vaccine more than 14 days before attempting to use the pass.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said in a letter that he was optimistic that the program could soon be expanded to other cities beyond Groningen and Utrecht. Initially, he wrote, the intention was for more regions to try verify foreign vaccinations. This has been difficult because of “the specific knowledge needed to check all possible foreign vaccination certificates," De Jonge wrote.

A spokesperson for the ministry was unable to say if the registration of foreign vaccinations would also be extended to tourists and non-residents with a short-stay visa.