'We're in limbo': The foreigners in Spain who can't get a Digital Covid Certificate for travel
Scores of foreign residents in Spain have faced challenges getting their Covid-19 vaccines, but now that most have found ways to get the jab, some are reporting troubles gaining access to Spain's Digital Covid Certificate for travel.
Spain's Certificado COVID Digital is issued by health authorities in the country's 17 regions and two autonomous cities and, although not essential for travel, it does make verifying a traveller's Covid health status faster and easier at the airport or port.
People in Spain who have been fully vaccinated, received a negative test or recovered from Covid can use this digital or paper proof to travel across the EU, as the system is integrated and accepted across all member states.
Galicia and the Canary Islands are so far the only regions to accept the Digital Covid Certificate for citizens to access the interior of bars, restaurants and other establishments, something Spain's Health Ministry isn't fully in favour of.
All in all, having this recognised and official proof that you aren't a Covid-19 carrier or that you're immune to the coronavirus is very useful, especially for fully vaccinated people who want to enjoy their renewed freedoms.
READ ALSO: How to get a Digital Covid Certificate for travel from Spain to the EU
Unfortunately, as the emails we've received and our research suggests, not all foreigners in Spain have succeeded in downloading this handy document.
No public health details means no access
The main reason that many are not able to get their Digital Covid Certificates is the fact that they were not registered with public health when they got their vaccine and therefore do not have a public health card number to be able to access the system and download the certificate online.
After numerous foreigners in Spain with private healthcare complained about not being able to get the vaccine, all Spanish regions eventually remedied this by allowing them to temporarily sign up to their region's public health system.
In the Valencia region, they issued residents with a temporary SIP card, while in Catalonia, between April and May, the Catalan government opened up Covid-19 vaccine appointments to those without a CAP card. It was reported that around 5,700 foreigners in Catalonia got their jabs during this time.
Spain's regional health departments also issue normal vaccination certificates but these are generally meant for informational purposes rather than travel (some don't have a QR code), and it would depend on the rules of the country you were travelling to from Spain to ascertain whether they can be used for travel.
Other issues with getting vaccination proof
Unfortunately, some foreigners who were issued temporary health numbers haven't been able to get their digital health passes either.
Briton Amanda wrote on the Brexpats Valencia Facebook group that she was having trouble getting her digital vaccination certificate with her temporary SIP card number and some of her information had been registered incorrectly. “I have been to the health centre three times to try to resolve this,” she wrote, but is still unable to get her certificate.
Renan meanwhile wrote on the Barcelona Expats Group that he had gotten his jab without a CAP card from one of the Red Cross points in the city and is now is unable to get his digital certificate for travel as he doesn’t have a CAP number to put into the app and download one.
Tim in Andalusia explained he was facing a similar issue when he wrote on Spain Expats Facebook group that he was having trouble accessing his certificate as he didn’t have a health number or “digital identity”.
Reacting to the problems, public health secretary for Catalonia Carmen Cabezas told CatalanNews: "When a person has no health card ID number or has had the first dose in another country, they will experience difficulties."
No access for tourists who get Covid-19 while in Spain
As Spain doesn't allow non-residents to access vaccination, testing or recovery certificates through its regional health system, tourists who catch Covid-19 while they’re here on holiday face an uphill battle when trying to get a Spanish Digital Covid Certificate for their trip back home.
One reader based in Germany who got Covid-19 while on holiday in the Canary Islands told the Local Spain: “Our main concern is who will provide us with a recovery certificate. Everyone we have contacted has been saying they are not responsible”.
As they had the virus less than six months ago, they still cannot get the jab and cannot get a recovery certificate either, if they tested positive with an antigen test rather than a PCR test.
"I think it’s odd that there is nobody to issue a recovery certificate for foreign visitors visiting Spain. I’m sure there are many people who are stuck in limbo like us".
READ ALSO - Reader question: How do I prove I have recovered from Covid in Spain?
Problems with getting recovery certificates
It's an issue that affects both tourists visiting Spain and foreigners living in the country who aren't registered on the country's public health system.
Resident Rebecca wrote on another expat group on Facebook that she "tested positive unfortunately, although I've been so careful with everything. I went to the local hospital and asked for a PCR but they didn't give me one, instead, I got an antigen test. I read that only a PCR test is valid to get a certificate of recovery. I haven't gotten my vaccine yet and the local hospital nurses seem to have no clue about the certificate".
Foreigners in Spain are having problems getting their Digital Covid Certificate. Photo: JOEL SAGET / AFP
Another issue similar to this, which seems to be unique to Catalonia is that the Catalan public health clinics are no longer giving PCR tests to those who have symptoms, only antigen tests. You need a PCR test to be able to get the Digital Certificate to show you’ve recovered from Covid-19, but it cannot be from a private clinic, it has to be from the public health services.
Karina, who also lives in Barcelona, told The Local Spain it’s like catch 22 and however many people from the health authorities she talks to, no one can tell her how to get the certificate. Since she has now recovered from Covid and tested negative, there is no PCR proof that she ever had Covid-19.
Vaccinated outside of the EU
Then there are the residents who were vaccinated outside of the EU and cannot get their Digital Certificates as their vaccination status is not on the system.
Valentina posted on the Spain Expats group on Facebook to say that she got vaccinated in Ethiopia but hasn’t found any way to register her inoculation in Spain to get her certificate.
US national Brit, who went back home to get her vaccination, posted on the American Society of Barcelona page and asked if there was any way for the system to recognise her US vaccine certificate or “am I just destined to pay €200 for a PCR every time I want to leave the country?”.
READ ALSO:
- ‘It’s so frustrating’: The foreigners in Spain who haven’t been vaccinated even though it’s their turn
- The most common problems with the Spain Travel Health app and some potential solutions
- How to get a Digital Covid Certificate for travel from Spain to the EU
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Spain's Certificado COVID Digital is issued by health authorities in the country's 17 regions and two autonomous cities and, although not essential for travel, it does make verifying a traveller's Covid health status faster and easier at the airport or port.
People in Spain who have been fully vaccinated, received a negative test or recovered from Covid can use this digital or paper proof to travel across the EU, as the system is integrated and accepted across all member states.
Galicia and the Canary Islands are so far the only regions to accept the Digital Covid Certificate for citizens to access the interior of bars, restaurants and other establishments, something Spain's Health Ministry isn't fully in favour of.
All in all, having this recognised and official proof that you aren't a Covid-19 carrier or that you're immune to the coronavirus is very useful, especially for fully vaccinated people who want to enjoy their renewed freedoms.
READ ALSO: How to get a Digital Covid Certificate for travel from Spain to the EU
Unfortunately, as the emails we've received and our research suggests, not all foreigners in Spain have succeeded in downloading this handy document.
No public health details means no access
The main reason that many are not able to get their Digital Covid Certificates is the fact that they were not registered with public health when they got their vaccine and therefore do not have a public health card number to be able to access the system and download the certificate online.
After numerous foreigners in Spain with private healthcare complained about not being able to get the vaccine, all Spanish regions eventually remedied this by allowing them to temporarily sign up to their region's public health system.
In the Valencia region, they issued residents with a temporary SIP card, while in Catalonia, between April and May, the Catalan government opened up Covid-19 vaccine appointments to those without a CAP card. It was reported that around 5,700 foreigners in Catalonia got their jabs during this time.
Spain's regional health departments also issue normal vaccination certificates but these are generally meant for informational purposes rather than travel (some don't have a QR code), and it would depend on the rules of the country you were travelling to from Spain to ascertain whether they can be used for travel.
Other issues with getting vaccination proof
Unfortunately, some foreigners who were issued temporary health numbers haven't been able to get their digital health passes either.
Briton Amanda wrote on the Brexpats Valencia Facebook group that she was having trouble getting her digital vaccination certificate with her temporary SIP card number and some of her information had been registered incorrectly. “I have been to the health centre three times to try to resolve this,” she wrote, but is still unable to get her certificate.
Renan meanwhile wrote on the Barcelona Expats Group that he had gotten his jab without a CAP card from one of the Red Cross points in the city and is now is unable to get his digital certificate for travel as he doesn’t have a CAP number to put into the app and download one.
Tim in Andalusia explained he was facing a similar issue when he wrote on Spain Expats Facebook group that he was having trouble accessing his certificate as he didn’t have a health number or “digital identity”.
Reacting to the problems, public health secretary for Catalonia Carmen Cabezas told CatalanNews: "When a person has no health card ID number or has had the first dose in another country, they will experience difficulties."
No access for tourists who get Covid-19 while in Spain
As Spain doesn't allow non-residents to access vaccination, testing or recovery certificates through its regional health system, tourists who catch Covid-19 while they’re here on holiday face an uphill battle when trying to get a Spanish Digital Covid Certificate for their trip back home.
One reader based in Germany who got Covid-19 while on holiday in the Canary Islands told the Local Spain: “Our main concern is who will provide us with a recovery certificate. Everyone we have contacted has been saying they are not responsible”.
As they had the virus less than six months ago, they still cannot get the jab and cannot get a recovery certificate either, if they tested positive with an antigen test rather than a PCR test.
"I think it’s odd that there is nobody to issue a recovery certificate for foreign visitors visiting Spain. I’m sure there are many people who are stuck in limbo like us".
READ ALSO - Reader question: How do I prove I have recovered from Covid in Spain?
Problems with getting recovery certificates
It's an issue that affects both tourists visiting Spain and foreigners living in the country who aren't registered on the country's public health system.
Resident Rebecca wrote on another expat group on Facebook that she "tested positive unfortunately, although I've been so careful with everything. I went to the local hospital and asked for a PCR but they didn't give me one, instead, I got an antigen test. I read that only a PCR test is valid to get a certificate of recovery. I haven't gotten my vaccine yet and the local hospital nurses seem to have no clue about the certificate".
Another issue similar to this, which seems to be unique to Catalonia is that the Catalan public health clinics are no longer giving PCR tests to those who have symptoms, only antigen tests. You need a PCR test to be able to get the Digital Certificate to show you’ve recovered from Covid-19, but it cannot be from a private clinic, it has to be from the public health services.
Karina, who also lives in Barcelona, told The Local Spain it’s like catch 22 and however many people from the health authorities she talks to, no one can tell her how to get the certificate. Since she has now recovered from Covid and tested negative, there is no PCR proof that she ever had Covid-19.
Vaccinated outside of the EU
Then there are the residents who were vaccinated outside of the EU and cannot get their Digital Certificates as their vaccination status is not on the system.
Valentina posted on the Spain Expats group on Facebook to say that she got vaccinated in Ethiopia but hasn’t found any way to register her inoculation in Spain to get her certificate.
US national Brit, who went back home to get her vaccination, posted on the American Society of Barcelona page and asked if there was any way for the system to recognise her US vaccine certificate or “am I just destined to pay €200 for a PCR every time I want to leave the country?”.
READ ALSO:
- ‘It’s so frustrating’: The foreigners in Spain who haven’t been vaccinated even though it’s their turn
- The most common problems with the Spain Travel Health app and some potential solutions
- How to get a Digital Covid Certificate for travel from Spain to the EU
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