With the CoronaCheck app you can go on holiday and to festivals: that’s how it works

A smartphone app to show that you are not infected with the coronavirus, or have been (sufficiently) vaccinated.

CoronaCheck creates a QR code for you with which you can travel or gain access to events such as festivals. The official name of this QR code is EU Digital Corona Certificate, or DCC for short. The app is for people aged 13 and older.

The app can be downloaded for free from the Play Store and App Store. You must have at least Android 6.0 or iOS 12 to download CoronaCheck.

With CoronaCheck you therefore receive ‘proof’ that you are not contagious to others. There are a total of three ways to obtain such proof:
1. If you are fully vaccinated.
2. When you have (recently) tested negative.
3. If you have already had corona.

Below we explain per way how to get the CoronaCheck app working.

I’m vaccinated

The easiest way to use CoronaCheck is to log in with your DigiD. The app works together with the RIVM and the GGD and if you have indicated during your vaccination that you want to share your data, your vaccination certificate is automatically loaded.

Does the RIVM not have your details, or have you had yourself vaccinated elsewhere (such as with a general practitioner)? Then you can request a QR code from that person. You can create a QR code via the app 14 days after your first vaccination.

Please note, because in some countries you need to have had two shots before you can get access. Via the Foreign Affairs website you can check the rules per country.

I have been tested negative

If you have recently tested negative for the coronavirus, you can enter the corresponding collection code for this result in the CoronaCheck app. You can then use this to create a QR code that gives you access to the event or trip. This code is valid for 40 hours. You can therefore visit events within this period.

Tip: From 1 July you can make a free test spoke if you want to travel abroad in July and August. Of course, the proof of your (negative) result must be recent.

You can make an appointment for a free test from 30 June. If you have yourself tested before 1 July, you will pay yourself. On the website of CoronaCheck you will find more information, for example at which locations you can test (for free).

I already had corona

If you have already had corona, you must be able to demonstrate this with a positive PCR test. Is this the case? Then you can upload a so-called ‘recovery certificate’ via CoronaCheck. This happens automatically when you log in with your DigiD. To get a recovery certificate, you must have recovered from corona less than 6 months ago.

Before you pack the bags, it is best to check the color code of the country you are going to.

On the Foreign Affairs website you can check per country which rules currently apply, and whether there is an entry ban for tourists, for example. As a rule, foreign holidays are only possible if the country is colored yellow or green: you should only travel to an orange country if it is necessary.

Check? Then it is a matter of following the following steps:

1. Download the CoronaCheck app from the Google Play Store or App Store;
2. Log in with your DigiD and retrieve your vaccination data, upload a negative test certificate or use a recovery certificate to indicate that you have already had corona;
3. A QR code will now be created. You will have this scanned when you travel, for example when you cross the border by car or before boarding the plane. Don’t forget your proof of identity, because it will be checked whether the CoronaCheck app matches your name;
4. The person scanning your evidence may get 2 screens. A green screen means that your QR code is valid, with a red screen, the person knows that you are not allowed to travel because your test certificate is not valid.

Are you going to a disco or festival? To gain access, follow the steps described above. You must therefore be able to demonstrate at the entrance of the event that you are not contagious and do not forget your ID card or passport.

Also important: all other corona rules continue to apply. So you have to keep your distance and wash your hands regularly.

It depends. Different rules apply to travel outside the EU and the annoying thing is that they can change continuously. For example, you cannot currently travel to the United States or Indonesia.

That differs per type of QR code. There are two types of codes that CoronaCheck can generate: a Dutch version and a European one.

The Dutch QR code contains very little personal information. The person who scans your test certificate will only see a green (access) or red screen (no access). There is also some personal information on that person’s screen, such as the first letter of your first name, last name and your birthday. This information is necessary to be able to check your proof of identity.

The European QR code puts more data on the table. For example, the inspector also sees information about which vaccination you have had, how many shots and when that was done. With a negative test result, the person will see, for example, the type of test, the location and the test date.

It is also important to know that the app does not store GPS or location data. The data that is stored – such as information about the type of vaccine you have had – is not stored centrally. This reduces the chance of possible misuse, because there is no central ‘treasure vault’ where all the privacy-sensitive information of the app users is located.

Then you can go through the website of CoronaCheck print a qr code. You must be able to show this version at the entrance of an event or when you travel – in combination with your proof of identity.

No. You can only upload your own test proof. Are you going on the hort with someone else? Then the person has to hand over their own QR code, or bring a printed version with them.

The government says it is working on the possibility to add multiple test certificates to the same CoronaCheck app. This is useful, for example, for families who can carry several tickets with them with one telephone.