Without further communication, the Austrian Ministry of Health released the download of the EU vaccination certificates for the Green Pass on Saturday. Previously, only those who had recovered and who had been tested could obtain their documents.

Currently, the certificates can only be obtained online via gruenerpass.gesundheit.gv.at can be obtained. Those who have recovered can also collect their documents from the locally responsible health authority and, in some cases, from municipal offices. Those who have been tested will also receive their documents directly from the test center or sent by email.

In order to be able to obtain the “Green Pass”, you have to log in using the link above. Either the mobile phone signature or its predecessor citizen card are required for this. After logging in, all you have to do is click on “Green Pass” and you can then download all of the existing certificates in PDF format. A separate document is issued for each vaccination and each test.

Anyone expecting a stylish certificate in green colors reminiscent of a kind of passport will be disappointed. It is a simple A4 note with an oversized QR code that is located in the top left. This code should be legible throughout the EU and, for example, prove the relevant status during border controls. However, Europe-wide on the documents it is indicated that it is not a travel document in the sense of a passport or identity card.

Attention! Important hint: The EU-wide valid certificates do not replace the respective national entry regulations. These can only facilitate entry. Therefore, you should always find out about the current requirements before leaving.

How do you get the so-called mobile phone signature?

There are several ways to get it. Since Österreichische Post AG, including its partner offices, has nationwide branches, only the route via the post is described here. Like all other alternatives, this is free of charge. All you need is a cell phone, and it doesn't have to be a smartphone.

The first step is to create yourself a so-called Post Account on the Swiss Post homepage. This must then be identified in a post office or with a postal partner. To do this, you take your passport, ID card or driver's license and the printout form with you to the nearest post office.

After the post employee has checked the identity, the post account is released within a few hours. Now you log in and there is the item "Cell phone signature" in the account dashboard. You can order this free of charge and simply follow the instructions displayed.

For security reasons, a one-time password is sent by post. As soon as you have received this, you can go to handy-signatur.at log in for the first time and set the password. When the mobile phone signature is subsequently used, identification is carried out either by SMS or by app (QR code must be scanned). You can also use SMS as a “backup” if you cannot or do not want to use the app - for example, because you open the Green Pass from your smartphone. All you have to do is click on "Receive TAN via SMS".

The mobile phone signature can not only be used for the green passport, but also for many other administrative procedures. The best-known applications are Finanz Online, the ÖGK customer portal (e.g. submitting elective doctor bills), ELGA and many applications to cities, federal and state governments.