Since there are no “Green Pass Apps” available in Austria, all you have to do is present the relevant certificate on paper or in PDF format on your smartphone. Due to the fact that these are issued in the impractical DIN A4 format, the documents are a bit bulky for "on the go". With a few small but legal tricks, the certificate even fits into the driver's license pocket, which is available in many wallets.

In addition to a computer, all you need is an Acrobat reader, a printer, scissors and, if desired, a laminator with suitable foils. In order to print out the recovery and vaccination certificate in the appropriate format, all you have to do is set the scaling in the print menu before clicking on "Print". How to get the EU certificate for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people (Green Pass) and where to get the mobile phone signature from, if you don't already have one, is in explained in detail in this Aviation Direct travel tips article.

The following are those scaling values ​​that lead, without distortion, to legible, but more everyday output values:

Since this is only a scaled-down expression and not a manipulation of the certificate, this is completely legal. The QR codes are also easy to read in the "small sizes" if laser printers are used. In the case of inkjet printers, which can be susceptible to the output of QR and barcodes, a QR / barcode app should be used as a precaution to check whether the code is readable with the smartphone after printing. With laser printers the output is exact and therefore this intermediate step is not necessary.

After holding the reduced printout in your hands, simply cut it out with scissors or - if available in the office, for example - with a cutting machine. If desired, the certificate can now be "welded in" using a laminating device, making it more durable for everyday use.

Tips:

• DIN A5 is ideal for having the certificate close at hand in the glove compartment of the car or in the outer compartments of a hand luggage trolley. This format can also be easily accommodated in women's handbags or laptop bags.
• DIN A6 is also known as "postcard size" and can be easily inserted into the yellow vaccination card. It is a little too big for the wallet or passport and should stand out rather annoyingly.
• The format for the “driving license” is roughly the same size as the folded pink driving license from the past. Another orientation value for the size: It is about the same size as the old German identity card. In any case, this small printout, ideally laminated, can be perfectly inserted into passports and fits easily into the driver's license compartments of purses. It should also be easy to insert into a smartphone back cover (or into a so-called smartphone booklet).
• It is essential that the barcode on the certificate is legible. Whether you print out a format suitable for everyday use or present it in the original A4 format is not relevant. You just can't manipulate the document. A mere reduction (scaling) when printing is not a manipulation, as all content as well as the QR code remain unchanged.
• If you want to do the old-school version with the copier, you will achieve the same effect after printing and copying by entering the above-mentioned scaling values ​​with the "Reduce" function.
• Of course, the tips mentioned in this article can also be used for test certificates. However, these are valid for a maximum of 72 hours (PCR) or 48 hours (antigen), which is why you should carefully consider whether the effort for a kind of “one-time document” is worthwhile. Vaccinated and convalescent people can use their certificates for a much longer period of time, so that a format suitable for everyday use can be worthwhile.