COVID Certificates: frequent problems and solutions

Ask a family member, friend, neighbour or library staff member for help

You can find information about generating a COVID certificate on Coronacheck.nl. Ask a family member, friend or neighbour for help. Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can generate a digital COVID certificate. You can also print your COVID certificate if you want it on paper. 

 Phone numbers

• General number: 0800 - 1351
• CoronaCheck helpdesk: 0800 - 1421

Applying for a DigiD

If you want to get your COVID certificate quickly and digitally, you will need a DigiD. Applying for a DigiD is simple. If you need help applying for or using your DigiD, ask a family member, friend or neighbour. Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can get your DigiD and generate a COVID certificate online. 

No DigiD: request a paper COVID certificate

If you cannot apply for a DigiD, phone the CoronaCheck helpdesk on 0800 1421. Follow the steps in the automatic telephone menu (in Dutch), to request a COVID certificate by phone. You will need: 

• your citizen service number (BSN);
• your postcode (for the address at which you are registered with your municipality).

Your COVID certificate will be sent by post. This can take up to 5 working days. From 8 February 2022 you have to print or request a new paper certificate every 90 days.

If you need help using the automatic telephone menu, ask a family member, friend or neighbour. Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can get a COVID certificate.

No DigiD and want to go to an event or venue? Get tested

If you do not have a DigiD you can still get a  coronavirus entry pass based on a negative test result. It will give you admission to venues and events in the Netherlands for 24 hours.

• Make an appointment at a designated centre for pre-admission testing. Find one on Testenvoortoegang.org.
• Or call 088 777 0809.

No DigiD and want to go abroad? Get tested

First check the travel advice for the country you are travelling to. The travel advice will tell you:

• whether you need to show a negative test result;
• what kind of test is required;
• how many hours the test result is valid for. You need to arrive in your country of destination before the test result expires;
• if there are any exemptions from the negative test requirement, such as age.

If you need a test, then make an appointment for a PCR test or an antigen test (rapid test) at a commercial test location of your choice. You will have to pay for the test yourself.

• You will receive the test result by email or on paper.
• When you make the appointment, check whether you will be able to use the result for CoronaCheck.
• Schedule your appointment so that you will get the result before you need to travel.

You can print a paper COVID Certificate from the website CoronaCheck.nl. 

If you need help generating a COVID certificate, ask a family member, friend or neighbour. Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can get your DigiD and generate a COVID certificate online.

If you need more help, call 0800 - 1421. Follow the steps in the automatic telephone menu (in Dutch), to request a COVID certificate by phone. You will need: 

• your citizen service number (BSN);
• your postcode (for the address at which you are registered with your municipality).

Your COVID certificate will be sent by post. This can take up to 5 working days. From 8 February 2022 you have to print or request a new paper certificate every 90 days.

From 8 February 2022 you have to print or request a new paper certificate every 90 days. From 1 April 2022 earlier paper certificates will no longer be valid. If you have a paper certificate, you can upload it in the CoronaCheck app. How this works is explained on the paper certificate.

You can also generate a new COVID certificate that shows the correct validity in the CoronaCheck app.  Or you can try printing your certificate from the websiteCoronaCheck.nl again. It is possible it might work for you this time, even if it did not work before.

Help

You can also ask a family member, friend or neighbour for help.

Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can generate a COVID certificate that you can use straight away.

Requesting a paper COVID certificate

If you cannot generate a COVID certificate online, you can upload the paper certificate your received by post in the CoronaCheck app. How this works is explained on the paper certificate.

You can also request a new paper COVID certificate by phone. Call 0800 - 1421. You will need: 

• your citizen service number (BSN);
• your postcode (for the address at which you are registered with your municipality).

Your COVID certificate will be sent by post. This can take up to 5 working days. 

If you were not vaccinated by the GGD but by another healthcare provider, you can upload your paper proof of vaccination in the CoronaCheck app. How this works is explained on the paper proof of vaccination.

To generate a COVID certificate online, you need a computer. And to print a paper COVID certificate, you also need a printer. If you do not have a computer or a printer, ask a family member, friend or neighbour for help. Many libraries have an information point that can help you with online government services. With their help you can generate a COVID certificate and use it straight away.

If there is no one who can help you, read what you can do below.

If your vaccination details have been shared with RIVM or you were vaccinated by the GGD

Call 0800 - 1421. Follow the steps in the automatic telephone menu (in Dutch), to request a COVID certificate by phone. You will need: 

• your citizen service number (BSN);
• your postcode (for the address at which you are registered with your municipality).

Your COVID certificate will be sent by post. This can take up to 5 working days.  From 8 February 2022 you have to print or request a new paper certificate every 90 days.

If you need help using the automatic telephone menu, ask a family member, friend or neighbour. 

Many libraries have an information point that can help you with government services. They can help you request a paper COVID certificate.

If your vaccination details have not been shared with RIVM and you were not vaccinated by the GGD

Contact the care provider who vaccinated you. They can print out a paper COVID Certificate for you.

Vaccinated or tested by the GGD

If you do not have BSN, the GGD can create a COVID certificate if you

• were vaccinated by the GGD; or
• tested positive for coronavirus at the GGD.

Submit the application form for people who do not have a BSN to the GGD. The GGD will check your application. You may be asked to go to a GGD location in person. The GGD will contact you within 15 working days. If your application is approved, you will get 2 QR codes: one for your coronavirus entry pass for use in the Netherlands and one for your COVID certificate for travelling abroad. You will receive these via a secure email system or at the GGD location.

Vaccinated by your family doctor or other care provider

If you were vaccinated at your care home or by your family doctor, ask your care provider to print proof of vaccination for you.

You do not need mobile data to show your QR code using the CoronaCheck app on your smartphone. You do need to connect your phone to the internet to download your data and generate a COVID certificate in the app. But you can use WiFi for that. The app also needs to connect to the internet once every 3 days for updates.