The 1st Digital Vaccination Certificate for Foreigners Issued

  

Source: OT-Team(G), 新华社

China has issued its first digital vaccination certificate for foreigners.

On March 25, Sufyan Shomokh Marwan Sufyan from Yemen successfully applied for China's first-ever digital vaccination certificate for foreign nationals through the "Zheliban" app at the Jiangdong Community Health Service Center in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province. The certificate was issued for his one-year-old daughter.

"The application process was fast and efficient. I can check my child's vaccination records in real time via my phone, and all steps during vaccination are completed by scanning a QR code—no paper documents are needed. The certificate is valid for online vaccination appointments across Zhejiang and can also be used for school and daycare enrollment verification, making it highly practical," Sufyan said.

As a global trade hub, Yiwu is home to approximately 29,000 foreign residents from over 100 countries and regions. This initiative upgrades the electronic vaccination certificate from a local pilot to an internationally accessible service, filling a gap in digital immunization management for foreign residents in Zhejiang.

According to Lou Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang CDC, differences between domestic and international vaccines have made it difficult to integrate foreign immunization records into China's existing tracking system. Zhejiang authorities have adapted the system to support international vaccine data collection and processing, enabling intelligent tracking and preventing missed or duplicate vaccinations.

Previously, foreign nationals in Zhejiang could only access vaccination services in person, facing challenges in record-keeping and verification. With the introduction of the digital vaccination certificate, they can now access a full range of online services, including record inquiries, appointment booking, and school enrollment verification. The system also integrates with in-person services, streamlining registration, vaccination, and post-vaccination observation, significantly improving the vaccination experience for foreign residents in the province.