CH3CK: Enjoy a safe trade fair visit

We look forward to getting back on track with you!

Accessing the trade fair grounds will require CH3CK. This means you have three options for accessing the trade fair grounds: You will need to be fully vaccinated for, recovered from or tested for Covid. Anyone wishing to enter the trade fair grounds must present appropriate verified digital proof that complies with the Covid digital certificate (EU DCC). For non-EU citizens without access to the EU DCC certificate, the following exception applies: Click here for all information.

This is how we can ensure the greatest possible safety for your business at Koelnmesse!

Find out more details and learn about the required processes here. Of course our trade fair team will also be happy to speak with you personally at any time.

Please note:

Periodic updates to the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance in North Rhine-Westphalia may result in short-term changes to the regulatory landscape that could require different or additional measures. With this in mind, you are kindly requested to refer to the latest Covid instructions on our website at all times.

Status "recovered"

For the "recovered" status, infection must have occurred at least 29 days and up to 90 days ago. Once 90 days have passed, the "recovered" status expires. You will then need a negative test result or vaccination.

If the infection occurred more than 90 days ago, those who have recovered will only require one vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated. Please see the column Status "vaccinated".

To access the trade fair grounds, you will need an EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) as proof. For non-EU citizens without access to the EU DCC certificate, the following exception applies: Click here for all information.

Status "vaccinated"

For the "vaccinated" status, full vaccination with a vaccine listed by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute must have taken place at least 14 days ago. Full vaccination means that the second dose has also been administered, provided two doses are required for the vaccine in question.

Vaccines authorised in the EU are permitted. The EU Commission has approved the following four vaccines thus far: BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Johnson and Johnson).

Versions of EU-approved vaccines that have been approved abroad (original or licensed production) are also recognised. Get more information here. Please note that you will need an EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) as proof.

Proof of an EU DCC (Digital Covid Certificate) can be linked directly to the trade fair ticket; this will accelerate access control at the entrance to the trade fair: Click here for further information.

If you have been vaccinated with another vaccine, you will not be considered vaccinated and will therefore have to present a current negative test.

Status "tested"

A current negative test result is required for the "tested" status. The result must be confirmed by an official test centre.

Please note that your test result must not be older than 24 hours antigen test and 48 hours PCR test. This may require a new test if you wish to enter the trade fair grounds on more than one day.

Please refer to the following website to find test centres: https://map.schnelltestportal.de/ For test centres near the Cologne trade fair grounds, you can enter the postcode 50679 in your search.

To access the trade fair grounds, you will need an EU Digital Covids Certificate (EU DCC) as proof of your negative test result. Please filter for "Digital Covid Certificate" in the overview for this purpose. For non-EU citizens without access to the EU DCC certificate, the following exception applies: Click here for all information.

CH3CK: Enjoy a safe trade fair visit with a digital ticket and an EU Digital Covid Certificate

You will need three documents to visit the trade fair:

a digital ticket for the respective event
a European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EU-DCC)
an official identification document (incl. name, date of birth and photo)

For non-EU citizens without access to the EU DCC certificate, the following exception applies: Click here for all information.

As part of our Covid security measures, we offer exhibiting companies, visitors, service providers and media digital tickets only. You can obtain these in the ticket shop of the respective trade fair. You will receive a separate digital day ticket in the form of a QR-code for each day of the trade fair. You will need the trade fair app for the respective event to display the QR-code on your smartphone.

In addition to your digital ticket, you will also need verified proof that you have been fully vaccinated, recovered for at least 28 days and no longer than 90 days, or are currently tested (within the past 24 hours for antigen tests and 48 hours for PCR tests) in order to gain access to the trade fair grounds.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU-DCC) serves as proof. It contains a QR-code that you can save on your smartphone using various apps that differ for each country. The apps in Germany, for example, are CovPass and Corona-Warn-App. Proof of an EU DCC (Digital Covid Certificate) can be linked directly to the trade fair ticket; this will accelerate access control at the entrance to the trade fair:  Click here for further information.  For non-EU citizens without access to the EU DCC certificate, the following exception applies: Click here for all information.

This is how to get your digital ticket and your EU Digital Covid Certificate:

All information for download: CH3CK - Enjoy a safe trade fair visit with a digital ticket and an EU Digital Covid Certificate (.pdf)

How do I get my ticket?

Buy a ticket in the online ticket shop/redeem voucher

You can obtain your event ticket as usual from our ticket shop on the trade fair website. To do this, sign in with your login data or register if you have not yet done so. You can then select your desired ticket and complete the ordering process.

Download the trade fair app

You can download the trade fair app for the respective event from the app store about four weeks before the event. Do not worry: We will inform you by newsletter as soon as the trade fair app is online.

Display the ticket in the trade fair app

Once you have purchased your ticket and downloaded the trade fair app, your ticket will automatically be displayed in the app. You will need this digital proof together with your digital Covid Certificate to gain access to the trade fair grounds.

If the Covid certificate is presented in EU-DCC format, it can be linked directly to the trade fair ticket; this will accelerate access control at the entrance to the trade fair:  Click here for further information.  

How do I get the Digital COVID Certificate?

Obtain personal proof (tested/vaccinated/recovered)

Digital proof with the QR-Code that you have been vaccinated or have recovered will be issued by the national authorities or other national providers. Proof of antigen or PCR tests is provided by all participating test centres authorised to issue the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU-DCC) both in Germany and in other European countries.

Possible test sites in Germany can be found using the following link: https://map.schnelltestportal.de/ . For test centres near the Cologne trade fair grounds, you can enter the postcode 50679 in your search.

Download an app to display the certificate

The EU Digital Covid Certificate is issued to vaccinated, recovered as well as tested people and contains a QR-code that can be stored in various country-specific apps on your smartphone. Please find out which app in your country can display the QR-code of the Digital Covid Certificate. You will find more information here.

Scan the Digital Covid Certificate

Transfer the EU Digital Covid Certificate to your smartphone using the QR-code. You will need this digital certificate together with your digital trade fair ticket to gain access to the trade fair grounds.

Alternatively, you can link your Covid certificate directly to your trade fair ticket; this will accelerate access controls at the entrance to the trade fair: 
Click here for further information.

Access Control Covid

Do you have still questions about CH3CK?

FAQ: questions and answers