Andrea Colonnetta, from the southern city of Reggio Calabria, now has the QR code of his COVID-19 “green pass” permanently displayed on his left bicep, thanks to tattoo artist Gabriele Pellerone.

“It’s certainly something original, I like to be different,” Colonnetta told Italian newspaper Corriere della Calabria.

An extension of the EU’s digital COVID-19 certificate, the green pass gives proof that its owner is vaccinated, has recovered from the virus or tested negative in the previous 48 hours.

It has been required in Italy since August 6 to eat indoors at restaurants, and to enter places such as cinemas, museums, gyms and indoor sporting venues.

In September, it will also be required for long-distance travel, school staff and university students.

Traditionally, the green pass is presented in paper or digital form.

But Colonnetta, who said he had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, may have started a new trend.

He has become an internet sensation, with footage of his new tattoo going viral on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok.

The young student said his parents weren’t as impressed with his new ink. 

“Certainly they encouraged me to be less impulsive and to better reflect on things…” he told Corriere della Calabria.

At least Colonnetta will never have to worry about losing or forgetting his green pass, as the barcode tattooed on his arm proved to work after a test run at McDonalds.

A video posted on TikTok by Pellerone shows a security guard at the entrance scanning and accepting the tattooed code and Colonnetta getting his burger. 

In another video, Pellerone scans Colonnetta’s arm, bringing up the pass on his phone almost instantly.

QR codes have become increasingly popular as society begins to reopen following the emergence of the coronavirus.

Plastered around cities and towns, they have played a major role in monitoring the spread of the virus and been used to keep track of visitors across a variety of business sectors, in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19.