The EU vaccine ‘passport and what it means for travel

An EU vaccine “passport” is being introduced, enabling holders to prove they need been jabbed.

The UK doesn’t yet accept it, but says it’s “actively working” to succeed in agreements so foreign vaccination records are often recognised.

What’s the EU Digital Covid Certificate?

It’s being unrolled across all 27 member nations – plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

EU citizens (and those of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), can download it or obtain a paper copy – at no cost. it’s also available to non-EU nationals living legally in member states who have the proper to visit other member states.

Because the united kingdom is not any longer within the EU, the certificate isn’t available to most Britons.

EU nationals vaccinated within the UK must ask their home countries to ascertain if they’re eligible.

Travellers will still got to carry a passport or other identification.

How does it work?

The certificate are often issued if someone has:

• been vaccinated against Covid-19
• recently had a negative PCR test
• recently recovered from Covid-19

Why is that the UK not accepting the EU certificate?

For the instant , fully vaccinated British expats and EU nationals coming back from amber-listed EU countries need to self-isolate for 10 days.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says the govt is “actively working” on ways of letting fully-vaccinated British expats and foreign nationals arrive in England from amber countries without the necessity for self-isolation.

He says he hopes to mention more within the next few weeks.

Can I visit the united kingdom and use the NHS Covid Pass instead?

The NHS Covid Pass may be a similar vaccine “passport”, but it’s just for people that are fully vaccinated through the NHS.

People in England coming back from an amber country can avoid quarantine by using the pass (or by calling 119 for a printed letter).

• The NHS Covid Pass is out there in Wales
• People in Scotland can get a letter
• Northern Ireland features a temporary system in situ

Can I use the NHS Covid Pass within the EU?

You can’t yet use it EU-wide – but some individual countries, like Greece and Spain, do accept it.

The EU says it’s working to make sure its own certificate is compatible with similar products.

If it’s satisfied the NHS pass complies with EU standards and systems, it can plan to accept it.

• What are the travel rules if I’ve had both jabs?
• I’m fully vaccinated, but how am i able to prove it?
• What are the vacation rules for Portugal, Malta and Spain?

If I do use the NHS pass, does it matter if I got an Indian-made jab?

The UK received five million Indian-made AstraZeneca (AZ) doses, but the manufacturer – the Serum Institute (SI) – hasn’t been EU-approved.

SI distributes the vaccines under the brand-name, Covishield. But the Department for Health says no Covishield doses are utilized in the united kingdom . They were “treated as Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca” instead.

The UK government said it had been confident visit the EU wouldn’t be affected for UK citizens who’d had the jabs. But Malta now says it won’t let in UK visitors who have had vaccines from the three batch numbers involved (4120Z001, 4120Z002 and 4120Z003).

“We are clarifying with the Maltese authorities why these are deemed not valid for entry,” says the ministry .