It has been mandatory for adults (over 18 years old) to demonstrate their COVID-19 status before entering some certain venues and events. This means demonstrating that they have received a full course of an approved vaccine, have completed a negative PCR or lateral flow test within the past 48 hours, or are exempt from both testing and vaccination. The NHS COVID Pass can be used to demonstrate COVID-19 status at these venues.
Parents and guardians can now request a digital NHS COVID Pass for travel for children aged 5 to 11. This provides a record of the child’s vaccinations and proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days. Travel letters for 5-11 year olds who have received a full primary course of a COVID-19 vaccination, as well as recovery letters showing proof of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test in the past 180 days for this age group, are already available. Digital passes can be requested by parents or legal guardians via the NHS website. They will need to have access to either the mobile phone number or email address on the child’s GP record as it is not available via GP practices. Further details can be found on the GOV.UK guidance pages.
The NHS COVID Pass service is also available to 12-15 year olds, accessible via NHS.UK for those aged 12 and over, and the NHS App for those aged 13 and over. This is an addition to the letter service via 119 that was launched in December, or applying via www.NHS.uk to get a pass for travel, which includes an internationally recognised 2D barcode.
Adults can also acquire an NHS COVID PASS via the above routes.
Both the digital (App and NHS.uk) and letter NHS COVID Pass are widely accepted for international travel. It provides a record of all COVID-19 vaccinations received, with the digital Pass showing evidence of recovery for 180 days following a positive test. International travellers should check the entry requirements of the country they are visiting as requirements for testing and vaccination can vary from country to country.
Any certificate issued via the 119 or NHS.uk route will be valid a month and if a longer duration is needed it must be requested again via 119, or the relevant website visited again to trigger generation of a fresh QR code with a new validity period.
The medical exemptions service will continue to run, and individuals will still be able to request an application form by calling the NHS COVID Pass Service on 119 and then sending this onto a clinician for review. However, to ensure a national effort to maximise booster rollout, the timeframe for processing a medical exemption request will be at the professional discretion of the practice. DHSC will update all the relevant public guidance to reflect this change.
(note that the NHS appointment card you received at the time of your vaccination cannot be used to demonstrate your vaccination status).
The passport is currently available if you:
- are 5 or over
- were vaccinated in England
- have at least had dose 1 and dose 2
The NHS App is the easiest and most convenient way to get your vaccine passport. (Please note that the NHS App is not the same as the NHS Covid 19 App). Download and register for the NHS app and ensure that you leave plenty of time to get everything set up before you need to passport. There is increased pressure on the service so registration may take longer than usual.
Alternatively if you can’t use the NHS App, call 119 between 7am and 11pm to request a paper letter from the NHS. A paper copy of the passport can also be requested via the NHS website – Get your NHS Covid Pass Letter Here
Please only call if you have less than four weeks before you travel. You should receive your paper letter within 5 working days and it will go to the address that is registered with your GP practice.
