Covid-19 vaccine passports

Covid-19 vaccine passports can provide proof that a traveller is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and potentially also show Covid-19 test results or proof of having previously been infected.

Why do we need vaccine passports?
NHS Covid Pass
EU Digital Covid Certificate
IATA Travel Pass

For a full summary of Covid-19 statistics and regulations by country, and to compare destinations around the world, visit our interactive Covid-19 travel planner.

Covid-19 vaccination passport mock-up © Travel Wild - Adobe Stock Image

Why do we need vaccine passports?

The idea of vaccine passports is not new. Prior to the late 1970s world travellers regularly had to prove they were vaccinated against smallpox, and proof of a yellow fever vaccination is still required by most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and many in South America.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought international travel and foreign holidays to an almost complete standstill. An array of Covid-19 vaccines have been developed and are now being rolled out around the world.

As people are vaccinated, there is a need to restart international travel safely while minimising restrictions and the need for additional testing and quarantine.

A Covid-19 vaccine passport can provide proof that a traveller is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and potentially show Covid-19 test results or proof of previously having had Covid.

Track the latest statistics on Covid-19 vaccinations by country with our guide to the number of people who are fully and partially vaccinated.

NHS Covid Pass

The NHS has created an app that allows NHS patients (in England and Wales only) to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for the purposes of travel. In Northern Ireland, there is a similar app to the UK called COVIDCertNI while in Scotland the NHS Scotland Covid Status app shows your vaccination status for international travel.

Once installed, the NHS app produces an NHS Covid Pass that shows the exact date of coronavirus jabs received, including the type of vaccine and batch numbers.

NHS App - UK Covid-19 vaccination status for travel © Weather2Travel.com

The NHS Covid Pass also shows any positive Covid-19 test results from the past six months which can be used a proof of having recovered from the disease if required.

Please note: this NHS Covid Pass is different to the NHS Covid-19 App used for the NHS Test and Trace service in England.

The NHS Covid Pass is available now on iOS via the Apple Store and Android on Google Play. Once downloaded you need to set up an NHS login and prove your identity. The app then securely connects to information from your GP practice.

Display your Covid-19 vaccine status as a QR code within the NHS app, download a PDF version or request an offline copy by email.

Please note: most countries in Europe including Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, are now accepting the NHS Covid Pass as proof of being fully vaccinated. However, you are urged to double-check before finalising your travel plans.

EU Digital Covid Certificate

The European Union launched its vaccine passport on 1 July 2021. The purpose of the EU Digital Covid Certificate (formerly called the Digital Green Certificate) is to facilitate free movement across borders within the EU (and some third countries) but it is not a requirement for travel.

It is available to nationals of all EU countries plus all residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

EU's digital COVID certificate © Rafael Henrique - Adobe Stock Image

The EU Digital Covid Certificate is digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against Covid-19 or recovered from Covid-19. It can also show if the holder has recently received a negative test result. The certificate is recognised by the UK authorities for travel to the UK but is not available to UK residents.

IATA Travel Pass

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also trialling a type of vaccine passport called the IATA Travel Pass to enable air passengers to travel across borders more easily.

The digital app is designed to inform travellers what tests are required before travelling and for them to store proof of their vaccination status and test results.

The following airlines are trialling the IATA Travel Pass: