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How do I get a Covid vaccine certificate and what are they used for?
COVID vaccine certificates are just one tool the Government have used to keep the country running as the virus spreads.
The Covid certification scheme has been used on and off in the past year as Covid has fluctuated.
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Covid certification shows either proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative test. It gives a guarantee that a person is less likely to be carrying or spreading the virus.
It also goes by the names of “Covid vaccine certificate”, “vaccine passport” and is formally called the “NHS COVID Pass”.
There are two versions of the NHS COVID Pass - one for domestic use and one for travel abroad.
For domestic use, two vaccine shots are considered “vaccinated”, but this is being kept under review now that boosters have been offered to every adult.
For travel abroad, some countries will require a top-up shot for entry.
If you’ve received a booster vaccination it will show in your NHS COVID Pass for travel within five days.
Covid certification for use domestically is only required for over 18s. But if you are aged 16 or 17, you may get a pass for travel.
Has the Covid vaccine certificate been scrapped?
The Covid vaccine certificate was a bold part of the Plan B measures which were rolled out in the face of the Omicron variant.
But now Plan B restrictions in England have been dropped by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the Omicron wave has stabilised.
From 27 January, it will no longer be mandatory for venues in England to require attendees to prove their Covid status, as it was throughout December 2021.
Instead, larger venues and nightclubs will now also be able to choose whether to force visitors to show Covid passes before attending events.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the measures can be lifted due to the success of the Covid-19 vaccine programme and falling rates of Covid.
When do I need an NHS COVID Pass?
There may still be times where you are asked to show your NHS COVID Pass.
Some venues or events may still choose to require proof of Covid status as a condition of entry, the Government says, so it's worth checking the conditions before you go.
This is to reduce risk for attendees and staff.
You may also need your NHS COVID Pass when travelling abroad, as other countries have different requirements to the UK.
Details on entry requirements can be found on the and on the websites of your destination country.
Make sure to leave plenty of time to get your Covid certificate before travelling, as it may take a few days to come through.
You should also check that the names on your passport and NHS Covid Pass match at least two weeks before you travel, because if they don’t, you’ll need to get your GP to change your details.
The Government states: “Some countries require travellers to demonstrate that they have received 2 doses of a Covid-19 approved vaccination within 180 days, or a booster dose no less than 14 days before entering the country.
“If you’re about to travel, you should download an updated PDF version of your NHS COVID Pass, or store an updated version in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay Wallet.
“If you require non-digital proof of your booster vaccination for international travel, you can order an NHS COVID Pass letter via the NHS 119 service or via NHS.UK. Your letter will show a 2D barcode for each vaccination you’ve received, including your booster vaccination.”
Travel checklist
Before you travel, the Government says you must:
- Check the rules .
- Find out what you need to do when you .
- Book any tests or quarantine hotel packages you need.
How do you get a Covid-status certificate?
You can get your NHS Covid Pass in a few ways.
Digital
There are two ways to get an NHS COVID Pass digitally - either by downloading the app on your phone or tablet, or using the service online.
Most people use the app, which you can download by typing "NHS" into the search bar of your iOS App store or Android Play Store and clicking install.
The one to download is called "NHS". There are other NHS apps that are for other services.
Details such as your email address and postcode will be needed to get your certificate.
You have to be registered with a GP in England to use the NHS App. However, you don’t need to contact your GP unless your certification is not showing.
If this happens, you’ll need to ask your GP for your full detailed medical record.
Proof of your Covid status will be shown within the NHS App with a barcode - which can also be stored in your Google wallet.
The barcode will only be valid for 30 days. After that, you need to refresh the app.
The domestic NHS COVID Pass is a single barcode, while the international travel one is a barcode for each vaccination dose.
Once you have your NHS COVID Pass you can download it as a PDF or it can be sent as a link in an email.
Paper - print yourself at home
If you don’t want your certificate in a digital format, you can also have it on paper.
To print it yourself, you’ll need to register for an NHS login if you do not have one already, which may take some time to process.
Once you have a login, you can view your Covid status and then download and print it as a PDF document.
The document will contain a barcode. If you download your Covid Pass as a PDF, always check the expiry date before using it because it only lasts for 30 days.
NHS COVID Pass letter
If you prefer to do things the traditional way, you can get an NHS COVID Pass letter.
There are two NHS COVID Pass letters - one for domestic use and one for travel abroad.
Anyone over 12 can get a travel letter, but only those over 18 can get a domestic one.
The letters are valid for 30 days. You should get them within seven working days of the date you ask for them.
Request your letter using the, or by calling 119.
It may take a few days for the certificate to reach you this way.
How to get proof of a negative test
A recent (48 hours prior) negative Covid test is one way to acquire Covid certification.
Some activities need proof of a negative test via PCR, while others just need lateral flow.
Everyone has access to rapid lateral flow Covid tests and they are easy to do from the comfort of your own home, giving a result between 15 and 30 minutes.
Head online to - where you can request a pack of tests to use at home.
Use to report your result to the NHS after using a rapid lateral flow test kit.
You should report your test result, positive or negative, to have proof that you have completed it, to NHS Test and Trace.
If you reported a negative result you will also receive access to the NHS COVID Pass. This will expire 48 hours after the time you took the test.
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Report the result every time you use a rapid lateral flow test kit and as soon as possible after you get the result.
You cannot report a result after more than 24 hours. You can only report one result at a time.
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