Covid-19 Vaccine

NHS COVID Pass: what it is and how to get it

The NHS COVID Pass lets you share your coronavirus (COVID-19) status records or test COVID-19 status in a secure way.

It allows you to show others the details of your COVID-19 status:

  • when travelling abroad to some countries or territories
  • as a condition of entry at those venues or events that use the service in England

You can get an NHS COVID Pass:

  • digitally through the NHS App or online via the NHS website
  • as a letter sent to you in the post, for those who are not digitally enabled

You can find out the eligibility requirements on the NHS website.

If you’re in the UK armed forces, visit ‘My health care hub’ on the Defence Gateway (login required) to find out how to get your NHS COVID Pass.

The NHS App is not the same as the NHS COVID-19 App.

If you believe your NHS COVID Pass has missing or incorrect vaccination records, please call 119 and ask to be referred to the Vaccine Data Resolution Service.

 

Residents in England who have received COVID-19 vaccinations overseas

If you live in England and have had one or more of your COVID-19 vaccinations administered overseas, you can have your vaccination details added to your NHS Record. You can then generate an NHS COVID Pass for domestic use and international travel if you meet certain certification requirements.

Eligible vaccines

You can use this service if you’ve had one or more of these vaccines:

  • Moderna
  • Oxford/AstraZeneca
  • Pfizer/BioNTech
  • Janssen

From 18 February, you can also use this service if you’ve received one or more of these vaccines:

  • Sinopharm Beijing/BIBP
  • SinoVac-CoronaVac
  • Covishield (Institute of India)
  • Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)

If you’ve received a Sinopharm vaccine, your evidence must show that it was manufactured by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products (BIBP). Other Sinopharm manufacturers are not accepted for this service.

If you’ve received Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Janssen, you can get your NHS COVID Pass digitally or as a letter sent in the post.

If you’ve received Sinopharm Beijing/BIBP, SinoVac-CoronaVac, Covishield or Covaxin, you can currently only get a digital NHS COVID Pass. You will not be able to get an NHS COVID Pass letter until late spring 2022.

International COVID-19 certification accepted at the UK border should also be accepted for entry by venues or events that have decided to voluntarily require use of the NHS COVID Pass.

The government will review additional vaccines as they achieve finalised status on the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use List (EUL). There will be a delay between vaccines reaching finalised status on the WHO EUL and the overseas vaccination recording service being extended to accommodate these (for example, Novavax (Nuvaxovid) and Covovax).

Book an appointment to register your overseas vaccinations

To register your overseas vaccinations, you’ll need to book an appointment at a selected list of vaccination centres across England.

Book an appointment to register your overseas vaccination with the NHS.

Staff are not able to register your overseas vaccinations unless you book in advance.

Details of your overseas vaccination will then be recorded in the National Immunisation Management System.

If you’re registered with a GP in England and were vaccinated in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, you do not need to book an appointment at a vaccination centre.

If you need help using this service, contact the NHS COVID Pass service by telephoning:

  • 119 from the UK
  • +44 151 905 0119 from overseas (you’ll be charged according to your carrier’s rates)

Getting your NHS COVID Pass

Eligible overseas vaccinations will display within your NHS COVID Pass in the same way as vaccines administered under the UK vaccination programme. However, you may see some fields left blank for overseas vaccines.

Non-eligible overseas vaccinations will not generate an NHS COVID Pass.

Your NHS COVID Pass for international travel will show the vaccinations you have received. It may take up to 10 working days for vaccines to show in your NHS COVID Pass.

 

Children

NHS COVID Pass for domestic use in England

Children under 18 do not have to demonstrate their COVID-19 status for entry to domestic events or venues in England.

NHS COVID Pass digital service for international travel

From 3 February, children aged 12 and over can get a digital NHS COVID Pass for international travel.  

A digital NHS COVID Pass will: 

  • provide a record of COVID-19 vaccinations received
  • show evidence of recovery for 180 days following a positive NHS PCR test

See ‘How to use the NHS COVID Pass when travelling abroad’ above.

You can order a digital NHS COVID Pass:

  • via the NHS website for those aged 12 and over (as a PDF you can download or print)
  • via the NHS App for those aged 13 and over (age restrictions apply for use of the App)

To get an NHS COVID Pass, your child will first need to register for an NHS login. Once they have logged into the NHS COVID Pass service and clicked on ‘Travel’, they will be asked to prove their identity. They can do this themselves (or a parent or guardian can help them).

Your child will need to:

  • register for an NHS login using their own email address and enter their details as recorded at the GP
  •  take a photo of their photo ID (such as their passport)
  • record a short video of their face saying the 4 digits as shown on screen (this is to provide a physical match to their photo ID)

Once your child has submitted this information to prove their identity (or you’ve helped them to do it), it will then be checked to ensure a correct match to your child’s NHS record.

This usually takes a few hours, but during busy periods may take a few days. You should ensure that you register and prove the identity of your child well in advance of international travel.

NHS COVID Pass letter for international travel

Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can get an NHS COVID Pass letter for international travel. A person with legal responsibility for a child aged 12 to 15 (such as a parent or guardian) can also request the letter on their behalf.

This is available for children who have received a full course of vaccinations. It is unavailable to those who have received an incomplete course of vaccination (such as one dose of a 2-dose vaccine).   

The NHS COVID Pass letter for international travel is sent in the post and can be requested either:

The NHS COVID Pass letter will be posted to the address held on the child’s NHS record (the address held by their GP) and will show all the vaccinations they have received, including any boosters. The NHS COVID Pass letter should arrive within 7 working days.

The NHS COVID Pass letter service is for international vaccination status only and will not show recovery or negative test results.

Your GP cannot provide you with this letter or service.

This NHS COVID Pass letter service is not for use at domestic venues and settings in England as under 18s are exempt from domestic certification requirements. 

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