EU Approves UK's NHS COVID Pass | IaM (Immigration and Migration)

EU Approves UK’s NHS COVID Pass

Travel from the UK to the EU also became easier as the European Commission agreed to accept the NHS COVID-19 app across the bloc as proof of vaccination.

The European Commission announced on 28 October that the UK NHS COVID pass will be accepted as full proof of vaccination, equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificates (EUDCC).

The United Kingdom and Armenia have become part of the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate System after meeting all the conditions to become part of the system.

In many countries, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, a QR code indicating you have been vaccinated is necessary to get into bars, restaurants and public buildings and events. This will simplify NHS COVID pass-holders to prove their vaccination status.

Commenting on the decision, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, said the EU Digital COVID Certificate has made safer travel a reality and is now a leading global standard.

45 countries in four continents are connected to the system, and more will follow in the coming weeks and months. We are open to other countries to join our system.
EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders

Countries Using EUDCC

The UK and the EU have been working on syncing up their electronic vaccine passport systems for some months, with “gaps in the British government’s application to Brussels” blamed for the failure to approve the NHS COVID Pass in time for summer.

By mid-July, all EU and Schengen Area countries had become part of the system, as well as the European Microstates of San Marino and the Vatican City.

On,20 August, the EU Commission adopted three equivalence decisions for North Macedonia, Turkey and Ukraine, thus recognising the COVID-19 passports issued by these three countries.

To date, the list of non-EU countries and territories, COVID-19 certificates issued by which will be recognised as equal to those issued in the EU, consists of the following:

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Faroe Islands
Iceland
Israel

Liechtenstein
Monaco
Morocco
North Macedonia
Norway
Panama

San Marino
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
The Vatican

Since the launch of the EU COVID-19 passport, more than 591 million certificates have been generated until mid-October.

According to the EU Commission, the document has also been a key component in supporting Europe’s tourism industry that has been severely affected by the pandemic.

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