Going on holiday just got easier as the NHS Scotland Covid passport has been accepted by the European Union (EU).
Scots planning to travel abroad who downloaded a PDF version of their vaccine certificate before October 7, or who printed a letter with their Covid status dated before October 7, will need to either download the app or request a new letter.
All four nations of the UK have been formally adopted into the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) scheme, the European Commission has confirmed.
All Covid status certificates will be recognised across Europe from Monday 1 November as the UK joins the programme which allows QR codes to be scanned and verified to prove their validity.
The change will open up ease of access for travellers to more than 40 countries. The scheme covers travel to Europe and those nations which, like the UK, are affiliated with the EU DCC.
It will also enable better access to facilities like bars and other venues where this is required in those countries which have chosen to use the EU DCC domestically.
Users of Scotland’s official Covid Status app will have their vaccination status automatically updated when they log in.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Vaccine certification will have a key role to play in helping keep the virus under control as we continue to emerge safely from lockdown restrictions and international travel opens up.
“Due to Brexit we were unfortunately not automatically part of the EU scheme. Adopting it will provide a more comprehensive approach instead of the previous bilateral agreements we had with individual countries and should provide more ease of access for travellers.
“Our vaccine certification app is working well and anyone planning to travel can download their Covid status QR codes again following the ‘go live’ date of the scheme from Monday November 1st. If you have a letter, you can request another one when you need one for international travel purposes.
“I would urge anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so through NHS Inform Scotland or by dropping into a local vaccine centre.”