The NHS Covid pass has been given the green light by the European Union as an equivalent to its Digital Covid Certificate.
The European Commission confirmed the update for the UK certification systems, which will come into force today. The addition of the UK - and Armenia - means 45 nations are now linked to the EU system.
Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, said the EU Digital Covid certificate has made safer travel a reality and is now a leading global standard.
He said: “Forty-five 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.
The EU Digital Covid Certificate is not mandatory to enter Europe but it confirms a traveller's vaccination, recovery, or test status.
The UK has been trying to have its NHS Covid Pass recognised under the EU’s digital vaccine certificate programme since early summer, on July 28. Now that it finally has joined the programme.
Since the launch of the EU Covid-19 passport, more than 591 million certificates have been digitally generated.
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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