Travel: NHS Covid pass now valid across the EU

Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport

(Picture: PA)

NHS Covid certificates will be valid for travel in the European Union from Friday.

UK holidaymakers will be able to travel across Europe more easily now that the Covid pass is formally recognised in the same way as the bloc’s Covid certificate.

Fully jabbed Britons will be able to prove their vaccination status with the pass instead of having to take regular Covid tests to visit bars, restaurants, museums and events in countries that have adopted vaccine passports.

Until now, several countries had their own agreements with the UK but not all countries were onboard.

However, from today NHS Covid pass will be accepted across all 27 EU countries.

EU citizens with their equivalent EU Digital Covid Certificate will also be able to travel more easily to their countries from Friday.

Armenia will be connected to the European system under the same conditions.

NHS Covid Pass and Negative Covid test advice is seen on a banner outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match (Getty Images)

“Today the Commission adopted two new decisions certifying that the Digital Covid Certificates issued by Armenia and the United Kingdom are equivalent to the EU DCC,” Didier Reynders said in a statement.

The EU Commissioner for Justice also highlighted how 45 countries in four continents are now connected to the system with more to follow before Christmas.

In theory, this change means the 27-member states now accept EMA-approved vaccines given in the UK and Armenia and regards them as equal to those given in the EU.

Fully vaccinated Britons aged 18 and over can get an NHS Covid Pass to use at venues and events, while those aged 16 and over are eligible for travel abroad.

The certificate enables travellers to prove that they have been fully vaccinated, recently tested negative or recovered from a coronavirus infection in the past six months.

Today the Commission adopted two new decisions certifying that the #DigitalCOVIDCertificates issued by Armenia 🇦🇲 and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 are equivalent to the EU DCC.

45 countries in four continents are now connected to the 🇪🇺 system and more will follow in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/CiXSU3rMsu

— Didier Reynders (@dreynders) October 28, 2021

Covid cases in the UK appear to be falling after the latest peak on Tuesday which saw the highest deaths since March 9.

A total 40,954 new infections and 263 Covid-related deaths were recorded, according to government figures.

On Thursday, cases fell below 40,000 for the first time in a month with 39,842 new cases and 65 deaths, taking the official death toll to 140,206.