Validity Extended For The NHS Covid Pass

In an announcement this week, the NHS stated that they have extended the period of validity for the NHS Covid Pass that travellers currently need to enter certain destinations.  

The NHS Covid Pass is used by many travellers to prove their full vaccination status, prove they have fully recovered from Covid, or to prove they have taken a test and received a negative result.  

Travellers can find out if their destination requires or accepts the use of the NHS Covid Pass on the Foreign Travel Advice website. Alternatively, they can ask their travel agent. 

The NHS Covid Pass can be used via the NHS App, the NHS website, or the consumer can order a letter by post directly from the NHS.  

Previously, consumers would be required to acquire a new Covid Pass every 30 days for the barcode to be valid, whether they downloaded it or requested a new letter. The validity of the barcodes on the Covid Pass, in all forms, has now been extended to 180 days, or 6 months. 

This is great news for regular travellers or those going on longer journeys, meaning that they no longer need to worry about their Covid Pass expiring in just a month and won’t need to request or download a new one so soon.  

 “The expiry date on an NHS Covid Pass does not apply to your vaccination status, it applies to the barcodes on the NHS Covid Pass,” said the NHS. “The barcodes are valid for 180 days.” 

Ensuring you are prepared for your journey can seem stressful, but with destination requirements relaxing and dropping around the world, extensions such as that for the Covid Pass, and useful resources such as the FCDO website or an expert travel agent, staying prepared doesn’t have to get in the way of the excitement of a new holiday. 

So, if you’re looking forward to your next holiday, don’t wait, book now with a travel business registered with PTS for 100% financial protection through trust. Or, if you’d like assistance choosing one of the lovely PTS members to book with, you can contact PTS directly at 0207 190 9988.   

And if you’d like to learn more about your financial protection with PTS or how the Package Travel Regulations protect your holiday booking, check out our pages and Travel Advice.