How do Covid passports work and where will they be used?

Covid passports are being introduced in England as the government rolls out its ‘Plan B’ measures, brought in to stop the spread of the Omicron Covid variant.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed vaccine passports will be mandatory in certain settings including nightclubs, sports events and crowded indoor venues with more than 500 attendees.

The new measures will come into force next Wednesday 15 December, only four months after the government scrapped plans to enforce Covid passports due to backlash from businesses.

Here’s all you need to know about the new rules.

How to get a Covid passport

You can get an NHS Covid pass through the NHS App (not the NHS Track and Trace App) or the online Covid pass service.

To be eligible you must be over 18, registered with a GP and meet one of the following conditions:

• It must be at least 14 days since you received your second dose of a vaccine used in the UK (or one dose of the Jansen vaccine)
• Or you must have reported a negative lateral flow or PCR test on the NHS website in the last 48 hours
• Or you must have had a positive PCR test for Covid in the last six months and finished self-isolating

If you don’t have a mobile or GP, you can request an NHS Covid pass letter to show your vaccination status.

Those aged 16-18 can get an NHS Covid pass for foreign travel, but will not need to show a domestic Covid pass for entry to events.

Where will Covid passports be required?

Mr Johnson has said the NHS Covid pass will be mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues in England where large crowds gather.

This includes unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people.

Anyone attending an outdoor sporting event, including football matches, with over 10,000 spectators will require proof of being double-jabbed.

A negative lateral flow test will also be accepted if people are not fully vaccinated.

Can I go to clubs and events if I don’t have a vaccine?

If you haven’t received both doses of the Covid vaccine, you will need to show proof of a negative lateral flow test to attend indoor nightclubs and events with more than 500 people.

Nightclubs and events with less than 500 people will not come under the new rules, but be aware that many clubs already require attendees to provide a vaccine pass or negative test result to enter.

Will the booster jab be added to vaccine passports?

You don’t need to have a Covid booster jab to be eligible for the domestic Covid pass.

But the NHS Covid app has been updated to show if someone has received a third dose for travel, after some countries introduced time limits for vaccines.

In Israel, people must have had two doses within 180 days or a booster within 14 days of travel to be considered fully vaccinated.

While in Austria, you are only considered fully vaccinated for 270 days from the date of your second or third dose.

But the UK government has said it has no plans to introduce similar measures at the moment.

Do I need a Covid passport in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

In Wales, it’s already a requirement to show a Covid pass for any unseated indoor live event with more than than 500 people, unseated outdoor live events for more than 4,000 people and any event for more than 10,000 people.

This includes nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, sporting events and concert halls.

In Scotland, anyone over 18 must show proof of vaccination, a negative lateral flow or PCR test taken within the last 24 hours to gain entry to events and venues that require a Covid Pass.

Nightclubs, adult entertainment venues and indoor events with more than 500 people are covered by Scotland’s Covid rules, as are unseated outdoor events with more than 4,000 people or any event with more than 10,000 people.

While the Covid pass scheme in Northern Ireland requires people to either show proof of vaccination, a negative lateral flow test taken in the last 48 hours, or a positive PCR test taken in the last 30-180 days.

This applies to nightclubs, hospitality premises licensed to serve alcohol, cinemas, theatres and conference halls. As well as indoor events with 500 or more attendees and outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees (where some or all people are normally unseated for both) and any event with more than 10,000 people.

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