Vaccine passports are not factored into international travel or did I miss something ?

[user19097527484949]

Correct me if I've misunderstood, but with the new travel rules, not much has been said about whether having the vaccine actually makes travel any easier?

It's not a condition of travel and it doesn't get you out of quarantining, right ?

I just keep hearing from my European relatives that their vaccine passport will get them out of having to quarantine. I don't have many details on this and how it relates to us. The only thing Grant Shapps mentioned yesterday is that you can use the NHS app as proof of vaccination. But he didn't say why you would require that, or did I miss something ? I was trying to look after a toddlers whilst following the announcement.

No at the moment the vaccine doesn’t get you out of quarantining.

The EU have been discussing (and possibly voting on) a vaccine passport for travel throughout the member states but wouldn’t apply to the U.K..

No at the moment no differentiation between vaccinated and unvaccinated, it's the same for the country we are planning to go to as it stands. I'm wondering if they're doing it for fairness whilst all adults haven't been offered a vaccine. I believe the EU will be doing free PCR tests so it's not unfair, but I heard that third hand so not certain.

Thanks ! I'm just googling.. does the planned EU green certificate thing get them out of quarantining in other participating EU countries ?

The entry requirements of some countries require proof of vaccine, or appropriate tests. Where that is the case, then the NHS app can be used as proof of vaccine status. If you don't have the app you can phone 119 and ask for a letter of vaccine status (but that takes more time to get). So it has not impact currently on re-entering England, but may have an impact on entering other countries.

What Europe is doing has no impact on the UK - we decided to leave Europe, and so we are on our own on this one. It is possible that the UK government might be able to opt in to a common framework, but we would have to ask.

@changeruset2748

No at the moment no differentiation between vaccinated and unvaccinated, it's the same for the country we are planning to go to as it stands. I'm wondering if they're doing it for fairness whilst all adults haven't been offered a vaccine. I believe the EU will be doing free PCR tests so it's not unfair, but I heard that third hand so not certain.

Yeah look at the situation in Germany, they're allowing vaccinated people to do more things. Like meeting up with other vaccinated people and also going to hairdressers without a negative test etc. They're really creating a two tier society, which isn't fair. Perhaps because vaccine uptake isn't as high? I'm not sure. But I've been reading this morning that you're allowed to do more stuff there if you've been vaccinated or have recently had covid.

@Moondust001

The entry requirements of some countries require proof of vaccine, or appropriate tests. Where that is the case, then the NHS app can be used as proof of vaccine status. If you don't have the app you can phone 119 and ask for a letter of vaccine status (but that takes more time to get). So it has not impact currently on re-entering England, but may have an impact on entering other countries.

What Europe is doing has no impact on the UK - we decided to leave Europe, and so we are on our own on this one. It is possible that the UK government might be able to opt in to a common framework, but we would have to ask.

The EU, you mean. We're still very much in Europe

@Moondust001

The entry requirements of some countries require proof of vaccine, or appropriate tests. Where that is the case, then the NHS app can be used as proof of vaccine status. If you don't have the app you can phone 119 and ask for a letter of vaccine status (but that takes more time to get). So it has not impact currently on re-entering England, but may have an impact on entering other countries.

What Europe is doing has no impact on the UK - we decided to leave Europe, and so we are on our own on this one. It is possible that the UK government might be able to opt in to a common framework, but we would have to ask.

Oh yes that makes sense. It might be a requirement for other countries, but not for the UK.

I wonder if all EU citizens can opt into the EU vaccine passport and travel freely across the EU ( except UK ). Even if they don't reside in the EU.

The green list isn't that helpful - Australia and New Zealand are on it. We had friends contacting us yesterday to say 'yippee, you'll be able to go and see DS'. Unfortunately, whilst the UK might let us go, the Aussies won't let us in!

It depends on your destination. You need to check the rules there as well as the conditions that apply when you return to the UK. For some countries, vaccinated travellers are exempt from quarantine on arrival, e.g. Iceland.

Unfortunately, whilst the UK might let us go, the Aussies won't let us in!

Meanwhile my family and I have had the opposite problem. Iceland would have let them in at all times, as my family members. But the UK wouldn't let them out.

The green list is brilliant for us. Though isn't it the case that from 17 May international travel for non-essential reasons from the UK will no longer be illegal? The colours just indicate what travellers coming from that country need to do on arrival in the UK, in terms of testing and quarantine. Isn't that right?

Iceland is on the Green list and open to travellers with vaccine certificate or certificate of previous COVID infection.
No quarantining, just a free Covid test on day 1 and 5 I think
So hopefully the NHS APP would be valid proof in this situation, remains to be seen I guess

Vaccine status won’t help you at all returning to the UK but is likely to help you to get into a foreign country.

Even in the case of Iceland, UK govt requires PCR testing on departure and arrival, so not sure what impact other countries having vaccine passports has on us. So long as a country is green, we are all going to have to test going out and coming back in regardless of vaccine status. Thankfully Tui have come up with a package to make it much cheaper and I'm assuming others will follow.

Not having to quarantine makes a difference, I'd say!

Vaccinated travellers coming into Iceland have one test at the airport and if it's negative then they are free as a bird. No need to present a negative test taken in the UK at least on the Iceland side - is that a condition of leaving the UK, then?

Then one test in Iceland before leaving, one test in the UK on day 2. Fill one of those forms. No quarantine or isolation.

Obviously it's all a massive ballache compared to 2019, but easier than most examples right now.

I thought something was said about an NHS app which could access your medical records.

Basically, it's no longer illegal to travel abroad for leisure purposes. In reality, unless you are very rich and are prepared to jump through many hoops it's virtually inaccessible. Which I think was the point. The 300 quid a night UK Yurts can relax for the time being as they will still be in demand.

We are planning on going to Kos which has already said quarantine won't be needed if tested negative, so vaccine status has no impact on us, we just need it on the green list.

Anyone know when the next update is? I think I read 3 weeks but can't remember!

@vera99 that seems pretty dramatic to me. TUI have negotiated a deal so testing will cost us (family of 4) £240, it's a test before we go, and coming back, I really don't see how that's only for the rich or a large amount of hoops. I'm perfectly happy to do that to get away, though aware it'll take longer at the airport.

@changeruset2748

We are planning on going to Kos which has already said quarantine won't be needed if tested negative, so vaccine status has no impact on us, we just need it on the green list.

Anyone know when the next update is? I think I read 3 weeks but can't remember!

Yes three weeks. I imagine by July/august far more places will be on the green list and possibly individual islands in Greece not necessarily the whole country

The approach is very interesting. From speaking to my relatives in the EU, it sounds like over there ( at least where they are ), the vaccine is being touted as a free pass tor traveling around and giving you freedom. Not so much in the UK. I think they're trying to encourage more people to come forward for vaccination there. It will be ingesting to see if the approach changes once they have more people jabbed.

• interesting

The announcments last night were purely from the UK side

The vaccine passport comes into effect for other countries

e.g several have indicated that vaccinate travellers wont need to present a negative test or have to isolate on arrival which means the £20pp testing package from Tui is sufficient (lateral flow for pre departure from say spain to uk and the 2nd day PCR)

For unvaccinated travellers it'd be the £50pp package which includes PCR pre travel, lateral flow before you return home and pcr on return.

So vaccination will save costs.

I've had my vaccine but can't see it anywhere on the nhs app? Is it supposed to show somewhere as PPs have mentioned?

@floppybit yes. It shows under my GP health record and then in medicines. Mine are listed there.