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Original poster

Covid vaccine certificate different to passport name

68 replies

Ilovegoodison · 23/07/2021 16:36

I’m wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem. We are due to travel to Portugal next Thursday ( 29th) - a holiday we rolled over from last year.
I have had both my vaccinations and have downloaded my Covid vaccine certificate on the NHS App. For Portugal , proof of having had both vaccines is required to avoid quarantine on entry.
My problem is that the Covid vaccine certificate is in my married name ( as my NHS /GP records are in that name). However, professionally at work I retained my maiden name when I married and I kept my passport in my maiden name as I used to travel a lot with work pre Covid. It’s too late to get a new passport. My GP says they can’t change my name on their records back to my maiden name ( which seemed to me to be the easiest solution so both names match up and is what the government website suggests needs to happen ).
Nobody seems to be able to give me a straight answer on how to resolve this but I can’t be the only one that is in this situation! Just wondering if anyone on Mumsnet has had this issue and how they got around it? I plan to bring my marriage certificate with me but it is stressing me out!

OP posts:
Pissinthepottyplease · 23/07/2021 16:48

Have you spoken to the practice manager? Tell them you are getting divorced and from now on will be using your maiden name.

Imablamelesscar · 23/07/2021 17:53

Seems ridiculous that GP can't just oblige - it's one of the names you use FFS.

Walkaround · 23/07/2021 18:01

Maybe they’d accept possession of birth plus wedding certificates as proof you’re the same person?!

Walkaround · 23/07/2021 18:02

Do you have a photo driving licence in your married name?

TakeYourFinalPosition · 23/07/2021 18:03

I had to change mine back to match my passport - I filled in a form at the doctors and they changed it a day or two later.

foxandbee · 23/07/2021 18:07

If I remember rightly a poster named @chocolatesaltyballs22 had this issue and changed her NHS details back to maiden name.

WrongKindOfFace · 23/07/2021 18:14

Of course the gp can change it. You even have a passport in that name so it’s not as if you’re just pulling a name out of your backside.

singlemum81 · 23/07/2021 18:16

I have this problem too. Passport in maiden name, vaccine certificate in married name. GP surgery are refusing to change my name back to maiden name. They've said that I need to change name via deed poll 😬 I have contacted the airline & they've said they'll put a note on my file and to travel with the marriage certificate. The problems are: I cannot find the original marriage certificate and I only have a copy. My nerves are absolutely fried to death

RuthW · 23/07/2021 18:17

Of course the surgery can change your name back with you showing your birth certificate. I regularly change patient's names back.

foxandbee · 23/07/2021 18:22

I know this is aimed at people changing gender but the same principles must apply?

genderkit.org.uk/article/updating-nhs-patient-details/

doesanybodywantanytoast · 23/07/2021 18:43

I had this problem this week. Gp said I needed a deed poll although how I get one when all my official documents were already in my maiden name was a question the couldn’t answer.

However I changed tack and told them the data they held on me was wrong and I needed it correcting as soon as possible. They have a duty that the data they hold is correct and up to date so as soon as I pushed them on that they corrected it.

singlemum81 · 23/07/2021 18:58

I got absolutely nowhere with the GP surgery 😩

poppy1973 · 23/07/2021 19:04

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what is a vaccine certificate. We have never had one offered ? We have both been double jabbed. How do you get one ??

BiBabbles · 23/07/2021 19:09

The GP can change it, but some are a pain the ass about it.

If they've a website, they may have what their protocol for a name change is (with COVID, many have moved to emailing in a picture of the evidence used).

Also, having had a passport in a previously used name for a while and used it as ID (the joys of getting through the US embassy), other evidence of my name was acceptable on the rare occasion that was questioned.

singlemum81 · 23/07/2021 19:53

@Ilovegoodison my brother is flying tomorrow & I've asked him to suss it all out

Original poster
Ilovegoodison · 23/07/2021 21:31

Thanks everyone for your replies. I’ll keep persevering with my GP (who are insisting that I need proof of name change by deed poll) but arm myself with marriage certs , birth certs etc if I can’t get it changed and hope for the best! @singlemum81- I hope you get your name change sorted. If your brother is able to suss anything out on this and you can share it would be much appreciated. Good luck!

OP posts:
singlemum81 · 23/07/2021 21:45

@Ilovegoodison could you contact your airline and ask them if they'll accept the marriage certificate as proof of identity for the vaccine certificate?

CatinaMum · 24/07/2021 07:11

I’m in the same boat and flying next weekend. I’m hoping hat marriage certificate and having driving license also in maiden name, plus two children and a husband travelling with me who all have the surname on my vaccine passport, will be enough. Would love to hear if this has worked for anyone? Please send any updates @Ilovegoodison and I hope you get away

Beebityboo · 24/07/2021 08:15

I have this issue too only my passport is in my maiden name and my vaccine card has my married name on it. No other I.D with my married name on and my passport will be such a pain to change. Think I'll have to get used to carrying round a copy of my marriage certificate.

CatinaMum · 24/07/2021 08:25

@beebityboo yes that’s my situation- passport always been in maiden name for a number of reasons and health records in married name - do you think a marriage certificate will be ok? I guess I can also bring my birth certificate!

singlemum81 · 24/07/2021 13:26

My brother has just boarded a flight at Gatwick. Staff at desk said marriage certificate will be absolutely fine 🤞

Original poster
Ilovegoodison · 24/07/2021 13:30

@CatinaMum - I will post an update on Thursday after I hopefully 🤞get away ! My drivers license is in my married name so will have that with me also. I’m also going to try and contact Easyjet today and see if they can confirm that my marriage certificate will suffice. Good luck to everyone that’s in the same boat - I hope you get away! x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovegoodison · 24/07/2021 13:32

@singlemum81- thank you so much for the update. That’s great news… feeling a lot happier hearing that! Many thanks.

OP posts:
overthethamesfromyou · 24/07/2021 13:36

@poppy1973

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what is a vaccine certificate. We have never had one offered ? We have both been double jabbed. How do you get one ??
If you download the NHS app (the regular one, not the C19 one), it will have all your medical info on it and a Covid vaccination passport showing your vaccines, dates, batches etc
meido · 24/07/2021 13:38

@doesanybodywantanytoast

I had this problem this week. Gp said I needed a deed poll although how I get one when all my official documents were already in my maiden name was a question the couldn’t answer.

However I changed tack and told them the data they held on me was wrong and I needed it correcting as soon as possible. They have a duty that the data they hold is correct and up to date so as soon as I pushed them on that they corrected it.

You can write a deed poll yourself and get two friends to sign it. Dead simple.
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