Covid vaccine certificate different to passport name

[Ilovegoodison]

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!

@singlemum81 that is a relief, thanks for sharing - @llovegoodison good luck with your flight and please do let me know

Take marriage certificate and birth certificate, that way you have documentation proving both maiden and married name.

I would look to change your passport and use married name at work, would be far less Hassel should these certificates be required for entry into countries for years to come

@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 ??

It's on your NHS app

You can write a deed poll yourself and get two friends to sign it. Dead simple. but why should she when she is legally allowed to use both names, provided there is no intention to defraud? I can understand GPS wanting proof that she does use the other name, but they shouldn’t be asking for deed polls.

Absolutely agree that deed poll isn't needed especially when in my case, I presented them with my passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate and a decree absolute!! But nope, they point blank refused to change my name. I think I'll make a complaint

Btw just to add to my brother's experience at Gatwick airport; the vaccine certificate was checked by one person and a sticker was put on it. It wasn't checked against the passport or boarding pass

Marriage certificate was check against vaccine certificate and it was accepted no problem whatsoever 👍

Thanks @singlemum81 so you did have to show it? I’ve dug everything out ready - have a lovely holiday

There was a staff member checking everyone's paperwork whilst we were queuing at check in desk. We received a sticker on the back of passports and it meant that we didn't have to be rechecked before boarding. We were able to board before the others (those with hand luggage) whilst they were being checked. Checked again at destination and the security were only interested in the passports and locator forms. He asked for the vaccine certificate and I started explaining that it was in my married name but I had my marriage certificate and he just said 'that's ok, I believe you'

@CatinaMum everyone was lovely and very understanding. I said to the lady that this has almost given me a nervous breakdown 🤪 and she said I can imagine!!

I'm in exactly the same situation, passport and holiday booking in maiden name, vaccination and GP records in married name. I assumed I would be able to just present my marriage cetificate to link the two but have been told no by the cruise company. I have sent my passport off to be changed, and have my fingers crossed it will be back in time to update my booking and travel. I have 4 weeks until we are due to go. Travel insurance is also in my married name (tied to my bank account), cruise line was not OK with this either hence my decision to change passport not my medical records, as insurance also didn't match.

@annarack99 that is really unfair I hope you get it sorted

Happened to me. I went bananas at my doctor, as I’ve raised this several times before. NHS said the data pulled from docs. Then the docs said they can’t accommodate a double barrelled first name (of course mine is minus a hyphen) as it is on my passport as the computer doesn’t allow spaces 😂… so computer says no.

We went backwards and forwards. Said I can’t be the only one in this situation, not good enough. Raised a formal complaint with no avail to GP (who knew there’s no regulator for them?!).. eventually sorted after complaining in writing to the local NHS health board.

It did take perseverance and time, but to be addressed by your name is a basic human right.

PS when I kicked off I was told the GP can do a temp certificate which is different to the official app and it would be accepted- may be worth a try in interim, but don’t be fobbed off by it, keep pushing for your cert.

Hi all
Just to provide an update- I flew yesterday to Portugal . The vaccine certificate wasn’t looked at at all by Easyjet at Luton airport… according to a staff member from their perspective they don’t need to know whether I am vaccinated or not , as it’s not illegal for them to carry me either way ( it only impacts whether you need to quarantine on arrival in Portugal or not).
It was checked, however at Passport Control once in Portugal and they were checking to see that names on vaccine certs matched passports. When mine didn’t he asked why and I showed him my marriage certificate . He didn’t say anything but seemed to accept it and waved us through.
So after stressing out a lot it has worked out okay. I definitely needed to have my marriage certificate though so make sure you have that with you ( for anyone in the same boat). Good luck everyone and I hope you get away okay.

Just to add I’ve now filled in the specific form for flying to Spain and it wouldn’t allow me to complete the form if I put a different surname in the section which asked for the details of my vaccine certificate as it differed to the one I’d already entered for passport. So I’ve been forced to lie as wouldn’t be able to complete the form otherwise - so hoping I can just explain this tomorrow 🤞can’t imagine that they won’t accept all my other ID

Quick update in case anyone is in the same boat - leaving the U.K. they looked and did not notice the surname was different. Arriving was chaos, not enough staff on duty at the airport, massive queues, people trying to push in all over the place with no staff to manage the situation. I think checking the docs was the least of their worries - in the end they checked my child’s PCR, then just briefly glanced at the others and didn’t say a word. I was all set with my birth and marriage certificates to prove I was me, but no one cared!

Thanks OP and CatinaMum - I'm in the same situation and it didn't occur to me til I read the post that it might be a problem as I had concentrated on the tests rather than the NHS app and my docs. My driving licence is in my married name and my passport in the other so hopefully I'll be fine as I've got photo ID in both names.........

If it helps there is no legal requirement. To change your name via deed poll. You can literally wrote a random name on the back of a napkin and say this is now my name and it is legal. I did a lot of research when I left my cockwomble exh as I did not want to be associated with him and his abusive family any longer than I needed. Your GP is a dick and clearly doesn't know the law.

That said, a friend has the same issue and is paying for a letter from her gp to state that she is who she says she is. Would yours donate?

*do same not donate

I have travelled using my NHS app in my maiden name and my passport in my married name. After weeks of panicking and no definite answers, GP would not change it unless I was divorcing my husband or changed my name by deed poll. Airline would not confirm that it would be accepted. Greek and British consulates either were unhelpful or never replied. Received a letter from my MP as I was in the queue at bag drop confirming I could travel. However, airport staff helped prior to this confirmation and my documents were accepted with my marriage certificate. Had even taken my birth certificate and my children’s birth certificates as proof. I was prepared to get a lateral test at the airport but bag drop was so slow we nearly missed our plane. Hope this helps.

This is such a sexist problem. What a ridiculous thing for the vaccine passport people not to have thought of!

Just thought I would mention for those of you freaking out over this. You could just get proof of a negative PCR test instead of worrying that you have the vaccine certificate in the correct name. Most countries will accept EITHER the vaccine passport OR proof of a negative test. Obviously it's not ideal and will cost money however if you want to avoid the stress and the GP is refusing to make the change (I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life about having to change names by deed poll!) then this could be an easier option for you. Happy holidays everyone

Also to add obviously when you get your COVID test use your passport as ID so the name matches your flight documents

Hi I have the same problem my passport is in my maiden name and everything else in my married name ( just didn’t change my passport caz it was only issued a few months before my wedding ) intended to change it to my married name when my passport was due for renewal but with my Vaccine card being in my married name left me no choice but to renew my passport early with still 7 yrs still left on it which coast £80 to do so and all because of my up coming holiday . How I hv to pay to have my name changed also with the travel agents … just so stressful as travel agents said airline that I’m travelling from might hv Accepted my Marriage certificate with my old passport but the Destination airline might not so I didn’t want to take the chance 😔

Hi everyone just reviving this thread to see if anyone has experience of flying to France with this problem (covid pass in one name and passport/flight details in another)?
In my case I've been too lazy to get my passport changed to my maiden name after getting divorced but have changed everything else including my driving license. I'm planning to take that and my marriage certificate as proof both names are me - wondering if anyone can tell me anything??
Flying from Gatwick with Easyjet (who can tell me nothing) to Nice.