Travel in Europe - Covid certificate in different name to passport

[tigerbear]

I’m traveling to France this week, and bit concerned, as my Covid certificate is in my (to make things more complicated, OLD married name), married name, which is the name I have professionally, on bank accounts, etc.

But for reasons I can’t really remember, my passport has always been in my maiden name, and it’s never been a problem before, as I just book all flights, travel, hotel etc in maiden name so travel docs and passport always link up.

This is the first time I’ve traveled since Covid certificates have been introduced, and I’m concerned whether this will be a problem or not? Anyone else experienced this?
Im thinking that it might be ok, as surely ‘the systems’ at customs will identify that I’m one and the same person (I got my certificates on the NHS app in the first place by scanning the passport with my maiden name and photo?.

I think you may have problems in the country you are travelling to. At present if travelling from UK to most EU countries you have to upload your vaccination status certificate with your landing card data before you leave UK. If the names do not match you may be denied boarding. The airlines do not want to be fined for carrying passengers who have to be returned.

Also when travelling in Europe you now have to show vaccine status and ID when entering a restaurant etc. Some do not ask for ID but they are supposed to and police in some countries are now enforcing this more strictly.

Can you not get a new certificate before you plan to travel? Or a new passport?

I had the same problem and emailed doctors surgery with a copy of my passport and asked them to change my medical details to the same name. It took about 48 hours to update. Really don’t know how strict it would be if name doesn’t match but I did not want to chance it.

@HighSpeed33 thanks.
I’ll be on the Eurostar as opposed to airline, but I guess they’ll have same rules. Good point re restaurants etc.
There’s no way I can get new passport before I go - I go on Wednesday 😬

@Hunsnroses that’s a good idea, I’ll try that, but not sure how quickly my surgery would get round to doing it.

Yes it is a problem. You need to get your GP to change your name on your records. Go in & take proof ASAP.

Oh bugger, ok thanks @Cookerhood, heading to the GP now 🙏

I've travelled twice with a vaccine certificate in my married name and passport in my maiden name. No one has batted an eyelid and all documents were checked multiple times by multiple people. I carried a copy of my wedding certificate just in case but I was never asked.

I also traveled with covid certificate in my married name and passport in my maiden name. No-one noticed/queried it.

Oh gosh, that gives me hope, @Seainasive and @roses2! Especially as am at the surgery now, and they’re saying highly unlikely it’ll be changed in time on the system.
May I ask you both, at what point do they ask to see the Covid certificate, etc - at passport control?

FWIW this is a pretty common problem..

There are plenty of Brits (and other nationalities FWIW) in France with with passport in married name but the Healthcare documents in maiden name since “system” registers/maintains your records under your maiden name…

That said not encountered not seen any problems domestically (restaurants, cinemas), not tried international travel yet.

Advice from the from expat forums and elsewhere is to carry marriage certificate, certainly for cross border travel….

Take birth, marriage and divorce paperwork with you.

I went to France a couple of weeks ago - we were checked twice on the way in (manually, but stressed looking people at the airport) & scanned the passport but not the covid thing. I got the impression they didn’t really care. Also no-one checked at the hotel at all, not even our regular passports, or going into shops, restaurants etc. It wasn’t such a big deal as they have made out. So if you take loads of stuff with you to prove who you are I think you should be ok - and get your passport changed when you get back!

Thanks everyone, much appreciated for all the advice. I’ve packed all documents inc divorce, marriage certs etc, so fingers crossed! 🙏

Thanks again @Hunsnroses for suggesting changing it with GP. I checked my Covid app earlier, and it’s already updated on the system, despite the receptionist saying it would take weeks! It worked! Yay!

Can't you bring along your marriage cert?