Is the nhs app sufficient for proof of vaccination for entry to Greece?

[Medstudent12]

I’ve got it on the nhs app. Double jabbed with Pfizer (second dose back in March). Paranoid I need some other special pass I’ve never heard of! Thanks in advance xx

I'd like to know this too for Majorca!!

I'm hoping to go to Mallorca and have just ordered the official letter from the NHS website to say I'm double jabbed. Hope that suffices! Says it takes up to 21 days to come but people in a FB group I'm in said theirs came in a couple of days.

Discussions are still ongoing regarding full recognition of the nhs certification but given there isn’t anything else to provide, it’s your best bet. Presumably they will be pragmatic on the border!

You can use the NHS app to download a paper copy. Useful to have this in case you have any problems accessing the app when required

that's sweet you believe that Border people have flexibility in their interpretation of rules. That flexibility would be far above their pay grade (reality)

You would think since it's the only evidence we have of being double vaccinated. Think yourself lucky- in Scotland we can't even download it from the nhs site because someone identified the letters could be tampered with and so we need to now request a paper copy. If my husband's doesn't arrive in the next day or two we will have to pay £80 for a test simply because nhs Scotland didn't post it out quickly ?!

Ah so has no one travelled using the NHS app yet? It's all so confusing. Oh well, travel during covid was never going to be simple I suppose.

We're travelling to Greece on Saturday - planning to use the app to prove our vaccination status. From all I've read, it's sufficient

@99victoria can you update us when you return?? We’re booked for mid-August. DH and I are double-jabbed but DS and DD won’t be so we don’t know if we can go

PM to see what 99vic says

@AvonCallingBarksdale I'm also hopefully going in the next week, post on here again to remind us and we can let you know how it goes.

I have just spoken to a colleague who said when flying out from Heathrow there were people with scrappy bits of paper and in one case a confirmation that they had a vaccine appointment. Nothing else. Apparently they didnt know how to use to the NHS APP to show their proof.

One side of me thinks how can people be so silly. They were turned away and taken to one side but they were kicking off at the check in (my colleague was behind them in the queue!).

If I knew I was going to be easily confused I probably wouldnt go this year. I suspect some think they can blag it and will eventually be allowed to travel (but they cant!)

@lljkk

that's sweet you believe that Border people have flexibility in their interpretation of rules. That flexibility would be far above their pay grade (reality)

Not really. When there is no other possible means of proof, and the NHS record contains full details of the vaccination, doses administered, dates and the identity of the individual receiving the vaccine, it's actually perfectly sensible. I've known people use it without issue despite there being no formal recognition. But by all means keep being rude

@Franklin12 if they downloaded the app wouldn’t that just have got them through check in?

@abricotine ah so the nhs app is sufficient for Greece? Sorry just trying to figure out if anyone’s actually used it on here and it deffo works

8m old DD nearly got refused entry to UK (where we lived) because she lacked Right to Abode stamp in her US passport, she had no right to enter UK they said (rest of our party had R2A or British passports).

US Passport control usually gives me grief (extra questions & inspections) because they don't like my (no longer very American) accent.

I once cried at Mexico City border control at frustration about long wait so got sent to back of line making us miss a connecting flight to USA.

Border control people have No belief that their rules are flexible or they should be helpful.

So unless there is something I am missing the NHS APP is the THING! On there is proof of both your jabs with an expiry date.

Have access to it before you fly, print out the confirmation page along with the QR code so that you have a print out as well as being able to show it on the APP. God forbid the internet goes down or you lose your phone, or your phone runs out of charge.

My DH LOVES to flash an APP and when you dont have any other things in your hand its easy. However at the airport you are juggling, other bags, paperwork, children and hand luggage. I have seen people numerous times (especially men!) drop their phone in their keeness to show how organised they are.

I so agree re the US. They seem to be in no rush to allow UK residents entry and is it me or does Joe Biden seem confused and somewhat past it (sorry - he just sometimes seems to lose track of what he is saying).

Whenever I have been at JFK or other entry points within the USA the border police seem to take delight in making things as tricky and as long as possible. There seems to queue management and honestly the officials seem to relish going on their lunch break just as two large planes land

I have the APP but I believe downloading it is not as easy as it sounds especially at the airport. Also these people were saying they had proof that they had booked an appointment - not that they had had the jab.

I saw another thread saying that people are bringing all sorts of tiny bits of paper from GP's, etc I suspect hoping that will be good enough. My DM would be completely clueless regarding all of this - I have told her you can call 119 and get a paper copy but she says she finds all of this too difficult so she wont travel this year. In the UK you will get some sympathy but you SHOULD and WOULD be turned away. No one is going to let you on the plane anyway because 'you tried your best!'

When I got the NHS app I had to upload all sorts of ID and wait about 2 weeks for then to link it to my medical records. I couldn’t have just downloaded it at the airport.

Apparently Malta have already said they won’t be accepting the app as proof and require the official NHS letter instead

Malta arent accepting the App? Its getting more and more complex. I dont have much time for the people kicking off and shouting at the airport. They wont get anywhere with that but some people and families are desperately trying to do the right thing and its a moving feast

@ceeveebee I just entered my nhs number and it was all there. Must have got lucky.

Everything I have read says you cannot use the NHS app, you need the paper letter.

I didn't have to show anything when I got the health app, entered details and could see meds within a couple of hours. Didn't have to show anything when I registered with my gp. Didn't even have a medical card as they'd been destroyed in a fire.

And it's not like paper cannot be doctored.
Would have made more sense for the globe to use the existing travel vaccine program rather than everyone scrambling around trying to introduce another system.
Now there will be confusion as customs try and work out if that crumpled up but of paper is legit or not.

Weird - I must be high risk! Had to upload photo and address ID! Maybe it depends on your GP or trust.

@Sarahseyes I know that’s the case for Malta. Have you got a source for that being the case for Greece? If so I need to try make alternative arrangements ASAP.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements#demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status

It says here the app is fine. Or a letter, either will do.