Malta has confirmed it will accept digital proof of full vaccination, including the NHS app, after 24 hours of confusion over whether digital or paper proof would be accepted.
The country had initially indicated it would allow digital proof, before saying only a paper version of the NHS Covid letter would be accepted.
Reports on Wednesday suggested the digital vaccine certificates would be accepted after all, but confusion continued as tourism authorities insisted there had been no change to the policy.
Newspaper Malta Today reported the country’s health minister as saying the changes had been caused by the UK adding Malta to its green list of destinations on June 30 rather than July 1, when systems would be up and running.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Malta Tourism Authority confirmed: “From 01 July 2021, the Malta Ministry for Health has announced that it will accept proof of full vaccination from travellers arriving from the UK in the form of digital Covid passes, this includes the NHS app or the vaccination certificate in digital or downloaded PDF form.
“From 30 June 2021, only fully vaccinated persons (second vaccination + 14 days) can travel to Malta from the United Kingdom. Other vaccination certificates accepted include the Maltese vaccination certificate and from 1st July 2021, the EU digital Covid vaccine certificate.”
The statement also confirmed previously announced rules on requirements for children, including the need for those aged 12-17 to be fully vaccinated.
It said: “Children aged 5-11 can travel if they accompany vaccinated parents or legal guardians provided they provide a negative nasopharyngeal PCR test carried out within 72 hours before arrival in Malta. Children under 5 do not need a test, while those aged 12+ can only travel with a full vaccination certificate.”