The Maltese authorities will only accept a paper version of the NHS Covid letter as proof of vaccination from UK arrivals.
From Wednesday (June 30), UK travellers to Malta will have to show evidence of a negative PCR test and proof of full vaccination.
The NHS app will not be officially recognised.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “From 30 June 2021, the Maltese authorities have announced that they will require all arrivals from the United Kingdom to present proof of full vaccination. Only the paper version of the NHS Covid letter will be accepted.
“Children aged 5-11 can travel if they are accompanying their vaccinated parents or legal guardian and must show evidence of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to arrival. Under-fives do not need a test.”
Malta is on the UK’s green list so those arriving in the UK do not have to quarantine.
The Malta Tourism Authority in the UK confirmed: “Only the paper version of the NHS Covid letter will be accepted which can be requested online or by calling 119. The vaccination certificate will be not accepted in digital or downloaded PDF form. It must be the printed version issued directly from the NHS.”
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, tweeted: “Very disappointing that Malta isn’t going to accept the NHS app as proof of vaccination status. Presumably because they don’t have the tech available to do so.
“Physical letters are more time consuming to obtain, easier to lose and likely to lead to longer queues at the border.”