British tourists have faced problems proving their vaccine status in Europe because of a delay in linking the NHS Covid pass to the EU’s system, reports the Guardian.
The UK government applied to link with the EU’s digital certificate on July 28 but the European Commission not yet given approval as it has sought extra technical information from Whitehall, the Guardian understands.
“An IT tie-up would ensure automatic recognition across the 27 member states of the information held on the NHS app, facilitating both international travel and access to hospitality where proof of vaccine status is required,” reported the newspaper.
At least 19 EU countries, including France and Spain, have unilaterally accepted the NHS app as proof of vaccine status, but difficulties remain for some travellers from England and Wales due to the lack of pan-EU recognition.
Hungary will only accept a locally issued immunity certificate as proof of vaccine status from travellers from the UK by air.
In Italy, travellers from England and Wales have reported problems in entering bars and restaurants using the NHS Covid pass while those seeking to enter Latvia and the Czech Republic have been told they need to have a paper certificate.
A UK government spokesperson told the Guardian that the EU’s technical assessment of the application “to take a few weeks.
“A commission spokesman was unable to say when so-called ‘equivalence’ would be granted to the NHS Covid pass,” reported the newspaper.
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