With many venues and live music promoters examining the introduction of COVID Passes for performers, creatives, staff and audiences, we provide information about how to get an NHS COVID Pass.

Last updated: Wednesday 21 July 2021

In response to several major employers within the arts sector bringing in the use of COVID passports, we have produced this information page to assist members who are being asked to prove their vaccination and/or testing status using a COVID Pass.

The NHS COVID Pass is used to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination and testing status when travelling to certain countries internationally (those that recognise it), and also for events in the UK. For the purpose of this guide, we are focussing on the use of the NHS COVID Pass for domestic use only. For the latest information and guidance on using the pass internationally, visit the Government website.

On Monday 19 July, the Government in England announced that from the end of September, people will need to prove that they have had all the required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter certain venues.

This announcement was specifically aimed at those attending nightclubs, and is a change from the wider eligibility requirements for the NHS COVID Pass, which includes those with natural immunity and those who have been recently tested. For the purpose of this guide, we have included these additional groups.

This information is correct at the time of publishing, however, you should check the Government website for the latest information.

Which businesses can use the NHS COVID Pass?

The Government has said to all businesses that they can use the NHS COVID Pass as part of their COVID-19 health and safety procedures.

They are especially encouraging its use for events where large numbers of people could be in close proximity to each other for a sustained period of time, and suggest that music venues and festivals would fall into this category.

Am I eligible for an NHS COVID Pass?

If you are aged over 18, you can access an NHS COVID Pass under one of the following circumstances:

• You have had the full number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (your vaccinations must have taken place in England) and two weeks have passed since your final jab.
  
• You have taken a PCR or lateral flow test within 48 hours of the event you wish to attend and, for home-testing, the results have been uploaded to the public reporting system.
  
• You have had a positive PCR test and completed the self-isolation period.

How long does the NHS COVID Pass last?

The Pass features a barcode which can be scanned by venues using the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app. This barcode also includes an expiry date which changes depending on what eligibility criteria you meet:

• If you have received the full number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the expiry date will show as 30 days later, but this is extended every time you open the app (currently indefinitely).
  
• If you have received a negative PCR or lateral flow test result (reported through the public service), then the pass is valid for 48 hours after the negative result.
  
• If you have received a positive PCR test and completed the necessary period of self-isolation, then your expiry date will show as 30 days later, but is extended every time you open the app, up to a maximum of 180 days.
  

The same expiry dates apply for PDF versions, which need to be redownloaded in order to extend the expiry date, where applicable.

What about for children?

Those aged under 18 cannot receive an NHS COVID Pass.