Guidance

If you cannot get an NHS COVID Pass letter (English, text only)

Updated 21 June 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on

This guidance was withdrawn on 8 December 2023 

The NHS COVID Pass service has now closed. There are no longer any domestic requirements to demonstrate your vaccination status in England. 

The NHS COVID Pass is no longer required to travel abroad to any countries. 

If you are travelling abroad, you should review travel entry requirements for the countries you will visit or travel through. 

The NHS COVID Pass was developed at the height of the pandemic to let you share your COVID-19 vaccination status in a secure way. It was mainly used for international travel, as well as for some domestic purposes, such as entry to venues or events. 

See information about COVID certificates in Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/if-you-cannot-get-an-nhs-covid-pass-letter/covid-19-vaccination-status-if-you-cannot-get-a-post-vaccination-confirmation-letter-english-text-only

Your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status

You recently contacted 119 (COVID-19 vaccination status service) to request a letter confirming that you have received your COVID-19 vaccinations.

Unfortunately we were unable to generate a letter on this occasion. A letter can only be generated when your vaccination record contains all of the required information to confirm that you have received 2 doses of any UK approved COVID-19 vaccine.

What you should do now

If you are planning to travel outside of the UK and need to have evidence of your vaccination course, please contact your GP practice with your vaccination details. It will help them if you can also provide this reference: <reasoncode> <failure reason>.

Your GP practice will then liaise with the vaccination programme and local vaccination service(s) to understand what information may be preventing your letter from being generated.

Getting your vaccination status confirmation

Once your record has been updated, there are 2 ways you can choose to demonstrate your vaccination status:

1. If you have internet access and a smartphone, tablet or a computer, you will be able to view your vaccination status online:

You will need to register for these services. You can also then download a PDF file or get an email showing this information.

2. Alternatively, you can request your COVID-19 vaccination letter again, by calling 119.

If you are planning to travel soon

You should also check the latest travel advice with your transport or travel operator and on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

If you plan to travel outside the UK and need to have evidence of your vaccinations, the fastest way to get it is to use the NHS App or the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Find out about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, vaccination and self-isolation on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Data protection

The Department for Health and Social Care is acting as the Data Controller and is responsible for processing your personal data for the purposes of the COVID-19 Status Programme.

To find out more, you can access our privacy notice at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-privacy-notice or search for ‘DHSC Status Privacy Notice’ in your website browser.

Back to top