Domestic

COVID Pass Verifier app

User guide
14 December v8

Issued by the NHSX Communications team

 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

Index
Page
The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app – what it is 3

The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app – terms & conditions 4

Instructions for using the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app 4-8

Read the results of a COVID Pass 2D barcode 9

Scanning the NHS COVID Pass stored in the Apple Wallet 10

Scanning the NHS COVID Pass stored in Google Pay Wallet 11

Scanning barcodes of
Visitors from other parts of UK 12
Visitors from European Union 12
Visitors from USA 12
Visitors from other territories (non-EU & USA) 13

Frequently asked questions 13

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app

The official NHS COVID Pass Verifier app is a secure way to
verify an individual’s NHS COVID Pass and check that they
have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or had a negative
test.

A user can use the app to scan and verify an individual’s NHS
COVID Pass for use in England such as entry to venues and
events.

The app can be used to scan a 2D barcode and display the

data held within an individual’s NHS COVID Pass. It does not
store or transmit any personal data during this process.

This user guide helps venue stewards to use the NHS COVID
Pass Verifier app to show if an English or Welsh citizen is
eligible to enter a venue by scanning their NHS COVID-19
Pass 2D barcode. It can also scan the NHS COVID Pass from
citizens in Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and IoM
plus EU DCC countries.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

The protection of user privacy is central to the NHS COVID Pass Verifier.
Its purpose is to display COVID Pass status information in a clear and readable manner upon each
scan.
The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app does not retain personal data.
It only gathers metric-related information about the application itself, in order that the performance of
the app can be monitored.
The collected metric data cannot be referenced back to any individual NHS COVID Pass user.

Verifier terms and conditions

https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/covid-19-response/nhs-covid-pass-verifier-app/nhs-covid-pass-verifier-terms-
and-conditions/

Step 1

Staff will need to download and install the Verifier app on a

mobile device.
The app is available from either the Apple App store (for iOS
Apple devices) or the Google Play stoe (for Android devices).
See visual of the app in yellow.
The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app works both in offline and
online mode, i.e it works both with or without Wi-Fi.
However please note that the app will need periodic access to
the internet to download public key certificates that it uses to
check the validity of the COVID Pass.

(A public key certificate, also known as a digital

certificate or identity certificate, is an electronic document used
to prove the ownership of a public key).

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

Step 2

Open the NHS COVID Verifier app by clicking on the yellow

NHS COVID Pass Verifier app logo (step 1).
When used for the first time, the consent agreement screen will
display.
The first time the user applies the Verifier app, the user is
asked to agree on a consent form, by clicking ‘I agree’.
The app will not function if user agreement is not obtained.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

This is the landing page in the app.

Click on ‘Check a 2D barcode’

(A two-dimensional (2D) barcode looks like squares or

rectangles that contain many small, individual dots, see
sample below).

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

When opening the camera on your mobile device for the first
time, please click ‘OK’ to allow the app to have permission to
use the camera.

The screen shot is from an Android phone. A similar screen

and permission request will display on an iOS (Apple) phone.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

To scan the NHS COVID Pass of your customer or

employee
Your customer or employee will show their NHS COVID
Pass. This will be on a smartphone, tablet or printed off as a
paper PDF.
Direct your mobile’s camera at the 2D barcode displayed on the
guest’s printed PDF, or at the 2D barcode displayed on their
smartphone.
Once the scanner has been pointed at a 2D barcode, it
automatically starts scanning the code.

From 15 December
The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app can scan a paper NHS
COVID Pass letter.

If you see a 2D barcode on a paper NHS

COVID Pass letter, the NHS COVID
Pass Verifier app can scan the barcode.

If you see a 1D barcode on a paper

letter, the NHS COVID Pass Verifier
app cannot scan the barcode and staff
should conduct a visual check.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

READ RESULTS FROM A 2D DOMESTIC BARCODE

VALID NOT RECOGNISED EXPIRED

If the COVID-19 status
With a ‘valid’ screen, ensure the expiry date is If this screen is displayed has expired, this is shown
still valid. If the expiry date has expired, it is saying ‘2D barcode not by this screen.
likely that your guest or customer will need to recognised’, this may be
take another lateral flow test. because the scanned Your customer or
barcode is an incorrect employee will need to
Note the expiry date refers to the barcode and code, or a section of a take another lateral flow
will update automatically within the NHS App. valid code has been test in order to show their
If the 2D barcode has expired, the expired obscured. COVID-19 status.
screen will be shown. Press ‘Hold to pause’.
This pauses the screen
with the result for
approximately 3
seconds. After this, you
should see the screen
where you can scan the
barcode.

If you see the invalid screen

– your customer’s NHS
COVID Pass is not valid and
they should try to download a
new one.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

Scanning the NHS COVID Pass stored in the Apple Wallet

Your customer can store their NHS COVID Pass for domestic use into their Apple Wallet using an Apple
iPhone. To do this, they will see the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button on their phone screen within the NHS
App or at NHS.UK If they store both international and domestic NHS COVID Passes, they will see two
separate cards stored in their Apple Wallet.

You will be able to verify their NHS COVID Pass using the Verifier app by scanning their 2D barcode, as
detailed in this user guide. The screen you will scan can be seen below. Please ensure you check the
expiry date shown on their COVID Pass as the date does not refresh automatically. Customers need to
store an updated NHS COVID Pass in their Apple Wallet before they next plan to use it, if their original
COVID Pass is due to expire.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

Scanning the NHS COVID Pass stored in Google Pay Wallet

Your customer can store their NHS COVID Pass in their Google Pay Wallet on an Android phone. To do
this they can use the ‘Google Pay - save to phone’ button within the NHS App or NHS.UK. If they store
both international and domestic NHS COVID Passes, they will see multiple cards stored in their Google
Pay Wallet.

You will be able to verify their NHS COVID Pass using the Verifier app by scanning their 2D barcode.
The screen you will scan can be seen below. Please ensure you check the expiry date shown on their
NHS COVID pass as the date does not refresh automatically. Customers need to store an updated NHS
COVID Pass in their Google Pay Wallet before they next plan to use it if their original NHS COVID Pass is
due to expire.

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

Visitors from other parts of the UK

Visitors from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibraltar and IoM can show their
international digital NHS COVID Pass at venues and settings in England.
Users from England, Wales and IoM can use their domestic NHS COVID Pass as usual.
The NHS COVID Pass Verifier app can be used to scan the 2D barcode displayed on your
customer’s phone or printed as a PDF. Scanning of these COVID Passes can be done using the
NHS COVID Pass Verifier app in domestic mode.

Visitors from European Union

The European Union Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) will be accepted as valid proof of vaccination for
entry into domestic venues and settings in England. This means your customer may show their EU
Digital COVID Certificate when attending your venue or event.

This means, from that date, the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app can be used to scan the 2D barcode of an
EU Digital COVID Certificate shown on a phone or printed as a PDF. A successful scan will only display if
your customer has been fully vaccinated, and it is at least 14 days since their final dose of a vaccine.

Your customer may show their EU Digital COVID Certificate in a digital format on their phone or printed as
a PDF, or in paper format in the form of a letter.

Each country using the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) has its own healthcare app which contains
their certificate. More information can be found at EU Digital COVID Certificate.

Paper versions of the EU Digital COVID Certificate should contain a 2D barcode which can be scanned
using the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app. If the EU Digital Covid Certificate does not contain a 2D
barcode, then your staff will need to conduct a visual inspection of COVID-19 certification.

A visual check will need to ensure that:

• the vaccine administered is either
o Comirnaty (Pfizer)
o Moderna
o Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
o or Janssen (single dose)
• the date of vaccination of the final dose (marked ‘2 of 2’ or ‘1 of 1’) is at least 14 days prior

Visitors from USA

The United States COVID-19 vaccination record card (CDC card) is accepted as valid proof of vaccination
for entry into domestic venues and settings in England.

THE US CDC card is in paper format and cannot be scanned using the NHS COVID Pass
Verifier app. Your staff will therefore need to conduct a visual check. The US CDC card should be
accepted in its original form only. A photocopy or image on a phone should not be accepted.

When examining a customer’s US CDC card, your staff should check:

• The ’Date of Vaccination’ of the final dose (marked ‘2 of 2’ or ‘1 of 1’) must be at least 14 days prior to
arrival
• Details on the US CDC card match some form of photographic identification

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 Domestic COVID Pass Verifier app user guides

International travellers from other countries (non-EU and United States)

If your venue asks customers to demonstrate their COVID-19 status, then you can accept the evidence
that your customer presented at the border when entering England.

A list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination for travel to England and examples of
proof of vaccination can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countries-with-approved-covid-19-vaccination-programmes-and-proof-of-
vaccination.

COVID-19 evidence can be scanned by the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app for a range of non-EU countries.

See list here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-

europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en#recognition-of-covid-certificates-from-third-non-eu-countries

Frequently asked questions

I’m having issues using the Verifier app, what do I do?

If the Verifier app does not work, please delete the application, and reinstall it. You may be required to
undertake a software update on your mobile device too.

Can a member of the public download this app?

As the Verifier will be available in the Google Play store or Apple App store, it can or might be
downloaded by a member of the public. However, in line with the data protection elements detailed on
page 1, downloading the app does not present a security risk.

Why is the NHS COVID Pass Verifier app unable to scan a 2D barcode?
The Verifier app is able to scan the NHS COVD Pass via a mobile or tablet or where someone has printed
off a PDF version from their phone.

If you are unable to scan your customer’s NHS COVID Pass, we suggest undertaking a visual check.

How does your customer or employee show their COVID Pass on their mobile device?
The NHS COVID Pass can be accessed via the NHS App or via NHS.UK.

For information on how to access the NHS App, please click here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

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