COVID Status: Common questions

The app works on mobile devices only. For example, a smartphone or tablet.

Your phone needs access to the Apple App Store or Google Play Services to be able to download the app. This means Windows phones and new models of Huawei smartphones launched from May 2019 will not be able to use the app.

The app is fully supported from versions Apple iOS 13 and Android 11, with the current versions of Google Chrome, Samsung Internet and Apple Safari.

To see which Android version you have:

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Near the bottom, tap 'System' and then 'Advanced' and then 'System update'.
3. See your "Android version".

If you have an Apple phone, to see which iOS version you have:

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Click on 'General', then tap 'About'.
3. See your "Software version"

We are unable to guarantee the app will work on earlier versions.

You'll need an email address and a form of photo ID, such as a passport or UK or EU driving licence.

This is to protect your data. Before allowing access to part of your health records, it's important that we confirm that you are who you say you are.

This is a 3 step process:

1. Checking your photo ID is genuine.
2. Asking for a selfie (self portrait picture) and comparing this to the photo on your ID.
3. Checking the selfie is live, and not an uploaded, pre-existing picture.

If you're unable to use the app you can download or request a copy of your vaccination status online or by phoning the COVID Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565. The helpline is open every day from 10am to 6pm.

You can use any of the following photo IDs to confirm your identity:

• passport
• UK driving licence (full or provisional)
• European driving licence (full)

If you're planning on using the app for international travel, use a photo ID where the name matches the name on your passport.

Yes, you can. If your photo ID – for example passport or driving license – is out of date, you can still use it to confirm your identity.

Photocopies are not acceptable. Please use your original ID.

The name that appears on your app will be the name from the photo ID used to confirm your identity.

You'll be able to provide a different first name, gender and postcode after your ID has been confirmed so we can locate your medical records.

However, the name on your app will be the name from the photo ID used to confirm your identity.

If you would like your app to show a different name or the name displayed is incorrect, go into settings and click 'Permanently delete account'. This will remove your data so you can sign up again with the same email address and the name you'd like shown.

The matching process does not involve comparing the gender of your picture with the gender of your photo ID.

If you don't have any photo ID, you cannot use the app. This is because we need to confirm that you are who you say you are before allowing access to part of your health records.

Instead, you can download or request a copy of your vaccination status online or by phoning the COVID Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565. The helpline is open every day from 10am to 6pm.

Make sure that both the camera and the website are not blocked in your browser settings. For example, in Chrome, go to 'Settings' then 'Site Settings' then 'Camera'. Check that 'Camera' says 'Ask first', and that a site with the address 'scotcovidstatus.lon.netverify.com' is not blocked.

Follow the instructions on the screen and keep tilting your phone until your face fills the oval on the screen.

The system may reject your ID and picture if either:

• bright light is affecting your selfie or reflecting on your ID
• parts of your ID or selfie are covered
• parts of your ID or selfie are blurred
• your face scan or selfie could not be matched to your ID

To solve this, make sure:

• your picture is taken indoors with good lighting, but not directly under a strong light source
• no part of your ID is covered either by, for example, your thumb or by glare
• the picture is not blurred
• that your eyes, nose and mouth are visible and that there are no strong shadows on your face

Confirming your identity only needs to be done once. If you have access to another, more recent, phone or tablet, try using it to carry out this step. Once you have successfully confirmed your identity and can see your COVID Status on screen, use 'Settings' followed by 'Sign out of the App' to stop using that phone. You should then be able to log in on the original phone using your username and password and access your COVID Status from there.

Open the app, click 'Sign up' and set it up again. You'll need to use a different email address.

Click 'Forgot your password' on the sign in page. It'll take you through how to reset your password.

No, the app will remember you.

All your doses will show on the COVID Status app.

Paper copies will only show your last 2 doses. You can download or request a copy of your updated vaccination status online.

You can usually get your COVID Status within 24 hours of having your vaccination. However, it can take up to 5 days for your records to be updated.

Refresh your app by signing out and back in. Or swipe down on the screen underneath the 'International Travel' line.

If that doesn't work you can download or request a copy of your vaccination status online or by phoning the COVID Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565. The helpline is open every day from 10am to 6pm.

Your printed copy of COVID Status will only show your last 2 doses as this is what is required for international travel. Your full vaccination record can be viewed in the app or in the portal.

If any information on your COVID Status is wrong, you should phone the COVID Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565.

You do not need middle name(s) for international travel.

If your address on your status is out of date you can still use it for international travel, as long as your name and date of birth are correct.

QR codes expire after 3 days, but will refresh when your phone is connected to the internet again. You can force a refresh manually, if you swipe down on the area where your QR codes appear, the app will produce a new QR code.

If you're a resident in Scotland and have been vaccinated in an approved country, you can have your COVID Status updated to include this information.

The app only shows your vaccination record and no other personal health records.

The app complies with GDPR and Data Protection Act legislation.

For further information, read the COVID Status privacy policy

The NHS Scotland COVID Status has the same security standards that are used across the rest of the UK for COVID certificates.

The QR codes have an expiry date. Once expired, you'll have to get your COVID Status again in the same way, either via the app or paper copy. Expiry dates are used as part of the overall security of the system, and to help ensure that information is up to date.

Accessing your COVID Status on the app

The app has advanced security features to protect you and minimise any risk of fraud. These include:

• user identification using suitable photographic ID
• user email confirmation
• the certificates generated digitally on the app cannot be altered or changed

Accessing your COVID Status through NHS inform

Accessing your vaccination status through NHS inform is protected by your username and password.

Quick Response (QR) codes look like squares or rectangles that contain lots of small, individual dots.

A single QR code can hold a significant amount of information that can only be read by a machine.

Do not contact your GP practice about your coronavirus vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your coronavirus vaccination status.

You'll have been contacted if you cannot be vaccinated or take a test. You'll have received a secure paper exemption certificate in the post, covering both vaccination and testing.

Your local vaccination centre or the COVID Status Helpline (0808 196 8565) can:

• answer questions you may have
• advise on what arrangements may be put in place so you can be vaccinated or tested safely

You should not contact your GP directly about an exemption certificate because GPs cannot provide exemption certificates

This information applies to Scotland. For English information, read COVID-19 medical exemptions: proving you are unable to get vaccinated

If you've participated in coronavirus vaccine clinical trials in Scotland, you should have already received a letter from the Principal Investigator on your study confirming your involvement.

Read Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status for clinical trial participants