The EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate (DCC) and UK NHS Covid-19 Pass can now be uploaded into the IATA Travel Pass, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Both serve as verifiable proof of vaccination for international travel.

Travelers with an EU DCC or a UK NHS Covid Pass may now access up-to-date Covid-19 travel information, create an electronic passport, and import their vaccination certificate all in one application.

This information can be shared with airlines and border control officials so that they can be certain that the certificate presented to them is authentic and belongs to the person who presented it.

IATA senior vice president for operations safety and security, Nick Careen, stated, “Covid-19 vaccination certificates are becoming a widespread requirement for international travel.

“Handling the European and UK certificates through IATA Travel Pass is an important step forward, providing convenience for travellers, authenticity for governments and efficiency for airlines.”

According to IATA, harmonisation of digital vaccine standards is required to promote the safe and scalable restart of aviation, minimise unnecessary airport queues, and provide a pleasant passenger experience.

The organisation applauded the EU Commission’s achievement in building the EU DCC system in rapid time and therefore standardising digital vaccination certificates across Europe.

IATA urges the World Health Organization (WHO) to rethink its work on developing a global digital vaccine standard, based on the success of the EU DCC.

Careen said, “The absence of a global standard makes it much harder for airlines, border authorities and governments to recognise and verify a traveller’s digital vaccination certificate.

“The industry is working around this by developing solutions that can recognise and verify certificates from individual countries. But this is a slow process that is hampering the restart of international travel.”

He continued, “As more states roll out their vaccination programs, many are urgently looking to implement technical solutions to provide vaccine certification for their citizens when they travel.

“In the absence of a WHO standard, IATA urges them to look closely at the EU DCC as a proven solution that meets WHO guidance and can help to reconnect the world.”

– India’s new age travel digital media