Oslo: Norway accepts the English and Welsh National Health Service (NHS) COVID Pass which will be recognised as proof of immunity against the COVID-19 virus from today (Aug 12).
As per the press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Care Services of Norway, People from England and Wales who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be able to enter Norway without any restrictions.
The same applies to people who have recovered from COVID-19 during the past six months. For these groups, no travel quarantine will be required, and they will not need to provide proof of a negative test result, complete an entry registration form, or be tested at the border.
‘I am pleased that this solution is being rolled out. Many people in these countries have close ties to Norway and entering Norway will now become easier for them,’ says Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.
Travellers arriving from England and Wales with a valid NHS COVID pass who are staying at a quarantined hotel in Norway at the time the change enters into effect on Thursday will be allowed to leave the quarantine hotel.
Norway will not be able to verify the NHS Covid Passes of users who have the paper version, as the paper-based certificates do not have a QR code. If NHS paper certificates come with a verifiable QR code at a later date, then Norway will also be able to accept paper certificates.
It is expected that Northern Ireland and Scotland will soon implement digital, verifiable COVID-19 certificates similar to the NHS COVID Pass. When this happens, Norway will develop solutions so that these, too, can be verified in Norway.
The Novavax vaccine is undergoing clinical trials in the UK and participants in these trials are entitled to an NHS COVID pass. The Norwegian Directorate of Health has recommended that the Norwegian authorities do not accept the Novavax vaccine until it has been approved by EMA.
This means that people who have had the Novavax vaccine administered as part of a clinical trial will be subject to the ordinary travel restrictions that apply to people who are not regarded as fully vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 during the past six months.
