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French health pass and UK QR code: What to do if certificate expires

Passes created using the NHS app will become invalid after 30 days and you will need to upload a new code

The NHS QR code that you can use to create your French health pass needs to be updated every month Pic: Carolina Jaramillo / Shutterstock

Reader question: I just opened my TousAntiCovid app and it says my certificates have expired. How do I go about reviving them?

People vaccinated in the UK and using their NHS certificates for their health pass need to upload a refreshed QR code to the TousAntiCovid app every 30 days. 

Everyone over the age of 18 – and from September 30, every aged 12-17 as well – must present a health pass in order to access a range of public spaces and services including restaurants, bars, museums, non-urgent hospital appointments and long-distance transport.

The health pass can consist of: 

  • Proof of full vaccination
  • Proof of a negative result from a PCR or antigen test taken within the last 72 hours
  • Proof that the individual has had and recovered from Covid within the last six months.

Read more: Scottish Covid jab QR codes now compatible with France’s TousAntiCovid

Read more: How to get a French health pass: A guide for residents and visitors

If you are using vaccination certificates for your health pass and were vaccinated in the UK, you may find that after a certain period of time a red icon appears in your TousAntiCovid app wallet saying that they have expired. 

This is because the QR code vaccination passes produced by the NHS app always become invalid after 30 days. 

To renew your French health pass go to the homepage of the NHS app, and click ‘Get your NHS Covid pass’ and then ‘Travel’. A green banner reading ‘Covid-19 records found’ should appear with options to download a PDF copy or receive an offline copy by email below. 

After choosing one of these options and printing off the QR code, you will be able to scan it onto the TousAntiCovid app by clicking ‘Add a certificate’ in your wallet. 

If you do not have access to a printer, you can scan the QR code from another screen.

If you do not have the NHS app, you can request a Covid pass QR code in paper form using this NHS service, which can also provide the information in languages other than English if needs be.

Further information is available on the NHS website. 

Related stories 

What do I use instead of French health pass if I’m vaccine exempt?

Brilliant, effective, unfair: Your views on France's health pass

Reader experiences: What is it like to use the health pass in France?

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