How to Link Vaccine Certificate With Your Passport?

Posted on: Aug 20, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to Link Vaccine Certificate With Your Passport?

The Coronavirus pandemic has shaken the travel industry to its very core globally while severely restricting mobility. However, the invention of vaccines has provided a sign of redemption for travel as international borders have begun to open up gradually. The vaccination certificate serves as a proof of reassurance of the safety of not only the citizen but also the society as a whole. In this light, it has become imperative to get one’s COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate linked to their passports, because it is a form of travel insurance for the destination country that the traveller is insured against the virus, and consequently will not spread it in their country. It would be wise to note which vaccines are accepted and recognized in the destination country before getting the doses in India.

Guide to the Passport-Vaccine Certificate Linkage

In case you have international travel scheduled in the following months, you might have to get vaccinated fully firstly, and then link your passport to your vaccine certificate. Here are the steps to follow for the same.

Step 1 - CoWIN Registration with Passport as the Photo ID -

First you must register yourself on the CoWIN website. Add in the passport details in the section of the photo ID. Following which you must get vaccinated (both doses of the vaccine). Then directly follow Step 9 to download the Passport linked Vaccine Certificate.

Step 2 - Identify if any ID other than passport was used for verification -

In case you have an account on CoWIN and have been vaccinated with a different registered photo ID, such as an Aadhaar Card, you will have to update your passport details.

Step 3 - CoWIN Website -

Go to the CoWIN website through WWW.COWIN.GOV.IN and login to your account on the CoWIN website using your registered mobile number.

Step 4 - Edit your details -

After logging in to your account, click on the ‘Account Details’ section, and click on ‘Raise Issue’.

Step 5 - Adding Passport Details -

You will now view three options. Among those, select ‘Add Passport Details’, a new page will open wherein the option of selecting which beneficiary’s passport details are to be added.

Step 6 - Entering Passport Number -

This is a very important step as you can only change the passport details once, hence be very careful as no mistakes can be made here. Once the beneficiary has been selected, you can add the same in the ‘Enter Beneficiary’s Passport Number’ section.

Step 7 - Confirming the Edit -

Before confirming the change in the passport details, ensure the fact that the passport number is absolutely correct. Then proceed by approving the declaration statement by clicking on the box.

Once you have rechecked the number and ticked the box, select ‘Submit Request’.

Step 8 - Text Message Confirmation-

The confirmation that the passport details have been updated will be notified to you via a text message on the mobile number that is associated with your CoWIN account. Please do not worry if the message is not received immediately as it may take a couple of minutes. The message of the successful update will be sent to you confirming the change.

Step 9 - Downloading the Passport Linked Vaccine Certificate -

Click on the ‘Account Details’ option and select ‘Certificate’ of the beneficiary whose passport details have been modified. Once you download it, you can see that the passport has been successfully linked to the vaccine certificate.

Why has it become necessary to link Passport to the Vaccine Certificate?

It is a valid form of verification that the citizen who is traveling abroad is vaccinated fully against the COVID-19 virus. One may need to do the same in case of an essential anticipated trip abroad. Citizens may need to go abroad to pursue their education overseas as offline instruction has begun in a few countries; business obligations, a new job or relatives located abroad might turn to be pressing issues motivating international travel during the pandemic. Hence, in these cases it is safe to firstly get vaccinated fully and then get the passport linked to the vaccine certificate to ensure smooth travel without any regulatory hiccups.

For those planning international travel, it's also important to ensure that your passport details are accurate and up-to-date. If you need to change your name or address on your passport, you can follow these 7 Easy Steps to Change Name and Address on Passport. Having the correct information on your passport is crucial to avoid any issues during your travels.

Conclusion

Therefore, in order to facilitate international travel, firstly the citizen must be vaccinated fully with the required two doses of the vaccine, and secondly, their passport must be linked to the vaccine certificate. One must ensure that no mistakes are made while entering the passport number as it cannot be edited. Unless the destination country’s policies change depending on the COVID situation in India, the passport-vaccine certificate should suffice for international travel. An additional step that should be taken to safeguard yourself is getting an International travel insurance plan that suits your requirement.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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