iata travel requirements

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How does the iata travel pass work.

As the aviation industry restarts after over a year of passenger downturn, the IATA Travel Pass is becoming a crucial initiative in this next chapter. Airlines across the globe have been introducing the mobile app to help travelers store and manage their details during the pandemic, but how does the tool actually work?

A new climate

Governments worldwide have implemented a series of stringent travel restrictions since the rise of the global health crisis last year. The conditions grounded fleets and forced millions to stay where they are, effectively preventing them from seeing their loved ones or traveling for work for months on end.

These restrictions have been slowly relaxing. However, there are still several requirements in place to ensure that passengers move safely amid the current situation. With borders opening up, the spread of the virus needs to be controlled. Therefore, requirements such as testing and vaccinations have to be met in order to fly.

Meeting requirements

To help with the recording of this information, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced its Travel Pass . Airlines initially began testing the app for loading COVID test details and related information. However, trials began expanding the utilization to include vaccination records. Following successful testing, governments have been gaining the confidence to accept the app's usage for all their passengers .

Notably, recently, IATA announced that it integrated the acceptance of digital vaccine certifications issued by the European Union and the United Kingdom into the app . Therefore, it is now smoother for travelers to prove their vaccination status when flying.

Overall, the platform is an effective way to prove test results and vaccination status than paper processes. Authorities can verify documentation authenticity and the identity of individuals with the pass. Ultimately, travelers benefit by having their core post-COVID travel details in one place.

The core features

There are four primary modules to the IATA Travel Pass:

Registry of health requirements

This segment allows travelers to find information on travel, testing, and vaccine requirements.

Registry of testing and vaccination centers

Here, passengers can locate centers and labs at their departure and/or arrival locations.

The feature allows authorized test centers or labs to securely send vaccination certificates or test results to travelers.

Travel Pass app

The app gives passengers the opportunity to:

• Create a “digital passport.”
• Verify their vaccination and/or test.
• Share their vaccination or test result through integration into passenger management systems.

Importantly, Travel Pass does not store any data centrally. It solely links entities that require verification with the test or vaccination data when passengers allow it. Altogether, the airline customer has to give the go-ahead to verify. If the traveler opts to do so, the data is sent from their mobile device directly to an airline or government.

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The right support

To enhance the digital health pass, IATA is working closely with Raytheon Technologies subsidiary Collins Aerospace. The company is using its wide-ranging presence in the aviation industry to help make integration with Travel Pass streamlined.

As a leader in high-integrity solutions, Collins Aerospace highlights that by using a carrier’s host systems connections to seamlessly send passenger itinerary data to the Travel Pass app. Using the firm’s TransAction Service, this process enables itineraries to be matched against destination conditions and coronavirus health results to determine if a passenger is “OK to travel.” Crucially, the same connections can then be used to update the carrier’s host system with that status.

With this managed service, the ongoing support and maintenance of the integrations are covered by Collins Aerospace. So, the connection process can continue to be relied upon as the challenges of the aviation industry continue to evolve.

IATA notes that Collins’ tool assists operators to catalyze the app’s adoption amid the ease of integration. Ultimately, while the world continues to navigate the impact of the pandemic, additional support from the likes of Collins will go a long way.

“More than half of the world’s borders have some kind of travel restriction in place, but we see the deployment of vaccinations and testing measures as positive steps toward restoring international airline travel,” shares Jennifer Schopfer, president of Connected Aviation Solutions. “With the use of Collins Aerospace’s technology, Travel Pass will enable the secure flow of information to ensure that passengers know the health requirements for their journey, and for airlines to confirm those requirements have been met.”

Looking ahead

Over 60 carriers have registered to use IATA’s Travel Pass. More and more people are returning to the air as borders slowly open up in numerous key regions. For air travel to keep going in the right direction, carriers and the broader market need to show that the new governmental conditions can be handled effectively. So, the Travel Pass will hold a vital position in the next stage and beyond.

Airlines and passengers alike would dread another dark age of travel as we saw over the last one and a half years. Altogether, initiatives such as the IATA Travel Pass will prove valuable in the mission to continue safe and efficient operations.

What are your thoughts about the IATA Travel Pass? Have you had the opportunity to try out the app during your travels? Let us know what you think of the initiative in the comment section.

This article was sponsored by Collins Aerospace.

What is the IATA Travel Pass and do I need it to travel?

Oct 26, 2021 • 5 min read

The IATA Travel Pass is one of a variety of “health credential” services © BlackCAT / Getty Images

For most international travel, you’ll have to provide proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or proof you’ve recovered from the virus in order to cross borders.

With many travelers and airlines looking for a simple way to store this information digitally, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass health information checking service is being rolled out by more and more airlines, and so are its competitors like CommonPass and VeriFLY. They’re not vaccination passports, so what are they, how do they work, who’s behind them—and should you use them? 

What is the IATA Travel Pass? 

The IATA Travel Pass is one of a variety of “health credential” services that some airlines are using to help them check the validity of the proof you send them of your COVID-19 status—whether that’s your vaccination, a recent test, recovery from the disease, or a combination of all three.

Read more:  What is a vaccine passport and do I need one to travel?

It’s essentially an app on your phone where you take pictures of your vaccination records, a recent test or the proof you’ve recovered from COVID-19 within a certain time frame specified by the government of wherever you’re traveling to (and sometimes from). These are then checked and your airline is given either a green light or a red light for you to travel, according to the government travel rules of your destination country.

Dozens of airlines are trialling or using it—and other providers’ passes—to help them process your documentation, ideally well before you get to the airport. This helps them reduce queues and the cost of having staff members check your documents in person.

It’s different to the national or regional health pass wallets, like France’s TousAntiCovid , New York’s Excelsior Pass or the UK’s NHS COVID Pass . However, in the future, there may be links between them.

Other passes exist, with CommonPass and VeriFLY also in relatively wide use. Bear in mind that airlines may be trialling multiple pass options on different routes, so check any emails carefully and have a look at their website to confirm which you can use. 

How do they work?

You take pictures of your documentation or upload an existing picture, depending on the functionality of the various apps. This is then processed by the app provider’s staff—whether the IATA Travel Pass, CommonPass, VeriFLY or whatever—who confirm whether your documentation is valid.

It can be a bit of a logistical humdinger to need to take a picture of the everyday vaccination pass or test result that lives in one app on your phone with another app on your phone. Keeping paper copies of your vaccination certificates and test results can be very helpful, but in a pinch you can always find a friend to send them to, and then take a picture of their phone.

Once the processing is done, which usually is a matter of minutes or hours, you essentially get a green light that you’re good to go, or a red light that means you can’t travel until you’ve fixed a problem.

That might be because: you’re vaccinated with a vaccine not recognised in your destination; you sent in the wrong type of test (antigen not PCR, say); your test wasn’t taken recently enough (perhaps it was taken 49 hours before you are supposed to travel, but your destination requires it to be less than 48); or simply that they weren’t able to read your documents. 

Read more: PCR tests for travel: everything you need to know 

Do keep an eye out for this—getting another vaccination isn’t exactly a fixable problem, but getting another test might not be the end of the world.

Who runs these passes?

IATA’s travel pass is run by an airline trade industry group, the International Air Transport Association , which is sort of a Better Business Bureau for airlines. Remember, IATA is not a governmental or intergovernmental body, it’s an airline association.

CommonPass is run by a non-profit public trust with links to the World Economic Forum (sometimes referred to as Davos, after the location of its annual meeting) and the Rockefeller Foundation.  VeriFLY , meanwhile, is a product of biometric authentication software business Daon . Airlines are essentially outsourcing the verification to these apps, but in some cases, airlines are requesting that you upload the relevant information to them directly.

If you’re concerned about what happens to your data, that’s certainly a valid concern. As one example, British Airways uses VeriFLY for all flights into the UK. But its small print says: “The VeriFLY App is completely independent of British Airways and you are submitting your information directly to Daon (acting as the data controller), please check Daon’s privacy policy and terms and conditions.” However, it’s worth reading the fine print on VeriFLY to fully understand how your data will be used. 

Where will I use a travel pass, is it mandatory, and should I use it?

A growing number of airlines are using them, so you’re likely to be seeing them the next time you take an international flight. 

At present, they’re usually not fully required, but you can expect to receive multiple emails encouraging you to use them. You may also start seeing fast-track queues for people who have taken the time to enter their data. After all, it will take less time for an expert on these processes to check your documents remotely a day in advance than for a stressed check-in agent to try to figure out whether your vaccination certificate is valid or not.

So should you use it? Well, if you have privacy concerns, those seem valid—this technology has been developed pretty quickly, and it’s worth reading the privacy policies of the app should you have any reservations.

For more information on COVID-19 and travel, check out Lonely Planet's Health Hub .

Read more:  What is a vaccine passport and do I need one to travel? PCR tests for travel: everything you need to know What do I do if my flight gets cancelled - and can I get a refund?

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General information about entry regulations.

Find out in good time about the current entry regulations* at your destination. This will give you enough time to ensure that your travel documents comply with the entry regulations at your destination or apply for any visa or travel permit you may need. It is your responsibility to find out this information and carry the necessary documents with you.

Passengers can enquire about the entry regulations at their destination country at the relevant embassy or consulate.

You can obtain detailed information about entry regulations, passport requirements and the latest country changes from the IATA Travel Centre.

Entry regulations for various destinations

Entry regulations for the USA

Find out in good time about the entry regulations for the USA and check whether you meet the conditions for visa-free entry.

Entry regulations for Canada

Find out in good time about the entry regulations for Canada and apply directly for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA).

Entry within the Schengen Area

Here you can find information about the free movement of people within the European Schengen Area.

The latest Covid-19 entry regulations for your trip

Entry regulations for various countries are still subject to change at short notice.

Here you can find the most important information for entry to your destination country and the latest guidance about proof of a Covid-19 test and any local quarantine requirements.

Simply enter your departure and destination airport here.

Frequently asked questions about entry regulations

Where can i find further information about the entry regulations for my destination.

Your own country’s Foreign Office can also provide any travel information and safety advice you may need for your destination country.

German citizens can obtain information on the Federal Foreign Office website. Please note that visa, transit and entry regulations are specific to each country and can change at short notice.

Where can I find information about identity documents and visas?

Please be sure to find out about your destination’s identity document and visa requirements. The embassy of the country concerned or your travel agent can provide you with information.

When you receive your visa, check whether it is valid for the entire length of your stay. Different rules apply to animals, vehicles or cultural goods depending on the country with regard to entry and customs clearance.

The IATA Travel Centre provides a summary of the travel documents required for your destination country.

For which countries do I require an electronic travel authorisation?

A visa is required for entry to many countries. Several countries, e.g. the USA, Canada and India, offer an electronic travel authorisation for certain nationalities to simplify entry.

The electronic travel authorisation must be applied for and issued before the start of your journey. Authorisation can take several days in particular countries.

You will find links for a few selected Lufthansa destinations below:

What is advance passenger information (API) and how is it transferred?

Airlines are obliged to transfer passenger data to the authorities. They do so via the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).

Authorities in some countries, such as the USA and Russia, also require the transfer of passenger data from flights that cross their territory.

You are obliged to provide complete and correct information to the authorities. You can record this in advance on lufthansa.com. If you are unable to do so, this data will be collected during the check-in process.

What must I consider in the case of entry and exit for children?

Specific regulations apply in some countries to the entry or exit of minors who are travelling unaccompanied or accompanied by only one parent or one other adult. Countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Portugal and Italy, for example, require a signed consent form from the parents.

Enquire in good time at the consulate concerned whether and which documents are required for your child’s entry and exit country. Entry or exit can be refused if any documents are missing or incorrect.

* Lufthansa always endeavours to provide you with the latest information. However, entry regulations are official requirements outside the airline’s discretion. Since entry regulations are constantly changing in individual countries, Lufthansa accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided.

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Follow WHO guidance on cross-border travel

IATA called on states to follow new guidance on travel from the World Health Organization (WHO). The guidance recommends a risk-based approach to implementing measures related to COVID-19 and international travel.

Specifically, WHO recommended that governments:

• Do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory condition for entry or exit
• Remove measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements for travelers who are fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed previous COVID-19 infection within the past six months
• Ensure alternative pathways for unvaccinated individuals through testing so that they are able to travel internationally. The WHO recommends rRT-PCR tests or antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for this purpose.
• Only implement test and/or quarantine measures for international travelers “on a risk-based manner” with policies on testing and quarantine regularly reviewed to ensure they are lifted when no longer necessary.

“These commonsense, risk-based recommendations from WHO, if followed by states, will allow for international air travel to resume while minimizing the chance of importing COVID-19. As WHO notes—and as the latest UK testing data proves—international travelers are not a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19. Out of 1.65 million tests carried out on arriving international passengers in the UK since February, only 1.4% were positive for COVID-19. It’s long past time for governments to incorporate data into risk-based decision-making process for re-opening borders,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

WHO also called on states to communicate “in a timely and adequate manner” any changes to international health-related measures and requirements. “Consumers face a maze of confusing, uncoordinated and fast-changing border entry rules that discourage them from traveling, causing economic hardship across those employed in the travel and tourism sector. According to our latest passenger survey, 70% of recent travelers thought the rules were a challenge to understand,” said Walsh.

Additionally, WHO encouraged states to look at bilateral, multilateral, and regional agreements, particularly among neighboring counties, “with the aim of facilitating the recovery of key socioeconomic activities” including tourism, for which international travel plays a vital role.

“The pandemic has put more than 46 million jobs, normally supported by aviation, at risk. By incorporating these latest WHO recommendations into their border opening strategies, states can begin to reverse the economic damage of the past 18 months and put the world on the road to recovery,” said Walsh.

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