Covid vaccine passports will be required in certain venues in Scotland from Friday October 1, as part of the government's plans to limit the spread of Covid over the winter months. 

The government proposed the use of vaccine passports earlier this month before it was voted through by MSPs in Parliament. 

It means that to enter certain social settings, adults over the age of 18 will need to provide evidence they have received both doses of the vaccine. 

People can order a letter with evidence of their jabs or alternatively download an app on their smartphones from September 30, which can be scanned on the door of events. 

Here are all the situations you will need a vaccine passport in Scotland from Friday...

When will I need a vaccine passport in Scotland?

There are four situations in which you will require a vaccine passport in Scotland:

  • nightclubs
  • indoor live events with 500+ people unseated
  • outdoor live events with 4000+ people unseated
  • any event with 10,000+ people

During her update on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the introduction of vaccine passports meant that all capacity limitations on venues would be lifted. 

What qualifies as a nightclub?

If all four of the following criteria are met by an institution, it will be considered a nightclub and will therefore be required to ask for proof of vaccine: 

  • open between midnight and 5am
  • serves alcohol after midnight
  • provides live or recorded music for dancing
  • has a designated space - which is actually in use - for dancing

If all four of these conditions apply to a venue, it will be considered as a nightclub and the vaccine passport scheme will therefore apply. 

Will my vaccine passport be checked from October 1 in these settings?

In theory, yes, you should be asked to show your vaccine passport in these settings from Friday. 

However, in Tuesday's update the First Minister confirmed that there would be a grace period for businesses until October 18, meaning there would be no enforcement action taken against businesses who don't comply with these rules before this date.