Your Five-Minute Guide to Getting Proof of Vaccination on Your Phone, so You Can Enjoy Every One of Monday’s “Freedoms” ASAP

New South Wales has officially hit the 70 per cent double-vaxxed milestone. And from Monday October 11, fully immunised people will have a heap of restrictions lifted. Plus, we’ll be allowed to do even more than we were expecting, given box-fresh premier Dominic Perrottet’s tweaks to the reopening road map yesterday.

It’s all very exciting. I’ve been making booking after booking at my favourite venues, and it’s a genuine thrill to be able to make plans – actual, full-blown plans – with other people again. But amongst all that excitement, I realised this morning that, short of printing out my vaccine certificate, I actually don’t have any way of proving my fully vaxxed status – and I suspect that venue owners and security won’t be keen to just “take my word for it”.

The Service NSW app, which we all use to check-in to venues, is working on adding a proof-of-vaccination functionality, but it won’t be ready in time for NSW’s reopening. The federal government, meanwhile, is working on its own vaccine passport for international travel. But in the meantime, if you don’t want to be that person bringing a print-out vaccination certificate to the pub, you’ll have to do it another way. The good news is that if you’re fully vaxxed, you can add your Covid-19 digital certificate to your phone in about five minutes. I did it this morning, and I’m terrible with technology, so here’s how to do it in five steps:

Step one: log in to your Mygov account (on your phone, that part’s important)
I’m used to avoiding Mygov like the plague, because whenever they get in touch, it means I’ve done my taxes wrong or have forgotten to update my information on the electoral roll for the millionth time. Anyway, find your Mygov login details, and log yourself into the website on your phone. (Make sure it’s your phone, otherwise, well, you won’t be able to add it to your phone.)

Step two: find your Medicare card (or equivalent)
I’m on my family’s Medicare card, so be prepared to call a parent for the info you need. It’s also just a neat opportunity to catch up with your folks, which is nice. If you have your own card, get it out and ready.

It’s also fine if you don’t have Medicare or aren’t eligible for it. Use Mygov to link to an Individual Healthcare Identifiers (IHI) service instead. (Here’s how to get an IHI.)

Step three: link your Medicare to your Mygov
If you’ve already done this before, congrats, you’re a better adult than me and can skip this step. But if you haven’t, it’s really easy. There’s a “quick links” section on the Mygov homepage linking to Medicare. Follow the steps, input the information it asks for, and you’ll be set up within minutes.

Step four: click on “proof of Covid-19 vaccination” then add it to your phone
Back on the Mygov homepage, click on the “proof of Covid-19 vaccination” link in the quick-links section. Once you click through, you’ll be able to view either your full immunisation history (I found out this morning I’ve been vaccinated against polio, which is a hoot) or you can click “view Covid-19 digital certificate” (as a PDF). Under this, you’ll have the option to add it to your Apple Wallet if you use an iPhone, or to Google Pay if you’re with Android. Click that and you’re good to go.

If this isn’t available – don’t worry. It can take up to 10 days after your second jab before your immunisation status goes through. This is unlikely, but it does happen.

Step five: enjoy your fully vaxxed freedoms

It’s been a long slog. Be safe and enjoy spending time with your friends and family. You’ve earned it.

Still confused? Visit Service NSW.