HealthCerts scheme to issue digital COVID-19 test certificates

The scheme will help in enabling safer international travel.

Singapore has developed a “globally interoperable” digital standard to facilitate cross-border verification of health documents, including pre-departure COVID-19 test results, Smart Nation Initiative minister-in-charge Vivian Balakrishnan has announced.

Named HealthCerts, the set of open-source digital standards is developed by the Government Technology Agency of Singapore and the Ministry of Health, and is used for the issuing of digital COVID-19 test result certificates.

It will eventually include vaccination certificates.

HealthCerts can expedite the travel process in and out of Singapore. The scheme will facilitate the safe resumption of travel, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) said a press release.

From 10 March, individuals who undergo a pre-departure COVID-19 test at an authorised clinic in Singapore will be notified of their results through a digital certificate, in line with HealthCerts.

According to SNDGG, they can either be an attachment or a link to the digital certificate.