NY's Excelsior Pass Vaccination Proof Now Valid For 1 Year

NEW YORK — Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that more than 1 million Excelsior Passes have been issued since the state launched the voluntary platform in March, and they are now valid for up to one year.

Excelsior Pass, which was the first vaccination passport in the nation, is now being used by venues, universities, stadiums and businesses statewide as a free and secure way to show proof of coronavirus vaccination or negative test results.

Cuomo said, after a long and incredibly difficult year, New Yorkers are returning to normal life and getting back to work, amid rising rates, and the Excelsior Pass is a key part of the restoration of normalcy.

"The fact that we've so quickly achieved a milestone — more than 1 million passes issued — speaks to New Yorkers' desire to resume many of the activities they've given up over the past year," he said, "and is good news for bringing our economy back and building a stronger state for the future."

Cuomo said there was an 80 percent increase in downloads of the Excelsior Pass over the past week.

He said Excelsior COVID-19 Vaccination Passes are now valid for 365 when retrieved. Previously, they were only valid for 180 days.

Anyone who may have already downloaded a pass can download a new one to take advantage of the extension, according to information from the state.

For those interested in Excelsior Pass who have received their COVID-19 Vaccinations or PCR and/or Antigen Tests in the State of New York, visit epass.ny.gov to get started.

Once you've retrieved the Excelsior Pass, you can add it to your smartphone for digital storage with the Excelsior Pass Wallet app, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The pass can also be printed from the Excelsior pass website and taken with you.

Under updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state said certain businesses may choose to require proof of coronavirus vaccination and the Excelsior Pass as an easy-to-use option, the governor said.

New Yorkers can alternatively present paper copies of proof of vaccination and negative test results.

Among the venues using the Excelsior Pass are Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Yankee Stadium, Belmont Park and Nassau Coliseum.

Universities and colleges across the state, including some SUNY campuses, Long Island University and Pace University, have already used Excelsior Pass for in-person graduation ceremonies and large events or plan to use it in the fall.

Fast Facts About Excelsior Pass:

• Excelsior Pass is a free, voluntary, and secure way to retrieve proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results and users' data is kept confidential and secure at all times.
• At this time, Passes are only available for those who have received their COVID-19 Vaccination or PCR/Antigen tests in the State of New York.
• An Excelsior COVID-19 Vaccination Pass, available 15 days after the final dose of the vaccine was administered, is valid for 365 days.
• An Excelsior COVID-19 PCR Test Pass is valid until midnight on the third day after a test.
• An Excelsior COVID-19 Antigen Test Pass is valid for 6 hours from the time of a test.
• Each Pass contains cryptographic signatures that ensure that it is genuine and that no data-tampering has occurred.
• Excelsior Pass is accompanied by a Help Desk with extensive resources, multi-language access, and is able to be printed for those who may not own Smartphones.
• New Yorkers always have the option of using other forms of proof, like a CDC card or physical laboratory test results, directly at a business or venue.