International travel is due to reopen on July 19, when Ireland will use the EU Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) to travel freely within the European Union and the European Economic Area.
The EU Digital Covid Certificate will allow Irish citizens to travel abroad on long-awaited summer holidays or see family members they have not seen in over a year.
Here is everything you need to know about the DCC:
1. What is it?
The DCC will provide proof that travellers have either been vaccinated, received a negative test result, or recovered from Covid.
This will allow citizens to move freely and safely within the EU during the pandemic.
2. What information will be on the DCC?
The documents will contain key information such as:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Date issued
- Relevant information about your vaccine or test or recovery
- Unique identifier number
3. Who can use the DCC?
All EU citizens, residents and their families can obtain a DCC.
Non-EU citizens who are legally staying or residing in the EU can also get the digital cert.
4. How will it work?
Member states will each decide how to use the DCC as part of their national public health measures.
Travellers are advised to check the entry requirements of their destination before travelling abroad.
The system will be used throughout the EU and will be open to Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
5. What will happen if you arrive into Ireland from the EU or EEA?
The good news is if you arrive into Ireland with a DCC, you will not be required to quarantine.
People who are fully vaccinated and have a Digital Cert will be allowed to travel without an RT-PCR test.
If you arrive with a DCC that was given based on a negative non-RT-PCR test, such as an antigen test, you will need proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.
People arriving with no DCC will have to provide a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travel.
