EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC)
From 19 July 2021, Ireland plans to operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU and EEA. These plans are subject to the public health advice on that date.
This is an overview of the DCC and the proposed easing of travel restrictions from 19 July 2021, for people arriving into Ireland from within and outside the EU. The following formation has been taken from citizensinformation.ie.
The Government is working on the rollout and implementation of the DCC within Ireland. We will continue to update this page as soon as more information becomes available.
The Government currently advises against all non-essential international travel before 19 July 2021. If your travel is essential, you should check the entry restrictions applied by other countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have country-specific travel advice pages.
What is the EU Digital Covid Certificate (DCC)?
The EU COVID Certificate (previously called the Digital Green Certificate) will help citizens move freely and safely within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is proof that you have either:
- Been vaccinated against COVID-19
- Received a negative test result
- Recovered from COVID-19
Being vaccinated will not be a pre-condition to travel.
What information will be included on the DCC?
The certificate will only contain necessary key information including:
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- The date of issue
- Relevant information about your vaccine or test or recovery
- A unique identifier number
The DCC will be free and available in both digital and paper formats. The certificate has a QR code to avoid fraud.
Who will be able to get and use the DCC?
The DCC is for:
- EU citizens, residents and their families
- Non-EU citizens who are legally staying or residing in the EU
How will it work across the EU?
Individual member states will decide how the DCC will be used as part of national public health measures. If you are travelling abroad you should always check the entry requirements before you travel.
The system will be used throughout the EU and will also be open to Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. You can check the European Centre of Disease Control’s map (EU traffic lights system) before you travel abroad.
If I arrive into Ireland from the EU or EEA
If you arrive into Ireland with a Digital COVID Certificate, you will not need to quarantine.
Will there still be testing requirements?
People who are fully vaccinated and have a DCC, will be able to travel without a RT-PCR test.
However, if you arrive with a DCC which you were given on the basis of a non RT-PCR test such as an antigen test, you will need proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
People arriving without a DCC will also need proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
Children aged between 7 and 18 who have not been vaccinated must also have a negative RT- PCR test.
Summary for people arriving from the EU
I have/I am arriving from the EU
- A Digital COVID Certificate/No RT- PCR test on arrival is needed*
- No quarantine
- No Digital COVID Certificate/RT-PCR test is needed on arrival
- No quarantine
*If your DCC is based on a non RT-PCR test (antigen) you will need to get a RT-PCR test taken with 72 hours before your arrival.
If I arrive into Ireland from outside the EU or EEA
From 19 July, Ireland will broadly follow the EU approach to non-essential travel into the EU from third countries. An emergency brake system is being introduced.
An emergency brake system will be applied quickly to countries where a variant of concern or interest arises. This will be coordinated at EU level to protect against the importation of variants.
If an emergency brake is applied to a country, the Government advice will be to avoid travel to that country.
Arriving from outside EU and no emergency brake applied
If you arrive into Ireland from outside the EU and you have valid proof of vaccination, you will not need to do any travel-related testing or quarantine.
If you do not have valid proof of vaccination, you will need to:
- Show evidence of a negative RT- PCR test result within 72 hours before your arrival
- Self-quarantine (home quarantine)
- Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE
There are stricter rules if you arrive from a country and the emergency brake has been applied – see below.
Arriving from outside EU and the emergency brake has been applied
The rules if you arrive from a country where an emergency brake has been applied depends on whether you have been vaccinated or not.
You have proof of vaccination, you will need to:
- Show a negative result from a RT- PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
- Self-quarantine (home quarantine)
- Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE
- You do not have valid proof of vaccination
You will need to:
- Produce evidence of a negative result from a RT- PCR test undertaken no more than 72 hours before arrival
- Complete a mandatory hotel quarantine
- Undergo post-arrival testing
Summary for people arriving from outside the EU
I am I am arriving from outside the EU and no emergency brake applied I am arriving from outside the EU with emergency brake applied
Vaccinated/No RT-PCR test needed
- No quarantine
- RT-PCR test needed
- Self -quarantine
- Further test post arrival
Not vaccinated/RT-PCR needed
- Self- quarantine
- Further test post arrival
- RT-PCR test
- Hotel quarantine
- Further test post arrival
The approach to travel outside the EU/EEA will also apply to travel to and from Great Britain and the US.
There will be no restrictions on travel to or from Northern Ireland.
However, if you arrive into Ireland through Northern Ireland and you have been overseas in the 14 days before you arrive, you must comply with the relevant restrictions.
For the latest updates, visit the government's travel advice page HERE - and if you have any specific queries or concerns, call Kane's Travel at 043-3334500 or email info@kanestravel.ie