The Republic’s EU Digital Covid Certificate is now available for Irish passport holders from Northern Ireland.
The certificate opens the door to international travel for those who have been fully vaccinated. The "passport’ also gives the public access to hospitality venues.
The certificate was launched in the Republic in July; however, its extension to the North was delayed because the Irish state had no official records of who has been vaccinated in Northern Ireland. It will be further extended on Oct. 21 to Irish citizens who are fully vaccinated and living outside the EU.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “My Department has worked tirelessly with partners across Government to deliver the EU Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) to the Irish public.
“With over 4 million certificates issued, this project has helped support the safe reopening of our society and facilitated the recommencement of non-essential travel," the minister said.
“I am delighted to announce that today we are expanding the service to allow Irish passport holders who have been vaccinated outside of the EU to access an EU Digital Covid Certificate," Donnelly added. "This service will be made available to Irish citizens who have been vaccinated in Northern Ireland from today, with the service extending to other Irish citizens in October.”
Applications are open from individuals 18 years of age and older who hold a valid Irish passport and have reliable proof that they have been vaccinated.
The Minister for State for Public Procurement and eGovernment Ossian Smyth said: “Building on the successful rollout of the EU Digital Covid Certificate system across Ireland, which has been key to the opening up indoor hospitality within the country and enabled travel outside of Ireland, I am delighted that the Irish Government is now able to offer the option of an EU DCC to Irish passport holders who were vaccinated in Northern Ireland.
“With a combination of high vaccine rates and our approach to DCC rollout in Ireland, this digital certificate solution has been a key part of our recovery from the pandemic,” the minister added.
