Latest Travel Updates on International Travel and the Digital Covid Certificate
Latest travel updates: How does the Digital Covid Certificate work? Will I still need pre departure tests? What about travel to UK and USA ? What happens if I catch Covid-19 when I am away? These, and lots more of your FAQ’s answered here.
Ireland is operating the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU. This will allow us to travel freely within the EU if we have been vaccinated, recovered from Covid, or have proof of a negative test result. We can also travel to other countries outside the EU with a similar model, but some countries have additional restrictions in place – see more on the latest travel updates below.
It is important to note that travel restrictions can change at any time, in fact some countries have already added additional entry requirements due to the spread of the Delta variant. So if you are planning on travelling overseas, make sure you have flexible booking options. Most airlines and hotels have these in place, and your travel agent will be able to recommend the best booking options for you.
Read: My top 10 tips for booking holidays during Covid-19
Top 10 tips for travelling during Covid-19
Travelling overseas? Make sure you fill out passenger locator forms in advance
You can also keep an eye on this post where I will have the latest travel updates, but always check the Gov.ie website , dowload the Reopen EU app and check with your airline / travel agent before travelling, to ensure there have been no changes to travel restrictions.
What is a Digital Covid Certificate and how does it work?
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland. The certificate can be in digital or paper format and is proof that a person:
- is fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
- has recovered from COVID-19 ( no longer than 180 days after a positive PCR test); or
- has a negative test result
It is important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a travel document and will not be a precondition to travel. Individual Member States will determine how the DCC will be used as part of national public health measures.
The system will be used throughout the EU and is also open to Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. The recommendation is that vaccinated visitors, or people who have recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days of departure, will not need proof of a negative test to travel within the EU.
However, each member state may have different entry requirements depending on the epidemiological situation at the time of travel. Member states can introduce an Emergency Brake, where additional restrictions could be applied to countries considered high risk.
At the time of issue Malta will no longer accept visitors who are unvaccinated, while France’s policy on visitors who have been vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine is to wait for four weeks to be considered fully vaccinated – most other countries require two weeks – see more here.
The age that children are exempt from testing also varies. While most EU countries allow children 11 and under to travel without testing, some countries such as Germany require all children aged 7 and over to produce negative Covid-19 tests on arrival.
It is also important to point out that most countries require passenger locator forms to be filled out in advance of travel, so it is vital that check with your airline or travel agent the exact requirements required before departure, as you could be denied boarding if these forms are not completed in time.
Read: Travelling overseas? Make sure you fill out passenger locator forms in advance
What do I do if my Digital Covid Certificate hasn’t arrived?
The roll out of the Digital Covid Certificate has been relatively straight forward, an estimated 2 million people have received their DCC by post or email already. However, for those who have not yet received their cert, or have an issue with a wrong name or details, there is a helpline available to deal with queries. Your DCC can be requested by calling this number: 1800 851 504 or 1800 807 008. There is also a self-service online portal available – see here.
For the 130,000 people who have recovered from Covid-19 during the past six months you can request a certificate of recovery online. This certificate proves that you’ve had COVID-19 in the last 6 months (180 days). You can also request a certificate if you’ve had a positive RT-PCR test more than 11 days ago and less than 6 months (180 days) ago. Once you fill out the form, you will get your certificate by email within 5 days once they have a record of the test.
If I am not vaccinated, do I need a negative test and / or to quarantine on arrival?
Passengers arriving into Ireland from the EU with a DCC will NOT have to undergo quarantine. However proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival is required for non-vaccinated travellers, including children aged 12 and above.
Ireland requires proof a negative PCR test, an Antigen test is not sufficient. However, antigen tests are acceptable in many other EU countries. Find your nearest Covid-19 testing centre here.
What about travelling to and from Britain?
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Currently there are no requirements for testing or quarantine for Irish people travelling to the Britain, as part of the Common Travel Area. However, there are restrictions in place for visitors coming into Ireland from the UK. Although Gov.ie has not been updated yet, the Irish Embassy in the UK has stated that from 19th July the following policy applies:
- Fully vaccinated visitors into Ireland will NOT have to quarantine or undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure.
- Unvaccinated travellers from Britain will still have to produce a negative PCR test on arrival, and undergo 14-day home quarantine. This quarantine can end once they receive a negative PCR test on day five.
- Children of any age, travelling with accompanying vaccinated adults, will not be required to self-quarantine post arrival. However, where one accompanying adult needs to self-quarantine, then all children must also self-quarantine.
Note you will need proof of being fully vaccinated. NHS Covid Pass, vaccination status letter or paper vaccine card will all be accepted – according to the Irish Embassy – see full thread here.
What about travel to and from the USA?
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The USA currently have a travel ban in place, and Irish citizens are unable to travel to the USA from Ireland. We did expect this travel ban to be lifted in time for summer travel, however, the spread of the Delta variant is making this more unlikely.
For fully vaccinated people travelling from the USA into Ireland, the restrictions are set to change from the 19th of July. This has not yet been updated on the Gov.ie website, however, the Irish Embassy in the USA has stated that:
- From 19 July, fully vaccinated travellers from to will not need a pre-departure PCR test or be required to home quarantine on arrival. Proof of being fully vaccinated from a CDC card will be required. See full thread here.
What about other countries outside of the EU?
A passenger who has been in a non-EU country in the 14 days prior to arrival into Ireland will be subject to the rules applying to that country. According to the Gov.ie website, the following applies from the 19th of July:
Scenario 1 – journey originates in a country to which the EU has not applied an ‘Emergency Brake’
If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, no travel-related testing or quarantine will be necessary.
If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:
- present evidence of a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival into the country
- self-quarantine
- undergo post-arrival testing – this will be provided through the HSE
Scenario 2 – journey originates in a country to which the EU has applied an ‘Emergency Brake’
If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:
- produce a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
- undergo self-quarantine
- undergo post-arrival testing – this will be provided through the HSE
If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:
- produce evidence of a negative result from a PCR test undertaken no more than 72 hours before arrival
- undergo mandatory hotel quarantine
- undergo post-arrival testing
Government advice will be to avoid travel to a country where the emergency brake has been applied.
There will be no restrictions on travel to or from Northern Ireland. Passengers arriving from via Northern Ireland who have been overseas in the 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland, must also comply with these restrictions.
It is also important to point out that travel restrictions vary from country to country. Many countries outside the EU will still require proof of a negative PCR test even if vaccinated. It is vital that check with your airline or travel agent the exact requirements required before departure.
What happens if I get Covid-19 when I am away?
If you are not fully vaccinated, all passengers aged 12 and over are required to present a negative PCR test taken with 72 hours of arrival into Ireland. If you take this test and it is positive you will not be allowed to board the aircraft, and will have to remain at your destination until a negative test is produced.
Some travel insurance policies like Multitrip.com will cover the cost of travel and accommodation if this arises, however they may not cover expenses or money lost due to being unable to work etc. They will also cover you for cancellation if you or one of your family gets Covid-19 before you travel. However, like all insurance policies it is important to check all the Ts & Cs.
TUI have Covid-Cover built into the cost of their package holidays, while certain countries such as the Canary Islands will guarantee to pay for quarantine facilities and medical expenses if a member of your party contracts Covid while on holiday there. See more here,
What happens if I don’t want to travel and my flight is still operating?
The reply to this question depends on the airline, hotel, or travel agency that you booked with. Some airlines are happy to change your booking for free, or offer a voucher, others will charge you for the privilege. In general terms, if a flight or holiday is cancelled you ARE entitled to a refund, if you decide you don’t want to travel, but the flight is operating, you are NOT entitled to a refund.
Airlines will contact you by email if they are cancelling your flight. I suggest waiting until closer to the departure date to see if your flight is cancelled. If the flight is cancelled you will receive a refund, if not, you will have have to change departure dates.
I am booked to fly abroad with Ryanair during the summer, can I change my flight for free?
Ryanair have different policies in place, depending on when the initial booking was made. New bookings made before 3oth September 2021 are permitted two free changes for travel before 31st December. Changes must be made 7 days before the original scheduled dates to avail of this. As with any airfare or holiday booked, if the fare associated with new flight dates is more expensive than the original fare, the customer must pay any difference.
Note: For anyone who booked before 10th June 2020, standard change fees apply. See more here.
I received a voucher from Ryanair, can I exchange it for cash now?
Ryanair have been allowing passengers who booked directly on the Ryanair website the ability to change their voucher for cash, as long as they haven’t officially accepted the voucher. If you have received an email with a voucher, but have not accepted it, you should be able to exchange it for cash by filling out this form. However Ryanair have updated their website to say that
“Once a reimbursement voucher has been accepted, the claim for reimbursement has been fully and finally settled.”
Read: How to get a refund from Ryanair
I am due to fly with Aer Lingus this summer, can I get a refund?
If your flight is cancelled you can apply for a refund using this form. If your flight is not cancelled you can change your flight, regardless of when it was booked, for free, before 31st December.
Read: Aer Lingus allow free changes across all flights up to 31st December
If you have accepted an Aer Lingus voucher, you cannot apply for a refund. However, Aer Lingus vouchers are valid for five years.
What can I do if I still haven’t received a refund from a cancelled holiday / flight ?
If you have been trying to source a refund from your airline or travel company since 2020 and are still awaiting a response, you can make a complaint to the Commission of Aviation regulation and they will take up the case on your behalf. You will need to prove that you applied for a refund and it has not been forthcoming.
Listen to our exclusive interview with Air Passenger Rights Manager Sarah Fischer, she tells us how to get a refund if your flight is cancelled.
I understand that in most cases travel agencies have refunded their customers where possible. However, Ryanair are refusing to refund travel agencies directly, and are asking customers to fill out Customer Verification Forms to receive their refund.
Read: How to get a refund from Ryanair
EU regulation 261 specifically states that any flight contract is between the passenger and the airline. You do not need to go via your travel agent to request a refund, you can contact your airline directly. Note EU-261 only applies to the flight contract, not hotel costs, transfers etc.
For more information visit:
Passenger rights – Flightrights.ie
Note: This post in the latest travel updates will be updated regularly, but travel advice and updates are changing on a daily basis. It is important to check with the company / airline you are booking with, and the Department of Foreign Affairs before taking any steps to cancel or travel abroad.
Sarah
