New rules that may affect those using EU Digital COVID certificates to travel to Ireland come into effect from today (1 February).

The EU Digital COVID certificate, introduced last year in a bid to harmonise rules for travel across the EU, can provide evidence of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test.

The Department of Health has pointed out that COVID-19 vaccine certificates for primary vaccination will not be accepted for travel if more than 270 days (around nine months) have passed since the final dose.

Changes across EU

The 270-day rule is being introduced across the EU because of changes to the rules governing the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

Vaccine certificates based on booster or additional doses are not time-limited.

Passengers without proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the previous six months, must show evidence of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before arriving in Ireland.

From 1 February passengers can travel to Ireland with accepted proof of vaccination for Novavax, which was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).