Travel is back! For Travel Department’s Irish customers, they are now able to travel freely within the EU and selected countries using the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC).
Although there is a bit more preparation and paperwork involved, once people have everything in order they can begin to look forward to their holiday and start experiencing wonderful guided holidays in Europe again. They’ve kindly outlined some key points below to help you prepare for your next holiday in Covid times.
What is the EU Digital COVID Certificate?
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is proof that a person has either:
- been vaccinated against COVID-19
- received a negative test result
- recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months
The EU Digital COVID Certificate will be used in all EU Member States including Ireland from this summer (19th July in Ireland). The idea is to use this certificate to relax the current restrictions on travel in a safe and structured way.
Do I still need to quarantine?
Customers travelling using the EU Digital COVID Certificate should, in principle, be exempted from any further testing or restrictions while travelling within Europe. Countries should only impose additional testing or restrictions if it is necessary to keep their citizens safe. Once you are covered by one of the stipulations on the certificate, travel within the EU should be relatively easy.
What is considered fully vaccinated?
Check the HSE website for the latest information on vaccines. Currently, it’s:
- 7 days after 2nd Pfizer-BioNTech dose
- 14 days after 2nd Moderna dose
- 14 days after the single dose Janssen vaccine
- 15 days after your 2nd AstraZeneca dose
Can I still travel within the EU if I’m not vaccinated?
There are certain countries that will only allow entry to holidaymakers who are fully vaccinated. We suggest checking Re-open EU (europa.eu), the official EU website to get the most up to date travel information.
When will I get my EU Digital COVID Certificate?
You should receive it by email shortly after being fully vaccinated in an official vaccination centre if you have provided an email address, otherwise it will be posted to you. To request the DCC certificate based on recovery in order to travel, you will need to complete this online form. If you’re getting a certificate based on a negative covid test, which must be taken up to 72 hours before traveling, you will need to organise this with the testing facility. There is an emergency helpline number for the EU Digital Covid Certificate, it is 1800 807 008.
Can I print my EU Digital COVID Certificate?
Yes, you can easily print your EU Digital COVID Certificate once you receive it via email.
How do I add the EU Digital COVID Certificate to my smartphone?
You should be able to download a copy of the certificate as a PDF to your device. If you have the COVID Tracker App installed, you will see there is an option on the home screen to add the DCC, which you can easily do by scanning the QR code that is on your certificate.
Do I need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form before I go on holiday?
Yes, everyone will need to complete a passenger locator form for entry to EU countries and again prior to returning to Ireland. It’s important to note that since the 12th of July, the passenger locator form can only be completed online; there is no paper version. Different countries have their own links to these forms, which you can also get from the official EU website. If you click on “Travel Plan” you can put the country you are going from and to and it gives you the necessary info and links to the Passenger Locator Forms.
Where is my passport?!
It’s been a while for many of us! So, one of the first things you should do is to dig out your passport and check that it’s all up to date!
What is the airport experience like now?
When you arrive at the terminal and check-in area, you will see protective screens, hand hygiene stations and staff wearing face masks. Access to the terminal building is limited to those that are travelling and face masks are mandatory inside the terminal building. Social distancing is being practiced throughout the airport, so we would advise you to arrive at least 2 hours before your European flight. You can still avail of the usual facilities, such as bars, restaurants, shops and Duty Free.
Travel Department’s Sales Manager Alice recently enjoyed a FAM trip to Malaga (industry lingo for familiarisation trip so staff get to experience the product first-hand) and her travel experience was seamless…
“I had the best experience recently travelling to and from Malaga. The measures in place totally reassured me and I have subsequently confirmed my holiday in September. At Dublin airport, it was a one-way system right from the entrance. Hand sanitizer stations were located throughout and the two-meter rule was promoted throughout the airport by the use of floor stickers and signage. Boarding the aircraft was conducted on row-by-row basis– minimising any queue time. Mask wearing is compulsory through this whole process and onboard the flight. Onboard services are all contactless card payments. My advice to anyone looking to travel now that the restrictions in Europe have lifted is Do It”.
NB: Entry requirements to other countries are subject to change, so make sure to regularly check for any travel updates. Travel Department have and continue to follow Government advice closely. The safety of customers is very important to them, and they take every precaution for all of their upcoming tours.
So…once you’re all prepared with the required paperwork, you can arrive at the airport with ease, get in the holiday mood and get excited about visiting your dream destination.
Disclaimer:
- This information is subject to change based on public health guidance so always check the most up to date information before you travel.
- This information is correct at time of response to the best of our knowledge, for up to date guidance see your airlines website and DFA.ie
About Travel Department
Travel Department is Ireland’s leading escorted tour operators with over 25 years’ experience of crafting beautifully curated, inspirational itineraries to worldwide destinations, all accompanied by expert local guides. They offer a wide range of guided group holidays from City Breaks to Solo Travel to active and adventure holidays (including Walking, Yoga and Photography holidays) with their sister brand, TD active Holidays.
Travel Department’s escorted holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and guided tours. They carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best holiday highlights accompanied by a friendly local guide. With Travel Department you see more!
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