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Malaga Airport Spain. PA Images

Leaving on a jet plane? Here's what you need to know about the return of international travel

The advice against non-essential international travel is no longer in place.

ALMOST THREE MONTHS ago to the day, Simon Coveney spoke about the fact that holidaying abroad was “illegal” but that it “may change” over the summer. 

The conclusion of that change comes in today. Holidaying abroad is no longer illegal but the government advice against non-essential travel is also no longer in force from today either. 

The date has been known for some time but there has been significant work in the past few weeks and months to make sure the correct systems are in place. 

So what do we know and what should you expect if you are travelling abroad? 

Where can I go?

There are no conclusive answers to this because countries across the world are still implementing their own Covid controls based on a person’s citizenship, country of origin or vaccination status. 

For example, the United States is still not allowing Europeans into the country, apart from some exceptions, while the UK is allowing travel from Ireland without any restrictions. 

For most people travelling from Ireland for a holiday this summer the EU is the most likely destination, which is why there is so much focus on the Digital Covid Cert (DCC). 

The DCC will allow holders to travel in the EU (and six non-EU European countries) without the need to quarantine. 

Travel restrictions for people travelling from Britain are also being loosened today, with those fully vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid no longer required to quarantine. If you’re instead travelling from Britain with a negative PCR test you are still required to quarantine at home n arrival but you can end that quarantine after five days with a second negative test. 

Do I need a Digital Covid Cert to travel in the EU?

The short answer is no, but if you have one it is likely to make the travel process a lot easier. 

You may already know what the DCC is but here’s a brief explanation. 

The DCC is a standardised EU system which shows that the holder satisfies one or more of three categories to exempt them from quarantine:

  • That they been vaccinated
  • That they have recovered from Covid-19 in the preceding six months
  • They have had a recent negative Covid test

Physically speaking the DCC is a QR code relating to that individual that can be scanned at an airport or another location that might require one. 

There is no specific DCC app but each country is likely to have its own digital place to save the code. 

Ireland’s Covid Tracker App now has a ‘wallet’ function allowing users to store their DCC in virtual form. There are also a number of third-party smartphone apps that can provide that same function including the airline you might be flying with. 

It is not necessary to have the QR code in virtual form, if you have it on paper that is fine too as it will be scanned in the same way. If you received your DCC in the form of a PDF you can print it out or save it as a screenshot on your phone, as long as it is clear and scannable you should be fine.  

Can children get a DCC and do they need them?

Yes, children can have a valid DCC but they shouldn’t need one. 

If a minor is travelling with a parent within the EU and the parent is exempted from quarantine then the child also does not need to quarantine. 

Children under six are exempted from testing across the EU but countries set their own testing requirements above that age. 

Children aged over 12 arriving into Ireland from a foreign country will require a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours unless they have valid proof of vaccination or Covid recovery.

Are the rules associated with the DCC standard across the EU?

PastedImage-16991 reopen.europa.eu reopen.europa.eu

No, they are not. For example, some countries will accept an antigen test as a negative test while others require a PCR test. 

Some countries will require you to be tested on arrival regardless while some may require you to fill out a passenger locator form. 

The advice being given by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs is to check what restrictions are in place in the country you are travelling to on the ReOpen EU website

The website has a simple tool for prospective travellers to input their country of origin and destination and it provides them with an outline of the requirements they may need to fulfil at each end. 

PastedImage-16858 Citizens Information Citizens Information

One thing to note though is that Ireland is not accepting DCC’s based on antigen tests, so if you’ve travelled to somewhere that you could enter based on an antigen test this will not be acceptable when you return to Ireland.

You will be required to have a negative PCR test from the past 72 hours to enter Ireland if that is the case, but if you have a DCC based on vaccination or acquired immunity you should not need this. 

But after all that, I still don’t actually NEED a DCC?

No, what you need to be able to do is fulfil the requirements of travel to the stated country. If you can prove this with a DCC that’s handy but if you can prove it another valid way then you will be okay too.  

For example, if you have documented proof of your negative Covid test and it is enough for your destination then that should be be fine. The issue is ensuring that your ducks are in a row and the DCC is designed to take away that hassle. 

airport 301 People are being asked to use the self-service check-in if possible. Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Ireland’s Minister of State for eGovernment Ossian Smyth outlined that fact last week, explaining that the DCC is actually about speeding up the process.  

You’ll likely be required to present your proof of when you’re boarding and when you land as well so the DCC may help eliminate some fustering 

“If for any reason you don’t have a certificate, you can still travel on your existing documentation,” Smyth said last week.

If you can show evidence that you’ve been vaccinated, or that you’ve been tested, you can still travel. So it’s not a prerequisite for travel, you don’t have to have a Digital Covid Cert to travel, but it does make it faster.

Okay so I meet the requirements and am going on holiday, will my airport experience be the same?


daa / Vimeo

If you’re over 13 you should be wearing a face mask in the airport, but aside from that it shouldn’t be too different. 

Airlines are also likely to require you to wear a mask on board but you may wish to check with individual airlines about what their specific policy is for masking.  

Timing your way to the airport shouldn’t be too different though. 

For example, Dublin Airport is advising that people arrive two hours prior to the boarding time for European flights and three hours for long-haul flights.

Things may be a little different at check-in with passengers encouraged to check-in online and use the self-service bag drop kiosks where possible. Passengers in Dublin Airport are also being asked to carry just one piece of hand luggage to cut down on the checking that takes place. 

What if I need to drive abroad on a licence with an extended expiry? 

Drivers can apply for a Letter of Entitlement if they are intending to drive in a foreign country on a licence with an extended expiry as a result of Covid-19. 

The Letter of Entitlement/Driver Statement, obtained from the National Driver Licence Service, will show the new expiry date of their driving licence. 

EU countries will recognise a driving licence where the period of validity has expired up to the end of the extension period granted by the issuing Member State.

For licences that have been extended, drivers should check with car hire companies in advance of travelling to see if a driver statement is required.

Is it worth it all though, will your holiday feel like a holiday or are places still closed down? 

That’s obviously a matter for yourself depending on what you’re looking for but, speaking on The Journal‘s The Explainer podcast, travel journalist Eoghan Corry explains that most places in Europe are about four to six weeks ahead of Ireland in terms of the reopening of hospitality. 

“They’re a bit more used to the policing of the restaurants and masking indoors and outdoors,” he said. 

Nightclubs have been open in Spain and Portugal but, this is important, nightclubs have been closing in particular regions because politicians and health officials in Ireland are no different from their counterparts across Europe. They’ve been to hell and back and they’re not going to sacrifice everything for the sake of this great reopening. 

In Spain, Corry says, there may be “extra inconveniences” such as beaches and swimming pools being marked out and requiring pre-booking. 

Despite this, he adds that “a lot that’s been learned from last summer” about how tourism can operate during  a pandemic so thing should hopefully run more smoothly. 

“I can say with certainty, you can expect every country in Europe to be more open than you find Ireland as at the moment, particularly with indoor dining which is a big issue for inbound tourism.”

On the latest episode of our podcast The Explainer we spoke to travel expert Eoghan Corry and our coronavirus newsletter author, reporter Nicky Ryan, about the latest on travel and Covid:


The Explainer / SoundCloud

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    Mute BRIAN MCCARTHY
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:13 AM

    I left 2 wks ago. Fully vaxed since 17 June. 3* apartment €370 a wk for both of us. €60 meal for 2, inc starters, main and bottle of wine. €1.30 glass of wine €2.50 pint. 28C past 2 wks. Ah sure no, i shouldn’t have.

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    Mute Sophie
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    Jul 19th 2021, 3:17 AM

    @BRIAN MCCARTHY: Only 28, you’d get hotter weather in Ireland

    374
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jul 19th 2021, 6:39 PM

    @Sophie: Things do tend to improve after people leave!

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Jul 19th 2021, 1:26 AM

    Leaving on a jet plane? Very memorable song by John Denver, unfortunately many parents will be playing this song in the next few years as there children take flight to a better life. Hopefully iam wrong.

    137
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    Mute iohanx
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    Jul 19th 2021, 7:59 AM

    @Paul Gorry:

    That’s been par for course for generations. Many will travel for lots of reasons. Many will come back also to raise a family. Not rocket science. Ireland’s a great country to live in by many standards, why else would so many return etc.

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    Mute James Lough
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:43 AM

    @iohanx: you’re having a laugh – great country to live in by many standards lol. Mica scandal in Donegal, housing shortage, vulture funds buying up estates, government is shambles, cost of living…

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:55 AM

    @James Lough: and no other country has their scandals? Maybe you should try living elsewhere.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:25 AM

    @James Lough: There is a jet plane that you can leave on apparently…

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    Mute Tim Quigley
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:51 AM

    @Paul Gorry: what about Garth Brooks ‘If tomorrow never comes’ . You might prefer that one.

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    Mute Stan Papusa
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    Jul 19th 2021, 11:52 AM

    @Paul Furey: That’s false equivalence.
    “Others have [list the issue here] too” doesn’t imply it’s equally bad everywhere. Nor does it mean nothing should be done about it. It’s been used to death whether the subject is covid, cost of living, corruption, healthcare, housing, etc.

    As well as that, it’s time to move past “the door is open, don’t let anyone stop you”. Eastern European governments have had a similar attitude towards their citizens for nearly 40 years, and the effects are sorely felt. Hardly anyone is saying that now…

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    Mute iohanx
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:10 PM

    @James Lough:

    There are 3 kinds of people …

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    Mute James Lough
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    Jul 19th 2021, 1:35 PM

    @Paul Furey: l do live elsewhere lol

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:11 AM

    No Covid-19 digital certificate received, 3 weeks since my 2nd jab not that im flying anywhere anytime soon.

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    Mute Elaine Phelan
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    Jul 19th 2021, 6:38 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: you should contact them. I got mine emailed within a week of my 2nd jab. If you registered on the HSE site for the vaccine then it would have been emailed, so check your spam folder first

    55
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    Mute Sarah Heaton
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    Jul 19th 2021, 9:09 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: If you got it via the HSE vaccination centres yeah, you should have had it emailed to you by now, so contact them. However, if you got it through your GP (say due to underlying conditions etc) then you’ll be getting a physical “passport” from them rather than the email, and it’s them you’ll need to poke. It’s also likely to be that bit more delayed as they get their own ducks in a row, considering the certs have literally only been available since last Monday.

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    Mute thegreatdefector
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    Jul 19th 2021, 9:14 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: check your junk mail. Got mine 4 days after second jab

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:06 AM

    @Sarah Heaton: I got my vaccination through my G.P. Got my covid passport by email last Monday. Bit surprised by that but maybe others should check their mail just in case.

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: Check your email just in case. I got my vaccination through G.P but covid cert came by email last Monday.

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:56 AM

    That John Denver song will resonate to a lot of parents over the next few years as there children take flight. Sad.

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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Jul 19th 2021, 7:46 AM

    @Paul Gorry: I encourage my children to travel and live abroad. It makes them more independent and emotionally intelligent. Nothing sad at all about your children exploring the world and understanding other customs and cultures. Living down the road from Mammy all their lives is something I find sad.

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:34 AM

    @SmallbutMighty: Maybe that’s their choice. What’s extremely sad and should concern you more is how many will HAVE to leave. Not by choice but by government who has made it impossible to live here. Taxed to oblivion, never able to have their own home, extortionate rent, lack of childcare, cost of education, inadequate healthcare unless you can pay a fortune for private cover. The list is endless. There’s a lot more important issues facing our children then slinging a back pack on and travelling for fun.

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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:46 AM

    @Franny Ando: those are all problems that face people all over the world. Living abroad whether by choice or necessity has many many positives in the growth of an individual. There’s an awful sense of entitlement in a lot of Irish these days.

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jul 19th 2021, 9:08 AM

    @SmallbutMighty: Nothing to do with entitlement. Living abroad should never be a necessity because you can’t afford to live in your own country. Highest interest rates, one of the most expensive countries in Europe etc so not quite like others. Emigration should be a choice not a necessity to have a decent life.

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    Mute Joey
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    Jul 19th 2021, 9:32 AM

    @Franny Ando: Franny, the woman’s original post relates to experiencing new cultures and growing as an individual. Why did u hijack the post and make it political?

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:20 AM

    @Joey: All for people broading their horizons. Travel is wonderful experience. No need for the disparaging comment about living close to “Mammies”. Not everyone wants to live abroad a lot want to rear their families in their native country. Definitely no one should have to go abroad to have a better life. If you can’t see that many are being forced to leave this country to do that then you are part of the problem.

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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Jul 19th 2021, 11:09 AM

    @Franny Ando: everyone has to do what they have to do to get by. If that means moving abroad to find work, access better education or afford a house so be it. No one is forcing you it is always a choice. It’s a choice that people all over the world make. My original post was referring to the comment trying to trigger fear that everyone’s kids are being forced to leave and it’s all doom and gloom. I’m merely pointing out that emigration is a good thing for personal growth. Its something we should be encouraging our kids to do. Not making them feel they are being forced out because that breeds bitterness which is unhelpful in
    any society.

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    Mute emer mcdonnell
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:05 PM

    @SmallbutMighty: just out of curiosity why do you think its sad if some children are quite happy living their whole lives close to their parents?

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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Jul 19th 2021, 5:38 PM

    @emer mcdonnell: because its a big old world out there and over the years I find the people who have travelled or worked abroad are generally more open minded and emotionally intelligent. Nothing wrong with settling at home but before you settle go spend sometime somewhere else. Again I’m referring to the original posters attempt to trigger fear in parents that their kids are being forced out. I’m simply highlighting that emigration does not have to be seen as a negative.

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    Mute David Stapleton
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    Jul 19th 2021, 2:12 AM

    For those thinking of travelling to France, you will soon have to have a QR code or proof of having had covid-19 or a negative PCR test – within the last 3 days, to get into restaurants, cinemas and even supermarkets.

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Jul 19th 2021, 2:00 PM

    @David Stapleton: Thanks David. Does our EU Covid cert suffice for indoor dining in France?

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    Mute David Stapleton
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    Jul 19th 2021, 2:16 PM

    @lelookcoco: I would think so but that is just my guess. I would check with the relevant government office in Ireland.

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    Mute David Stapleton
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    Jul 19th 2021, 5:52 PM

    @lelookcoco: I have checked here in France as the QR code is now EU wide, I had to go into the App I was using and update the QR code I had already put there. It took all of 5 seconds. I am using the Anticovid app I downloaded from Playstore on my Samsung. From what I can see, the QR code just updates with a country of origin and an option to click on a box if you are crossing borders. It should/might be the same for Ireland. Good luck.

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    Mute whitewater
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    Jul 19th 2021, 9:41 AM

    Left Ireland “illegally” a month ago with about 300 cases. Coming back legally today with over 1000. You couldn’t make this shiz up…

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    Mute Vlad Eire
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:18 AM

    Can’t believe you said “ducks in a row”

    26
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    Mute Jeff Nolan
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:02 AM

    What’s the story with children between 6 and 12 ?

    18
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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Jul 19th 2021, 12:26 AM

    I’ve the digital Covid cert downloaded to the HSE Covid health check app but there isn’t an option to add it to the wallet? iPhone 11

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    Mute motojack
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    Jul 19th 2021, 7:12 AM

    @Brian Hunt: your fecked so stay in ireland is your only option

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    Mute Paul Diskin
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    Jul 19th 2021, 7:33 AM

    @Brian Hunt: https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/#scan

    #yourwelcome

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    Mute Paul Diskin
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    Jul 19th 2021, 7:33 AM

    @Brian Hunt: https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/#scan
    Your welcome

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Jul 19th 2021, 8:05 AM

    @Paul Diskin: that’s exactly what i wanted. Thank you

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jul 19th 2021, 6:52 PM

    @Paul Diskin: Thanks for the link. (I backtracked to the link minus the /#scan to find the Import Picture option & used the preview to take a screenshot.) https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/

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    Mute Micheál Ó Conchúir
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    Jul 19th 2021, 10:12 AM

    As expected, the green travel cert helpline is non-functional ;(

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    Mute Stan Papusa
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    Jul 19th 2021, 1:36 PM

    It’s all good news…
    The more are leaving for Spain, Portugal and Italy, the less crowded beaches here will be. Never made sense to me even before covid, but I won’t argue with people…

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    Mute Disillusioned
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    Jul 19th 2021, 5:19 PM

    A little confused if anyone can help, if you have the covid passport do you still need to get a negative test before flight to Spain?

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