All travellers using the pass will be required to have had a second vaccination within nine months, proof of recovery within the past six months or a booster vaccination to travel within the EU.

The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) said it did not expect the new rules to have a major impact on international travel. 

“Those planning to travel are advised to obtain updated EU certifications or recovery certifications and to continue to research all government guidelines before travelling,” it advised.

EU digital Covid certification issued since July 2021 has a nine-month expiry from the date of the second vaccination or the date of the single Janssen dose.  

Pat Dawson, ITAA chief executive, said: “It has been well flagged by the European Union that the original EU Digital Covid certs have a nine month validity. With the level of booster vaccinations in this country, everyone who has had a booster can get their updated EU digital cert.

"Anybody who has had Covid-19 and is not eligible for the booster can go to gov.ie to obtain a recovery certification, so this should not cause any issues whatsoever.”
 
Paul Hackett ITAA president, added: “This EU-wide decision and the EU commission has been very good with handling the digital Covid-19 certifications and ensuring consistency across all member states. 

“This means that when travelling anywhere in the EU, the rules are pretty much the same.”