Travel expert Eoghan Corry says travel within Europe is becoming easier "every day" as more and more countries ease COVID testing requirements.
The Digital COVID Cert introduced last summer was intended to allow vaccinated Europeans to travel within the EU without the need for testing or quarantine.
However, things changed suddenly last year when many countries - including Ireland - reintroduced testing requirements for all arrivals in response to the Omicron variant.
Eoghan - editor of Travel Extra - told The Pat Kenny Show "there’s a breakthrough" every day in terms of getting back to normal.
He said: “Yesterday, Greece dropped their restriction which was testing before you travel. Italy dropped it last week, and Portugal dropped it on Tuesday.
“Within Europe, we’re back to the situation we were in before December - the Digital COVID Cert will get you travelling within Europe.
“It’s returning to normal - slowly and carefully”.
The one caveat is that since February 1st Digital COVID Certs expires after nine months.
That means many people will likely need a booster vaccine to get an updated cert if they intend to travel over the coming months, or alternatively get a COVID test before their trip.
The hundreds of thousands of people who've had COVID over the last few months can also apply for a recovery cert.
A majority of people who've received their third dose in recent weeks or months have likely already been sent their cert via email, while those who haven't received one can request it online.
Passenger locator forms
Eoghan said one thing that's likely here to stay for the foreseeable future is the passenger locator form.
He explained: “They're not going away any time soon.
“The onus is on the airline not to let anyone on board who hasn’t got the locator form filled out.
“Coming back to Ireland - and people forget this - you require a form. We’ve had denied boarding quite recently in Malaga, where people weren’t left on the aircraft because the Irish locator form wasn’t filled out.
“Don’t leave it until the last minute. They ask questions like what date was your vaccination… you might need to scurry to find that. The one for Canada asks for not just your second vaccination date, but your first dose as well.
“In Spain, there are 8,000 municipalities - they actually want to know which one you’re going to, and many people don’t [know].”
Once you fill out the form, it will generate a QR code that can be presented at the gate.
Another thing for families to watch out for when travelling is the different testing requirements for children who haven't been vaccinated.
Eoghan said: “Keep an eye on the different age regulations. Most European countries don’t require a test for children aged under 12. But in Greece and Italy, it’s under six.
“And under 12 actually means 11 - once you hit your 12th birthday, you are required to get a test or vaccination.”
