Apply for a COVID Recovery certificate
If you have received a positive COVID-19 PCR test in Northern Ireland, you may be eligible to apply for a Recovery certificate. Find out when you can apply for a Recovery certificate for international travel.
COVID Recovery certificates
You can only receive a Recovery certificate if you are a resident in Northern Ireland.
You cannot use an LFD test result to get a Recovery certificate for international travel.
You must take a PCR test from one of the private suppliers who provide results to the national testing database. A list of these suppliers is available at:
For international travel, the Recovery certificate is available 10 days after your positive test.
It is the responsibility of the test provider and not the Department of Health to report your results to NHS Digital.
If you're eligible, you can apply for a COVID Recovery certificate, in the form of a QR code, through the COVIDCert NI app.
Parents and guardians can apply through their nidirect account, for Recovery certificates for young people up to the age of 17.
You will need to upload a photo of the young person’s passport as part of the validation process.
11 to 15 year olds can display the certificate on their own phones by downloading the COVIDCertNI app and scanning the certificate sent to their parent or guardian.
The certificate is valid for up to 180 days from the date you took the PCR test.
How to apply
There are two possible ways to get a Recovery certificate.
If you already have an nidirect account
If you already have an nidirect account, log in to your account using the link below and click the green button ‘Apply for a COVID certificate’.
You will be guided through the Recovery application and once your certificate has been generated it will be visible on the COVIDCert NI app.
If your application is not processed automatically, the NI COVID certification service will email you directly when your application has been successfully processed, telling you when you can download your certificate online or view it on the app.
If you haven’t got an nidirect account
If you don’t have an nidirect account, you will have to create one.
You should fully read the guidance at this link before you start your application to make sure that everything is correctly completed:
If you have any issues creating your nidirect account, you can contact the support teams at the following link:
Access your certificate
Once you have applied and your ID has been verified, you can apply for your certificate, as above.
If your application is not processed automatically, the NI COVID certification service will email you directly when your application has been successfully processed, telling you when you can download your certificate online or view it on the app.
If you have received an email confirming your COVID-19 vaccination document is ready you can view your certificate in the app or you can log in and access your certificate at this link:
COVIDCert NI app
The COVIDCert NI app is available for those who received their vaccination in Northern Ireland to download from the following app stores:
Find out how the app works at:
If you have questions about the app, contact the support teams at:
How to update the COVIDCert NI app
Follow these steps to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the app.
iPhone:
- go to your iPhone's home screen and tap on the App Store icon
- after the App Store opens, tap the profile icon in the top right corner of the screen
- scroll to the CovidCert NI app and select ‘update’
- enter your password and wait for your app to update
- go into the CovidCert NI app and click the ‘+ Activate Domestic Certificate’ button
Android:
- open the Google Play Store app
- at the top right, tap the profile icon
- tap Manage apps and device - scroll to the CovidCert NI app and select ‘update’
- go into the CovidCert NI app and tap the ‘+ Activate Domestic Certificate’ button
If you are still unable to see the certificate in your app, contact the support teams at: