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 domestic use and 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:

Finding and choosing a private coronavirus (COVID-19) test provider

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:

Identity assurance

If you have any issues creating your nidirect account, you can contact the support teams at the following link:

COVIDCert information and support

Apply for a COVID recovery certificate

Access your certificate

Once you have applied and your ID has been verified, you can apply for your certificate, as above.

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:

COVIDCert NI mobile app

If you have questions about the app, contact the support teams at:

COVIDCert information and support

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:

COVIDCert information and support

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)