It will be available in all EU member states, but it has yet to be confirmed if the UK’s NHS app will be treated as an equivalent.

The certificate, which is also offered in paper form, will show whether a person has been vaccinated, received a negative test result or recovered from the virus.

The European Commission said: “When travelling, the EU digital Covid Certificate holder should in principle be exempted from free movement restrictions.”

The Commission has built a digital gateway through which all EU countries’ certificate “signatures” can be accessed and verified.

It said: “The certificate is an opportunity for member states to adjust the existing restrictions on public health grounds.” It said restrictions would “be amended by mid-June with a view to the holiday season”.

Ireland is technically ready to connect to the scheme but has not yet been ‘hardwired’ into the system. The Commission is allowing countries until 12 August to offer proof of vaccination, test or immunity via other formats.

Under the new system, fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from travel-related testing or quarantine 14 days after having received the last dose.

Those with a valid test certificate are exempt from quarantine requirements. There is also a standard validity period for tests; 72 hours for PCR tests and 48 hours for rapid antigen tests.

EU countries will be colour coded. Travellers from green areas will face no restrictions. Those from orange areas could require a pre-departure test. 

Travellers from red areas could be required to undergo quarantine unless they have a pre-departure test. Travel from dark red areas will be “strongly discouraged”.