Turkish Cypriots who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and want to travel abroad will be able to obtain an EU Digital Covid Certificate from noon on Wednesday, the government said on Tuesday.

Those interested must fill in an online application form at www.moh.gov.cy\edvc and submit the required documents – which include a Cypriot ID card, a vaccination card and their flight ticket, as well as a signed declaration.

According to an announcement made by the deputy ministry of research, innovation and digital policy, the information will then be forwarded to the email address [email protected] with no need for further actions from applicants.

Applications will be processed within 48 hours and successful applicants will be notified electronically so they can obtain their EU Digital Covid Certificate at https://www.eudcc.gov.cy/.

The service will be available from noon on Wednesday August 18.

Travel has been tricky for Turkish Cypriots since the vaccination certificates issued by the north are not widely accepted, with many students studying in the UK having to quarantine upon arrival.

The arrangement came after Turkish Cypriot authorities refused to provide the state with the personal information of the Turkish Cypriots who plan to travel, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said on Monday.

Pelekanos also said that the certificate will be available to Turkish Cypriots who have been vaccinated with EU-approved vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen).

The EU Digital Covid Certificate Regulation, which entered into application on July 1,2021, facilitates free movement inside the EU during the pandemic. It is digital proof that a person has been vaccinated against the coronavirus or have tested negative to Covid-19 or have recovered from the virus, the European Commission website reads.