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COVIDCert Check NI – App User Guide
Issued by Digital Health and Care Northern Ireland.
The HSC COVIDCert Check NI app
The official HSC COVIDCert Check app is a secure way to verify an individual’s COVID status and check that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from COVID-19. It can also verify domestic COVID certificates with evidence of exemption or participation in a clinical trial.
The app can be used to scan a 2D barcode within the COVIDCert NI app.
It does not store or transmit any personal data during this process.
This user guide can help venue stewards to know how to use the ‘Cert Check NI’ app to see if an Northern Ireland citizen is eligible to enter a venue by scanning their COVIDCert 2D barcode.
The ‘Cert Check NI’ app can be used to scan the 2D barcode displayed on your customer’s phone, in a PDF or in a printed certificate.
The protection of user privacy is central to the Cert Check NI. Its purpose is to display COVID Cert status information in a clear and readable manner upon each scan.
The ‘Cert Check NI’ app does not retain personal data. It only gathers metric-related information about the application itself, in order that the performance of the app can be monitored. The collected metric data cannot be referenced back to any individual COVIDCert user.
Read the Cert Check NI Terms and Conditions
Read ICO guidance on data protection
Read the Data Protection Impact Assessment
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Install App
Staff will need to download and install the Cert Check NI app on a mobile device. The app is available from either the Apple App Store (for iOS Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
The internet is required to be able to scan an NI domestic certificate. The COVIDCert NI App will show an error message pop up if offline when scanning a domestic certificate.
iOS URL: App store link
Android URL: App store link
Step 2: Accept T&Cs
Open the ‘Cert Check NI’ app by clicking on the ‘Cert Check NI’ app logo.
When used for the first time, the consent agreement screen will display. The first time the user applies the Verifier app, the user is asked to agree on a consent form, by clicking “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions”. The app will not function if user agreement is not obtained.
When opening the camera on your mobile device for the first time, please allow the app to have permission to use the camera. The screenshot below is from an Android phone. A similar screen and permission request will display on an iOS (Apple) phone.
Step 3: Scan 2D Barcode
Your customer will show their COVIDCert. This will be on a smartphone, tablet, or printed off as a paper PDF, or paper certificate.
Direct your mobile’s camera at the 2D barcode displayed on the guest’s printed PDF, or at the 2D barcode displayed on their smartphone. Once the scanner has been pointed at a 2D barcode, it automatically starts scanning the code.
There are two types of certificate, travel vaccination certificate (EU Digital Green Certificate) and a data minimised domestic certificate. Both types of certificate can be used for domestic use.
Note: The ‘Cert Check NI’ app can scan the COVIDCert via a mobile or tablet.
It can scan a certificate displayed on a screen, whether app or pdf, or where someone has printed off a PDF version, or is presenting a non-digital printed certificate.
Step 4: Read Results
If the ‘Cert Check NI’ app displays a screen with a tick, this shows that the domestic COVIDCert is valid.
If this screen is displaying “Valid For (NAME)” and “Check Photo ID”, you will need to check the name on the screen and the person’s photo ID to validate the person’s identity. This screen is shown if a travel certificate (EU Digital Green Certificate) is scanned.
If this screen is displaying “Valid if scanned from paper certificate”, you must check that the barcode is scanned from a paper certificate and check the person’s photo ID. This screen is shown when scanned from a data minimised domestic certificate.
If this screen is displaying “Invalid” with a cross, this may be because the scanned domestic cert barcode is an incorrect code or the barcode has expired.
If the app has scanned a full vaccination certificate (EU Digital Green Certificate), the app will give a reason for the invalid status.
Can a member of the public download this app?
As Cert Check NI will be available in the Google or Apple app store, it can or might be downloaded by a member of the public. However, in line with the data protection elements detailed above, downloading the app does not present a security risk.
How does your customer or employee show their COVIDCert on their mobile device?
The COVIDCert can be accessed via the HSC COVIDCert NI app.
How much data allowance does a check use?
Domestic Check is ~420 bytes
Verify response is around ~370 bytes
Average phone contract is 2 to 5 GB per month
1.27 million checks = 1GB
Data impact is marginal.
Visitors from other parts of the UK
Visitors from Scotland, England, Guernsey and Jersey can show their international digital NHS COVID Pass at venues and settings in Northern Ireland. Users from Northern Ireland can use their domestic HSC COVID certificate as usual.
The Cert Check can be used to scan the 2D barcode displayed on your customer’s phone or printed as a PDF.
Visitors from the European Union
The European Union Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) is accepted as valid proof of vaccination for entry into domestic venues and settings in Northern Ireland.
This means your customer may show their EU Digital COVID Certificate when attending your venue or event.
An EU Digital COVID Certificate is a digital proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Your customer may show their EU Digital COVID Certificate in a digital format on their phone or printed as a PDF, or in paper format in the form of a letter.
Each country using the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) has its own healthcare app which contains their certificate. More information can be found at EU Digital COVID Certificate.
This means the HSC COVIDCert Check app can be used to scan the 2D barcode of an EU Digital COVID Certificate shown on a phone or printed as a PDF. A successful scan will only display if your customer has been fully vaccinated and it is at least 14 days since their final dose of a vaccine.
Paper versions of the EU Digital COVID Certificate should contain a 2D barcode which can be scanned using the HSC COVIDCert Check app.
List of EU countries in the EU Gateway
Visitors from USA
The United States COVID-19 vaccination record card (CDC card) is accepted as valid proof of vaccination for entry into domestic venues and settings in Northern Ireland.
United States COVID-19 vaccination record card (CDC card)
The United States COVID-19 vaccination record card (CDC card) details COVID-19 vaccinations including the vaccine manufacturer, the dose numbers and the date and location each was administered.
THE US CDC card is in paper format and cannot be scanned using the HSC Check app. Your staff will therefore need to conduct a visual check.
The US CDC card should be accepted in its original form only. A photocopy or image on a phone should not be accepted.
When examining a customer’s US CDC card, your staff should check:
- the ’Date of Vaccination’ of the final dose (marked ‘2 of 2’ or ‘1 of 1’) must be at least 14 days prior to arrival
details on the US CDC card match some form of photographic identification
International travellers from other countries (non EU and United States)
If your venue asks customers to demonstrate their COVID-19 status, then you can accept the evidence that your customer presented at the border when entering the UK.
View a list of non-EU countries whose evidence can be scanned by the HSC COVIDCert Check app.