Travelling to Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on 23 July 2020
Last updated on 16 December 2020
Before you arrive
Passengers arriving to Ireland from overseas are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. This is an online form. Paper versions of the form are also available at points of entry into Ireland, if required.
Failure to complete the form could result in the issuing of penalties, including a fine of up to €2,500 or imprisonment for up to 6 months.
An exemption from completing the form is in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.
Travel within the island of Ireland is subject to prevailing domestic public health restrictions as outlined on gov.ie. Incoming passengers should ensure that they are aware of, and comply with, all relevant public health restrictions that apply to the population in general.
Passengers travelling to Northern Ireland must ensure that they are familiar with the guidance and regulations in place, including the completion of a UK Passenger Locator Form.
Advice on restricting movement
Ireland is implementing the new EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel, which applies to countries in the EU / EEA (+ UK).
Nearly all of Europe has a high incidence of COVID-19 and is in a high risk category (orange/red). If you are coming from orange, red or grey regions, or from outside the EU/EEA, you should restrict your movements for 14 days.
This applies to all people entering the State, even if you have no symptoms. If you are unsure which risk area you are travelling from, please check the ECDC website.
Restricting your movements means staying home or in your accommodation, and avoiding contact with other people, including those in your household that are at particular risk should they contract COVID-19. You should wear a face covering, including while indoors, to protect them.
You can go outside to exercise by yourself as long as you keep 2 metres away from other people. You should not meet or socialise with people outside your immediate household.
The request to restrict your movement means:
- do not go to work, unless you work on your own and can completely avoid other people
- do not go to school or college
- do not use public transport
- do not have visitors at your home
- do not visit others, even if you usually care for them
- do not go to the shops or pharmacy unless it's absolutely necessary - where possible, order your groceries online or have some family or friends drop them off
- do not go to gatherings such as weddings or funerals - information is available on bereavement and grief during COVID-19
- do not meet face-to-face with older people, anyone with a long-term medical condition or pregnant women
You can find out more about restricting your movements here.
Categories of passengers not requested to restrict their movements on arrival
In line with the EU traffic lights approach, the request to restrict movements does not apply to travellers from green regions, or those arriving from Northern Ireland.
Currently, all passengers entering Ireland from orange, red, and grey regions are requested to restrict their movements for 14 days.
This general request to restrict movement for 14 days does not apply to certain defined categories, as indicated below:
(a) International Transport Workers, including workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors
(b) Those travelling with an essential function or need as set out in paragraph 19 of the EU Council Recommendation, including:
I. Passengers travelling for the purposes of an imperative business reason, only while carrying out that essential function
II. Passengers arriving for imperative family reasons, only while pursuing that imperative reason
III. Returning passengers, who have carried out an essential function in another region, but who have otherwise restricted their movement while in that region
(c) Passengers arriving from an “orange” region, who have received a negative/’not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken during the three days before arrival in Ireland. Passengers are requested to have supporting evidence of the negative test in their possession
It is the responsibility of individuals to determine whether their circumstances fall within one of the categories outlined in the EU Council Recommendation.
You can indicate on your Passenger Locator Form if you are travelling with an essential purpose as defined by Council Recommendation 2020/1475. You may be asked for evidence in support of this.
The information provided on this form will be used to provide you with public health information and COVID-19 advice and may be used for the purpose of contact tracing.
Imperative business reasons could include clients of State agencies or those whose attendance in person is critical to the functioning of a business. It is requested that those who consider their circumstances to be within this category carry supporting documentation from the state agency concerned or from a company CEO or Chairman or Director.
Imperative family reasons could include providing essential care to children, elderly or vulnerable people (in particular to those who live alone but excluding social family visits), exercising a right of access to a child, attending a court hearing, or attending a wedding or funeral. Those who consider their circumstances to be within this category should carry supporting documentation from relevant sources such as undertakers, clerics, social workers or solicitors.
Those who intend travelling should be aware that individual workplaces, schools, childcare facilities and colleges in Ireland can apply their own health and safety measures. Intending travellers, as well as parents/guardians, should familiarise themselves with these requirements before booking any travel.
Post arrival testing of passengers
Passengers arriving from an “orange” or “red” or “grey” region should restrict their movements for 14 days (other than the categories outlined above).
This period of restricted movement can end if you receive a negative/’not detected’ result of a PCR test that has been taken a minimum of five days after your arrival in Ireland. You should wait for your negative test result to be returned before ending the period of restricted movements.
COVID-19 tests for international travel
There are a number of COVID-19 testing technologies currently available or emerging on the commercial market. However, a negative result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is currently the only test type considered acceptable by Ireland’s public health authorities in relation to international travel. This will be kept under review.
Testing provision under Ireland’s framework for international travel is provided by commercial suppliers, and passengers will pay for this directly. Testing for international travel is not provided through the public health system.
As the availability of testing cannot be guaranteed, intending passengers wishing to avail of a post arrival test should seek an appointment for a test in advance of travel.
Under Ireland's infectious disease legislation details of a positive post-arrival COVID-19 test result must be provided by the test provider to the HSE public health department for follow up.
Travelling from non-EU/EEA countries
For travel from non-EU/EEA countries, the general request to restrict your movements for 14 days does not apply to certain defined categories, as indicated below:
(a) International Transport Workers, including workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors
(b) Those travelling with an essential function or need as set out in paragraph 19 of the EU Council Recommendation, including:
I. Passengers travelling for the purposes of an imperative business reason, only while carrying out that essential function
II. Passengers arriving for imperative family reasons, only while pursuing that imperative reason
III. Returning passengers, who have carried out an essential function in another region, but who have otherwise restricted their movement while in that region.
Imperative business reasons could include clients of State agencies or those whose attendance in person is critical to the functioning of a business. It is requested that those who consider their circumstances to be within this category carry supporting documentation from the State agency concerned or from a company CEO or Chairman or Director.
Imperative family reasons could include providing essential care to children, elderly or vulnerable people (in particular to those who live alone but excluding social family visits), exercising a right of access to a child, attending a court hearing, or attending a wedding or funeral. It is requested that those who consider their circumstances to be within this category carry supporting documentation from sources such as undertakers, clerics, social workers or solicitors.
Intending travellers should be aware that individual workplaces, schools, childcare facilities and colleges in Ireland can apply their own health and safety measures. Intending travellers, as well as parents/guardians, should familiarise themselves with these requirements before booking travel.
The approach to post-arrival testing for red/grey regions in the ECDC categorisation also applies to arrivals from all non-EU/EEA countries.
Travelling from the airport or port to your destination
When travelling to your destination:
- you can travel to the location where you plan to restrict your movements
- ask a relative or household member to collect you when you arrive in Ireland
- avoid using public transport if possible; if you have to use public transport, you must wear a face covering
Household members who were not travelling with you do not need to restrict their movements.
General public health advice
While in Ireland you will be required to follow public health advice listed below.
You should:
- wash your hands regularly and thoroughly - especially after you have been out and about or in and out of other people's homes or businesses
- observe good cough and sneeze etiquette
- maintain social distancing - keep 2 metres apart from other people
- wear a face covering if you are using public transport. This is the law
- only use public transport for essential journeys - walk or cycle instead where possible
- wear a face covering when visiting people aged 70 or over, or other vulnerable people - be sure to practise social distancing for their safety
- work from home if possible. If you cannot work from home - keep 2 metres apart from other people
All travellers should be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19.
The common symptoms are:
- a fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
- a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
If you have symptoms, self-isolate and contact your GP or HSE Live on 1850 24 1850 immediately.