Ireland will collectively celebrate a return to normal life as bars and nightclubs operate as usual from today.
Most of the rules have been scrapped in the fight against Covid-19 as NPHET and the government considered this weekend a prime time to relax the rules.
There are only three restrictions necessary in stopping the spread of the virus in the community, and they are:
- Digital Covid certification requirements for international travel
- The need for masks in retail and on public transportation
- Self-isolation requirement if you show symptoms of Covid-19
In line with the new rules which will come into effect from Saturday 22 January, here are the current guidelines for travelers entering and leaving Ireland from now on.
Enter Ireland
If you are traveling to Ireland from abroad, you must still fill out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to departure.
Passengers bound for Ireland do not have to show an additional Covid-19 test result before departure if they have:
- Acceptable evidence of vaccination or
- Evidence of recovery from Covid-19 in the previous six months
However, effective February 1, 2022, vaccination certificates for your initial travel vaccination will not be accepted if more than 270 days have passed since your final dose.
(Photo: Collins Pictures)
If you have a vaccination certificate certifying that you have a booster dose or additional vaccine, you will not be subject to any time limit.
Passengers with no evidence of vaccination, or evidence of recovery from Covid-19 in the past six months, must show evidence of a negative PCR result obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland.
Only PCR test results are accepted for travelers arriving in Ireland in this state.
According to the DFA, “In cases where a person is unable to provide evidence of a negative (‘undetected’) PCR test prior to travel due to the test continuing to be positive after infection – a positive PCR result from a test taken 11 or more days will be accepted. before the person’s arrival date in the state and no more than 180 days before the person’s arrival date.”
Leaving Ireland
Despite the easing of restrictions in Ireland, the European Digital Travel Certificate will remain mandatory for international travel for the time being.
(Photo: Collins Agency, Dublin)
Anyone considering traveling abroad should be aware that restrictions are subject to change at very short notice, and additional restrictions may apply in your destination country, including during your visit.
Entry restrictions vary from state to state, and many still require a negative pre-arrival PCR or antigen test and passenger locator form.
Therefore, if you are considering traveling abroad, you should keep an eye on the official advice and information provided by the authorities at your destination.
Information about entry restrictions applied by other countries is available on all local government websites as well as on the Irish Foreign Office website.