Note: Last update of this article occurred on December 15th.
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.
1. Quarantine
Currently, all passengers entering Ireland from orange, red or grey regions are requested to restrict their movements for 14 days. Exceptions to quarantine are:
- International Transport Workers, including workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors
- Travellers with an essential function or need as set out in paragraph 19 of the EU Council Recommendation, including: imperative business of family reason, only while carrying out that essential function, and returning passengers who have carried out an essential function in another region, but who have otherwise restricted their movement while in that region
- Children aged 6 or under
- 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 departure to Ireland. Passengers are requested to have supporting evidence of the negative test in their possession
The quarantine is defined as follows:
- Do not go to work.
- 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 meet face-to-face with older people, anyone with a long-term medical condition or pregnant women
2. Covid Testing
From midnight November 29th, the 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.
Arriving from Denmark
Until further notice, passengers arriving into Ireland from Denmark are requested to self-isolate for 14 days after their arrival, including those travelling for an essential purpose as defined by Council Recommendation 2020/1475. This notice does not apply to international transport workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors.
3. Traffic light list of countries
Maps regarding the EU traffic light system are published by ECDC every Thursday in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was adopted by EU Member States on 13 October 2020. The maps are based on data reported by EU Member States to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) database by 23:59 every Tuesday.
The updated list can be found here.
4. Passenger locator form
All travelers must fill in a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form. This applies to people arriving from a country that is included on green list as well as those coming from a country not on the list. The information on the form may be used to contact you to check your location, or to contact you if there is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 on your flight or ferry. You can fill the form in before you travel. If any of the information you provide on the form changes in the next 14 days, you must email passengerlocatorform@plf.ie with updated information.
You may be fined up to €2,500 or imprisoned for up to 6 months, or both if you do not:
- Fill in and submit the form to a relevant person
- Knowingly provide information that is false or misleading
- Provide further information when requested
- Update your residence details if these change within 14 days of your arrival.
You do not have to fill in this form if you are:
- Arriving from Northern Ireland
- Working in defined essential supply chain roles
- A foreign diplomat
- A transit passenger who will not be leaving the port or airport
You will only need to fill in part of the form, if you are not staying overnight in the State.
5. After quarantine
Once you have completed the 14-day restricted movement period 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 practice social distancing for their safety
- Work from home if possible. If you cannot work from home – keep 2 metres apart from other people
6. Travel within Ireland
You can travel anywhere in Ireland. If you live in Dublin, Government advice recommends that you limit your travel to other parts of the country.
To encourage people to holiday at home, the Government has introduced a new ‘Stay and Spend Tax Credit’. The scheme allows you to claim a certain amount of tax back on accommodation, food and non-alcoholic drink purchased between 1 October 2020 and 30 April 2021.
If you have booked accommodation in Ireland and are looking for information on your consumer rights, you can read our document Travel plans and COVID-19.
You can also read about Driving and transport during COVID-19.
