Ireland Eases Requirements for Some Families and Fully Vaccinated Travelers

On Friday, April 23, Ireland updated its public health measures related to international travel to Ireland, easing restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers and families with newborns. The government continues to advise against all non-essential international travel.

All travelers arriving in Ireland must: 

  • Complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form
  • Provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival
    • Testing exemptions apply to certain transportation crews, patients traveling for urgent medical reasons, children younger than 6 years old, and others traveling for legal, military, government, or humanitarian causes.
  • Complete a quarantine for up to 14 days. Exemptions apply; more information summarized below.

Quarantine Requirement Updates

  • Travelers coming from the Designated States must pre-book and pre-pay for their mandatory hotel quarantine at a government-designated facility. Travelers must complete a minimum period of 10 days of mandatory quarantine in a hotel. However, if they receive a negative or ‘not detected’ result from an RT-PCR test taken on day 10, the remaining four days of quarantine may be completed at home.
  • Travelers from any country not deemed a designated state must quarantine at home and may exit quarantine with a negative or ‘not detected’ RT-PCR test taken 5 days following their arrival at the earliest.
  • Travelers arriving without a negative or ‘not detected’ RT-PCR test must quarantine in a hotel. They may exit hotel quarantine with a negative or ‘not detected’ result from an RT-PCR test and complete quarantine at home as per the pathway for those traveling from any country not deemed a designated state.

Exemptions for Fully Vaccinated Travelers

Fully vaccinated travelers, and any dependents traveling with them, including children, do not have to complete mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival. These travelers will have to present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and complete self-quarantine at home.

According to the government, “fully vaccinated means”

Type of vaccine You are regarded as fully vaccinated after
Pfizer-BioNtech 7 days after 2nd dose
Moderna 14 days after 2nd dose
Oxford-AstraZeneca 15 days after 2nd dose
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen 14 days after single dose

Exemptions for Parents Traveling with Newborn Children

All families traveling with children no more than 28 days old, including those who have traveled to a designated state for the purpose of surrogacy, do not have to complete mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival in Ireland.

These travelers will have to have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and complete self-quarantine at home.

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to send updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.