covid travel pass ireland

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Travelling to Ireland

Getting there, travel restrictions, identity and visa requirements for entering ireland, what you can bring with you, getting around and public transport, healthcare in ireland, practical tips, more information.

Getting to Ireland is easier than ever with direct flights to major and regional airports and ferries arriving at several ports of entry.

Always make sure your passport is in date well in advance of travelling.

Since 6 March 2022, there are no COVID-19 restrictions for travel to Ireland.

You should follow public health advice if you develop symptoms of COVID-19.

You can find out about what documents you will need to travel Ireland .

You may need to apply for a visa if you are travelling to Ireland and you are not a citizen of the UK, Switzerland, or a country in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein).

You can check to see if you need a visa .

You must keep to the specific allowances if you want to bring alcohol, tobacco, or other goods into Ireland. If you are from a non-EU country, you must complete a cash declaration if you intend to bring over €10,000 in cash into the country. More information is available on customs regulations for travellers to Ireland .

It is easy to get around, whether you use public transport or rent a car in Ireland.

Public transport includes buses, rail, the Luas tram system, taxis, hackneys, and limousines.

You can also find out how to get to and from Dublin Airport .

Renting a car in Ireland can be a useful way to travel. You must have a valid driving licence to drive in Ireland. If you have a valid full foreign driving licence, you can use this for up to 12 months while visiting Ireland.

Read more information about getting around in Ireland .

It is always advisable to take out travel insurance before travelling.

If you are visiting Ireland, you may be entitled to health services that are free or subsidised, depending on your circumstances. Read more about health services for visitors to Ireland .

If you are visiting Ireland from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you can use a valid European Health Insurance Card from your home country to access healthcare.

Ireland uses the Euro. Credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted, but carrying some smaller amounts of cash is advisable.

Irish and English are the official languages. You can most often hear Irish in rural Gaeltacht areas .

Things to do in Ireland

You can get more information about things to do in Ireland from discoverireland.ie . You can find out about the walking trails in our page on walking and rambling .

Driving in Ireland

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has helpful advice for tourists driving on the roads in Ireland .

Travelling with pets

You can get information about bringing your pet to Ireland .

Contact details for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

The Irish government website DFA.ie has information about visas, passports and contact details for embassies.

Emergency services

The emergency services telephone number is 999 or 112.

Reporting a crime

Information is available about reporting a crime . There is also help available from the Irish Tourist Assistance service if you are a victim of a crime.

Irish weather

You can check the Irish weather forecast on MET éireann , the Irish meteorological service.

Related documents

• Travelling from Ireland for healthcare in Europe Introduction to the options for Irish residents who wish to access healthcare in other countries in Europe. 1372.51
• Customs regulations for travellers to Ireland Find out about the important rules in place regarding customs regulations for people travelling to Ireland. 1252.8903
• Visas for tourists visiting Ireland Information about coming to Ireland for a short stay (less than 90 days). 1030.1184

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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Ireland’s vaccine passports for international travel - the latest guidance

Planning on traveling to or from the republic of ireland or northern ireland here's how the vaccine passport programmes are expected to function..

Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are expected to introduce vaccination certificates, sometimes known as 'vaccine passports,' this month. 

The Republic of Ireland will be operating as part of the European Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) programme , while Northern Ireland will have its own proof of vaccination programme .

The travel restrictions for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are fluid and can change. You are advised to check what requirements are in place before you travel. 

• Can I travel from the US to Ireland this summer? Here's the latest advice

Republic of Ireland’s vaccine passports for international travel

The Republic of Ireland will take part in the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) scheme , which is digital proof that a person has either:

• been vaccinated against COVID-19
• received a negative test result or 
• recovered from COVID-19

However, each country continues to be responsible for the definition of its own entry requirements and rules , which are not standardized at the EU level. What is required to enter upon presentation of this certificate depends on the measures and entry rules in place at your destination. As such, the Republic of Ireland may have its own approach to the DCC.

The following information is provided by Ireland's Citizens Information on July 6:

The DCC is only available for people living in the EU.

The Republic of Ireland plans to operate the EU digital COVID Certificate for travel originating within the EU and EEA from July 19. These plans are subject to public health advice on that date.

The DCC, which will include in part relevant information about your vaccine or test or recovery and a unique identifier number, will be free and available in both digital and paper formats. The certificate has a QR code to avoid fraud.

Being vaccinated will not be a pre-condition to travel.

The Irish government has yet to publish official guidelines on how to obtain a DCC, saying on June 28 : "Teams across the public service are working together to deliver the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland and you will be clearly notified of the steps needed to access the EU Digital COVID Certificate soon."

On July 6, however, Ireland’s Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan told reporters: “Next week they’ll start to be issued by email and by post and for everyone that needs it for international travel before July 19.”

The Irish government currently advises against all non-essential international travel before July 19, 2021. If your travel is essential, you should check the entry restrictions applied by other countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has  country-specific travel advice pages .

• Ireland can resume non-essential international travel in July

From July 19, the Republic of Ireland is expected to align itself with the EU's travel restrictions and 'emergency brake' system. There are several scenarios for people arriving in the Republic of Ireland that could come into effect from July 19:

1. Arriving in the Republic of Ireland from the EU or EEA from July 19 and subject to public health advice:

If you have a DCC and are arriving into the Republic of Ireland from within the EU or EEA, no RT- PCR test on arrival is needed and no quarantine is needed. (*If your DCC is based on a non-RT-PCR test [antigen] you will need to get an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before your arrival.)

If you do not have a DCC and you are arriving into the Republic of Ireland from within the EU or EEA, an RT-PCR test is needed on arrival but there is no quarantine requirement.

2. Arriving in the Republic of Ireland from outside of the EU or EEA from July 19 and subject to public health advice:

An emergency brake system will be applied quickly to countries where a variant of concern or interest arises. This will be coordinated at EU level to protect against the importation of variants.

If an emergency brake is applied to a country, the Irish government's advice will be to avoid travel to that country.

2a. Arriving from outside EU where the emergency brake has not been applied

If you arrive in the Republic of Ireland from outside the EU where an emergency brake has not been applied and you have valid proof of vaccination, you will not need to do any travel-related testing or quarantine.

If you do not have valid proof of vaccination, you will need to:

• Show evidence of a negative RT- PCR test result within 72 hours before your arrival
• Self-quarantine (home quarantine)
• Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE

2b. Arriving from outside EU where the emergency brake has been applied

If you have proof of vaccination, you will need to:

• Show a negative result from a RT- PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• Produce evidence of a negative result from a RT- PCR test undertaken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• Complete a mandatory hotel quarantine
• Undergo post-arrival testing

Citizens Information also notes that the approach to travel outside the EU/EEA will also apply to travel to and from Great Britain and the US.

There will be no restrictions on travel to or from Northern Ireland. However, if you arrive into Ireland through Northern Ireland and you have been overseas in the 14 days before you arrive, you must comply with the relevant restrictions.

• Northern Ireland to roll out "vaccine passport" scheme by July 19

Northern Ireland's vaccine passports for international travel

On June 24, Northern Ireland's Department of Health said that its vaccine certificates will be issued first as hard copy format with a digital alternative to be available by mid-August.

As of July 6, interim arrangements were introduced by Northern Ireland's Department of Health to allow people to travel before official COVID-19 vaccine certification comes into place later in July.

The interim written confirmation, only valid until 11:59 pm on July 31, is only available to people who have:

• received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland
• and can provide proof of holiday or flight bookings (up to and including 19 July 2021) to only countries abroad that require verification

If you meet those requirements, you can apply for the interim vaccination certification here online .

If you have travel plans after July 19, 2021, you should wait for the official vaccination certification to become available later in July.

#COVID19 VACCINE CERTIFICATION UPDATE @HSCBoard pic.twitter.com/KlzhRIF82O — Department of Health (@healthdpt) July 5, 2021

Northern Ireland's Minister for Health Robin Swann said on July 5 that in addition to the interim certification system, his officials are working on a comprehensive certificate system (CCS).

“The final CCS will take the form of a printed certificate supplemented by a mobile phone app," Minister Swann said

“This system will provide internationally accepted proof that either the holder has received both vaccine doses at least two weeks prior to travel or has demonstrated immunity to the virus or has received a negative test in the preceding 72 hours.

“The comprehensive solution is expected to be available before July 19."

The full system, currently undergoing cybersecurity checks, will provide certification to an agreed UK-wide format and will be fully operational when the interim arrangements expire.

You can read FAQs about Northern Ireland's vaccine certificate here .

Are you planning a vacation in Ireland? Looking for advice or want to share some great memories? Join our Irish travel Facebook group.

Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish!

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Travel to Ireland

Travelling to Ireland Information for people travelling to Ireland on their holidays.

Customs regulations for travellers to Ireland Find out about the important rules in place regarding customs regulations for people travelling to Ireland.

Customs officers - powers of search This page includes the powers of Customs and Excise officers to carry out searches of travellers to prevent the importation of prohibited goods or goods that have not been declared to Customs.

Tax-free purchases for non-EU travellers The Retail Export Scheme, allows visitors to Ireland (from outside the European Union) to buy goods in Ireland to take home with them and benefit from tax relief.

EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) An overview of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC). Since 1 July 2023 you no longer get a DCC. This document is in: Travel abroad

Bringing pets to Ireland The importation of pets into Ireland is strictly controlled. Information on the procedures for bringing your pet to Ireland. This document is in: Coming to live in Ireland

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Update April 12, 2024

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Ireland Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, ireland - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Ireland.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ireland.

If you decide to travel to Ireland:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Ireland.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

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COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

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Politics latest: Key voter on Humza Yousaf's future will make proposals to 'help him out of a tight corner'

Ash Regan, who is the Alba Party's sole MSP and potentially the deciding vote in a no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf, is expected to meet with the first minister.

Sunday 28 April 2024 11:15, UK

• Sunak refuses to rule out July general election
• Watch in full: Trevor Phillips interviews the prime minister
• Key voter on Yousaf's future will make proposals to 'help him out of a tight corner'
• Connor Gillies:  First minister must reset relations with very people he's burned bridges with
• Salmond asked Alastair Campbell to negotiate on behalf of Scotland if it gained independence
• Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
• Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction
• Sam Coates explains why the local elections matter
• Live reporting by Brad Young

By Trevor Phillips, presenter

I've known Rishi Sunak slightly for almost a decade, having first met him after he penned a thoughtful, comprehensive, well-received report on Britain's minority communities, which I'd say is still the best of its kind.

Sitting down to interview him in a state-of-the-art defence facility this week, I could still see the same energetic, likeable problem solver that I met back then, even if he's now surrounded by the prime ministerial cavalcade of aides, security and media.

That Peloton and fasting regime are clearly doing their job. He's keen to show his detailed grasp of the situation, whether that's welfare reform, defence or migration. It's easy to see why he shone in Silicon Valley and thrived in the Treasury.

However, in the political world he chose, there's a downside to being highly intelligent, disciplined, and super-focused on delivery, as they might say in California.

He betrays frustration with what he - not wholly unjustifiably - sees as a media obsession with polls and presentation.

Unfortunately, as Enoch Powell once pointed out, a politician who complains about journalists is like a sailor who doesn't much fancy being at sea.

He rightly points out that it's his job to make hard choices - for example, funding the defence budget even if it's at the expense of schools and hospitals.

But a political leader should also know that what follows is an even harder job: to cajole the electorate into supporting that choice - and the voters aren't always governed by the logic of the computer.

Read on here...

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has said her party will not be changing its mind about supporting the upcoming motion of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Ms Slater said they would vote in favour of the motion on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show,

"I cannot imagine anything at this point that could change that position.

"This was a spectacular breach of trust."

She was asked if policy offers from Mr Yousaf ahead of the vote could persuade them to abstain.

“[The Bute House Agreement] was based on mutual trust and respect. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues," she said.

"But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences."

Policing minister Chris Philp said he was posing a "rhetorical question" after he appeared to ask whether Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were different countries.

The MP for Croydon South said he was struggling to hear when he was asked about the government's new law on deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda by a Question Time audience member.

He told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: "I was struggling a little bit to hear the question.

"When I put that point to him I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude."

What did he say on Question Time?

The audience member, from Congo, pointed out there has been a long history of violent conflict with neighbouring country Rwanda.

He asked Mr Philp: "Had my family members come from Goma [a city on the country's border] on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country they are supposedly warring – Rwanda? Does that make any sense to you?"

Mr Philp replied: "No, I think there's an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda."

After the audience member objected that his parents were not from Rwanda, the Conservative MP appeared to ask: "Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isn't it?

"It's a different country?" he said, followed by laughter from some audience members.

Rishi Sunak was quizzed over the local and general elections, the Rwanda Scheme and defence spending today on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

If you missed it, here's your chance to catch up on all the key moments - or watch the interview in full.

• The prime minister tried to manage expectations for Thursday, saying: "Local elections are always difficult for incumbent parties";
• Asylum seekers travelling across the land border to Ireland was a sign the Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent, he said;
• Despite being asked several times, Mr Sunak refused to rule out a July general election;
• He declined to comment on polling and, when asked if he would have any regrets should the Conservative Party lose, Mr Sunak said: "You're again focused on all this personality stuff."

A little earlier this morning, Rishi Sunak told Sky News that the movement of migrants from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland showed his Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent.

But the Irish government is to consider legislative proposals next week on returning asylum seekers back to the UK who have travelled across the land border.

Justice minister Helen McEntee will also meet Home Secretary James Cleverly next week, after saying the number of migrants crossing the border was now "higher than 80%".

"I'll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK," she told RTE.

Ms McEntee added Brexit was responsible for the UK seeing an increase in people seeking asylum.

A spokesman for Irish premier Simon Harris said he is "very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity" of Ireland's migration system.

"Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly.

"In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the minister for justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe 'third countries' and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK."

Alex Salmond asked Alastair Campbell to negotiate on behalf of Scotland with the UK government in the event it voted for independence in 2014, Mr Campbell tells Sky News.

The proposal was made when the pair were in Scotland ahead of the referendum, making tributes to Tony Benn, the former Number 10 communications director says.

"If Scotland had become independent, then that would have been a massive, massive thing for the country, so I would have been very happy to do that.

"I would want people who weren't necessarily pro-indpendence to be part of that team."

As Humza Yousaf fights to maintain leadership of Scotland, the Alba Party's Alex Salmond joins Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

Meanwhile, Ash Regan, the Alba Party's sole MP and potentially the deciding vote in a no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf, is expected to meet with the first minister.

Ms Regan will "make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner", says Mr Salmond.

"Scotland is lucky that somebody like Ash Regan is in that position."

Independence forces should be "cooperating together to try and get independence back as a priority in Scottish society".

Asked if an agreement can be reached with the SNP, Mr Salmond says Mr Yousaf is "in a very difficult position" but he will be in a "listening mode".

"He wouldn't have sacked the Greens from his administration unless he wanted a significant change in direction," says Mr Salmond.

"One possible outcome of this political crisis is there might be a Scottish election."

Earlier this week, Labour pledged to nationalise the railway system.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting says the plan is a "reflection of the failure of privatised rail and the absence of competition".

If you bring the franchises back into public ownership as they come up, the profits can be reinvested into better services and fairs, argues Mr Streeting.

"There is already enormous public ownership of our railways, but they are owned by French, German, Dutch and Italian taxpayers, and our profits go into their countries."

"It's time that we had public ownership of our railways so we can reinvest."

Trevor Phillips continues to put questions to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.

He is about Keir Starmer's pledge to maintain the triple lock, with Phillips raising statistics showing median wealth for those in their early 60s was nearly nine times higher than those in their early 30s.

"I don't buy into that intergenerational conflict argument. We need to give pensioners the reassurance to know that as they have planned for retirement... that Labour will protect the triple lock."

Wes Streeting is asked about the possibility of a July election, which the prime minister has refused to rule out.

The shadow health secretary says: "He should get on with it. We are not just ready, we are, as with the rest of the country, fed up of waiting."

People are "crying out for an opportunity to deliver their verdict on this government and vote for change", he says.

"That's why the prime minister bottled an election earlier this year, that's why he's bottled it now, and that's why he will have to be taken out of Downing Street by his fingernails."

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