Travelling to Ireland during COVID-19

Introduction

Since 6 March 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions are removed. You no longer need to complete a passenger locator form. You also no longer need proof of vaccination or recovery, or a COVID-19 test.

You should follow public health advice if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Travelling to Ireland from China

If you are travelling to Ireland from China, you are strongly advised to wear a face mask for the full duration of your journey. You should follow public health advice, including advice to:

• Stay home when ill
• Practise good hand and respiratory hygiene, including appropriate use of face masks
• Meet up outdoors where possible
• Be aware of the risk associated with activities
• Take measures to optimally protect themselves, particularly for vulnerable persons, to reduce the spread of and exposure to respiratory viruses

If you are eligible, you should register for vaccination. The Irish government continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 epidemiological situation both in Ireland and abroad.

What does fully vaccinated mean?

Since 6 March 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions are removed. You no longer need to complete a passenger locator form. You also no longer need proof of vaccination or recovery, or a COVID-19 test.

A standard acceptance period of 14 days after the final dose in a primary vaccine series of a vaccine is required for all vaccines accepted for travel to Ireland.

You are fully vaccinated when it is:

• 14 days after the second AstraZeneca dose or second Covishield dose
• 14 days after the second Pfizer-BioNtech dose
• 14 days after the second Moderna dose
• 14 days after the single Janssen dose
• 14 days after the second Sinopharm dose (also called Vero Cell Inactivated)
• 14 days after your second dose of Coronavac (Sinovac)
• 14 days after your second dose of Covaxin
• 14 days after your second dose of of Novavax (Nuvaxovid)

Mixed vaccines

If you got different vaccines for your first and second doses, you are fully vaccinated once 14 days has passed based on your second vaccine.

If you got a vaccine other than those listed above, you are not considered ‘fully vaccinated’.

You are also not fully vaccinated if the time between your first and second doses is less than the required period (for two dose vaccines).

Single dose and recovered from COVID-19

You are considered fully vaccinated if you got a single dose of any of the above vaccines within 180 days of a positive RT-PCR test result. You must show proof of the positive test and the vaccine dose. Since 1 February 2022 you are considered fully vaccinated after 14 days.

What is valid proof of vaccination?

If you were vaccinated in the EEA you should get an EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC). Since 1 February 2022, vaccine certificates for primary vaccination series will not be accepted for travel if more than 270 days (9 months) have passed since the final dose in the primary vaccine series. Vaccine certificates based on booster and additional doses are not time limited. You no longer need to show a DCC when entering Ireland. But you continue to need one when travelling in many other EU countries.

If you were vaccinated in a country outside the EEA you should have a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate that has been officially recognised as equivalent to the EU DCC.

Other proof that you have been vaccinated can also be accepted. The proof can be in written or electronic format in Irish or English. Where it is in another language, an official translation into Irish or English is needed.

Your proof of vaccination must contain the following:

• Confirmation that you are fully vaccinated
• The date or dates you were vaccinated
• The name of body in the state implementing the vaccination programme that administered the vaccine to you

What does ‘recovered from COVID-19’ mean?

Since 6 March 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions are removed. You no longer need to complete a passenger locator form. You also no longer need proof of vaccination, or recovery or a COVID-19 test.

You are ‘recovered from COVID-19’ if you had COVID-19 in the past 180 days (and no less than 11 days before you arrive in Ireland).

If you were tested for COVID-19 in the EEA, you should get an EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC). Other proof that you have recovered from COVID-19 can also be accepted.

What other proof of recovery is acceptable?

If you do not have a DCC, your proof must be in written or electronic format in English or Irish. If it is in a language other than English or Irish, it needs to be accompanied by a certified translation.

Your proof of recovery must contain the following:

• Your full name and date of birth
• The date of your first relevant positive test result
• The disease or variant from which you have recovered
• The country where the test was carried out
• Details of the body that issued the certificate
• Dates the certificate is valid from and expires (you must have tested positive at least 11 days ago but no longer than 180 days ago)