Ireland Scraps All Travel Restrictions
Ireland is joining a growing list of countries today by removing all entry requirements for travelers. The primary goal of the Irish government is to make travel easier for Ukrainian citizens fleeing the current crisis in Ukraine, but the sudden removal of entry rules benefits travelers from all over the world.
Ireland was one of the first nations to discontinue most internal covid-related rules in January 2022, which now harmonize with their new entry requirement removal.
From today, March 7, 2022, there will be zero travel restrictions for any traveler entering Ireland.
- No PCR or antigen tests to enter
- No quarantines
- No proof of vaccination
- No health forms
- No vaccine passports
Entering Ireland after March 7th will feel like it did in pre-pandemic times, with no extra steps to take. As a result, they join the following list of nations that have scrapped all entry restrictions:
Ireland’s New Travel Rules
People entering Ireland will no longer need a COVID certificate or passenger locator form under major travel rule change starting today in Ireland.
Therefore, international arrivals don’t require proof of vaccination, testing, or passenger locator forms; this makes Ireland the world’s 8th nation to drop all COVID-19 restrictions.
Ireland’s President, Leo Varadkar, said: “You will no longer need a Covid Pass to enter Ireland, but you will still need it to get into many other EU countries. Be sure to get your booster or 3rd dose if you plan to travel abroad this summer.”
Stephen Donnelly, Ireland’s Health Minister, described the removal of restrictions as: “another step forward in our Covid efforts”. The change affects passengers traveling into Ireland, but COVID-19 certificates and testing may be required for outbound passengers visiting other nations from Ireland.
Ireland’s Department of Health said the COVID-19 certificate could continue to be used as “evidence of vaccination, booster vaccination, recovery, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.”
The Irish government plans to welcome a minimum of 20,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. The Irish government said they’re opening an online portal or register where people can pledge how they can help arrivals through accommodation, etc.
Reports suggest if the war continues to escalate and continues into the medium term, Ireland will host about 2 percent of all refugees who have been forced to leave their home country.
The COVID-19 Situation In Ireland
Ireland’s current COVID-19 situation is very promising. The current 7-day case average is 3,270; that’s a decrease from the 7-day case average of 22,000 in January.
Ireland has currently fully vaccinated over 90% of its adult population.
The Current Internal COVID-19 Restrictions In Ireland
Despite strict COVID-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic, Ireland now has almost non-existent internal COVID-19 restrictions. Most internal rules, like vaccine passports, curfews, and capacity limits, ended on January 22, 2022.
The government scrapped the mask mandate on February 28. However, the government still advises people to wear masks in all public transport and healthcare settings.
If travelers test positive for COVID-19 while in Ireland, the government says you should wear masks for 10 days. If you’re over 13 years old, this should be a medical-grade or FFP2 mask. However, if you’re under 12—it should be a well-fitting mask.
The Irish government also states:
- If you are aged 55 or older and haven’t received your booster jab, you should self-isolate and get a PCR test
- If you have a high-risk medical condition, self isolate and get a PCR test
- If you are immunocompromised, self isolate and get a PCR test
Final Thoughts
Ireland removing all travel restrictions is excellent news for the travel industry. Although the world is decreasing Covid travel restrictions, most nations still have a passenger locator form—including the United Kingdom, which has dropped almost all travel restrictions apart from this.
Ireland is only the third European nation to scrap all COVID-19 restrictions, but we expect many more nations to remove all restrictions in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
