Traveling to Ireland during COVID-19

Below you will find the current regulations and safety recommendations for traveling to Ireland during COVID-19.

Is traveling during COVID-19 right for you?

So let’s help you access your comfort with traveling right now.

• Are infection and hospitalization rates higher or lower in your local community?
• Do you feel comfortable eating out, going on tours, shopping, or generally being where groups of people could congregate?
• Do you feel comfortable traveling through the airport and sitting on an airplane for an extended period?
• Are you comfortable with the current restrictions in Ireland and do not think that they will negatively impact your trip?
• If you were to become sick in Ireland and unable to return home, would you be able to manage your finances, healthcare, and time away from work?

If you are comfortable with the answers to those questions, then you are ready to travel to Ireland. 🥳

Current on-the-ground Restrictions in Ireland

Ireland may be one of the most proactive countries in Europe in terms of mitigating risk during COVID-19. They had massive restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic, and releasing them has been slow and deliberate.

Almost all social limitations in Ireland have been removed.

• Masks are no longer required for shops, museums, and other public indoor locations but they are advised on public transportation and in healthcare settings.
• Those with a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms are required to self-isolate for 7 days and mask for days 8-10.
• Those in close contact with the virus but not symptomatic are not required to self-isolate, but are advised to wear a mask.

The Irish government has stated multiple times that they don’t want to move backward. If the situation should arise again though, they will put restrictions back into place. While pandemic fatigue has set in for all of us, most Irish are willing to follow the directives to keep everyone safe. As a respectful traveler and guest, I urge you to do the same.

Traveling to Ireland during COVID-19

As of March 6, 2022, you no longer need any special documentation to enter Ireland.

No proof of vaccination or recovery or a negative PCR is required. You do not need to complete any passenger locator forms.

Returning to the United States from Ireland During COVID-19

Travelers do not need any documentation of recovery or negative test results to return to the US.

Returning to Canada during Covid-19

Starting October 1, 2022, all COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing, and quarantine/isolation requirements will end for all travellers entering Canada whether by land, air or sea.

Traveling to/from the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland (Common Travel Area – CTA)

Protect Yourself: Travel Insurance & Cancellation Policies During the Pandemic

It comes as no surprise that traveling during this time will require flexibility.  Between staffing shortages, ever-changing travel requirements, and even the inability to predict our own health, any number of things can change your holiday plans.

Purchasing travel insurance and choosing the most flexible cancellation policies go a long way in protecting your travel investments and give you peace of mind.

What to look for in your travel insurance policy

To get the most from your travel insurance, purchase a Cancel For Any Reason policy with a COVID-19 travel benefit. This will allow you to (as it says) cancel for any possible reason and get up to 75% of your money back. You will also receive additional medical and travel benefits if you test positive before you leave the country.

Square Mouth is a travel insurance aggregator that I recommend to everyone that I work with one-on-one. They only refer to top-notch insurance companies and they do a great job explaining what each policy covers.

Check the box on the left of the search to include policies that only have benefits for COVID-19 events. More specifically, in the individual search results pay extra attention to the trip delay benefit amount. If you happen to contract the virus and need to quarantine, be sure this amount will cover ten nights of quarantine in Ireland.

Forbes did a great primer about travel insurance policies during the pandemic (scroll beyond the insurance quotes for the details).

Testing Positive for COVID-19 while Traveling in Ireland

Isolation Rules After Testing Positive in Ireland

If you test positive in Ireland, Ireland requires self-isolation for at least seven days. In the following three days, you do not need to isolate if you no longer have symptoms (but you should social distance). The first day of your symptoms is day zero.