New Government Rules For All Arriving Passengers

The Irish Government has announced that from Saturday, January 16, all passengers arriving into the State must have a negative or not detected COVID-19 PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival into Ireland.

Passengers may be asked to present evidence of their negative or not detected result before boarding their aircraft prior to departure, and will be required to produce this evidence to Immigration Officers upon arrival at Dublin Airport.

Passengers arriving from red or grey list regions – as defined by the EU traffic light system – and all other locations outside of Europe, should restrict their movements for 14 days after arrival.

However, the need to restrict movements for 14 days can be waived for passengers who have a negative or not-detected result from a PCR test taken no less than five days after arrival in the State.

According to Government guidelines, all passengers arriving from Britain and South Africa must isolate for 14 days after arrival, even if they take a second COVID test after arrival.

Passengers arriving from green and orange regions – as defined by the EU traffic light system – will not be required to restrict their movements on arrival, but must follow the local public health guidance.

Passengers who arrive without evidence of a negative or not detected PCR test result will commit an offence and may be subject to prosecution, punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

Passengers who arrive in Ireland solely for the purpose of travelling onwards to another state and do not leave the airport are not required to provide evidence of a negative or not detected COVID test.

Children under the age of six are exempt from these requirements, as are international transport workers.