All passengers arriving into the State will have to have a negative antigen or PCR test to gain entry into the country from Friday, Cabinet have agreed.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed to the Irish Mirror that this would include passengers coming by air or sea from Great Britain.
The rule will not apply to Northern Ireland.
Children aged 11 and under will be exempt from the new testing rule, a Government spokesman has clarified.
Unvaccinated people will have to have a negative PCR test but fully vaccinated people can avail of a PCR or antigen test.
The tests will have to be privately paid for and cannot be home antigen tests.
Those travelling with an antigen test result will need to have obtained it within 48 hours of departure.
Those with a PCR test result will have a longer pre-travel window of 72 hours.
The rule will be reviewed in two weeks' time after more is known about the emerging Omicron variant.
Minister Donnelly also confirmed to the Irish Mirror that he expects more countries to be added to the home quarantine list later this week.
The EU are meeting on the matter today.
Mandatory hotel quarantine is also expected to be triggered if it is required.
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