The festive season is well underway and so too are the many arrivals coming home through Ireland's ports and airports for annual reunions.
Friends and family touching down in Ireland over the next few weeks are being reminded to ensure they abide by all of the new travel restrictions in place.
From passenger Locator Forms to Covid tests and certificates, there are many things that passengers need to bear in mind this side of Christmas.
If you are travelling to Ireland from overseas you must fill out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before departure.
Since Sunday, December 5, 2021, passengers coming to Ireland are asked to show a negative test for Covid-19:
- if you do not have proof of vaccination or recovery, you will have to show a negative RT-PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before you arrive in Ireland
- if you have proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, you can show a negative antigen test which was carried out no more than 48 hours before you arrive in Ireland
Alternatively, you can show a negative RT-PCR test which was carried out no more than 72 hours before you land.
Only Rapid Antigen Tests which are listed on the common EU Rapid Antigen Test list will be accepted and it must be carried out by a health professional or skilled testing personnel. You can’t test yourself with a shop-bought kit.
Passengers arriving from Great Britain are now advised to take daily antigen tests for five consecutive days, beginning with the day of arrival.
They are also required to self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test if they develop symptoms or have a positive antigen test.
Travellers must complete a Passenger Locator Form prior to departure indicating which form of proof you are travelling with:
- proof of vaccination
- proof of recovery
- proof of a negative/'not detected' Covid-19 test
There are a number of people who remain exempt from these extensive travel rules. They are:
- people who are travelling in the course of their duties and are an international transport workers in possession of an annex 3 certificate, the driver of a heavy goods vehicle or are aviation crew or maritime crew
- patients travelling to Ireland for urgent medical reasons, and that reason is certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State
- children aged 11 and under
- passengers whose journey originated in Northern Ireland and have not been overseas in the 14-day prior to arrival
- a member of the Gardaí or Defence Forces personnel travelling to the State in the course of performing his or her duties
- a person who travels to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation
- travel to perform the function of or provide services to an officeholder or elected representative, where such travel to Ireland is required to continue providing such services or performing such functions
