In response to the emergence of the Omicron variant, Ireland, like many other countries across the world, has reacted with a series of measures. The purpose of this update is to outline the new travel related restrictions which have been put in place as a result of the Omicron variant and to briefly summarise all of the other COVID related restrictions currently in place in Ireland.
New Omicron related travel restrictions & regulations:
If you are travelling to Ireland from overseas you still must fill out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before departure. After
00.01am on Friday 3 December 2021, anyone travelling to Ireland has to show a negative test for COVID-19. The precise
requirements are as follows:
• If you do not have a Digital COVID Certificate based on vaccination or recovery, you have to show a negative (‘not
detected’) RT-PCR test which was carried out no more than 72 hours before you arrive in Ireland
• If you have proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, you have to show a negative (‘not detected’) antigen test
(administered by a professional entity; DIY tests are not acceptable) which was carried out no more than 48 hours
before you arrive in Ireland. Alternatively, you can show a negative (‘not detected’) RT-PCR test which was carried out
no more than 72 hours before you arrive
• In situations where a person is required to present evidence of a negative (‘not detected’) RT-PCR test result prior to
travel and is unable to do so due to a persistently positive RT-PCR test after recovery, then a positive RT-PCR test result
will be acceptable which was taken no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days prior to arrival to the State.
• Travellers from the states listed below are required to quarantine at home for 14 days, from date of arrival, at the
address declared on the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Individuals may only leave the address for an emergency, to
leave the State, or to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR test.
o Botswana
o Eswatini
o Lesotho
o Mozambique
o Namibia
o South Africa
o Zimbabwe
Other COVID related public health measures currently in place:
In addition to the revised travel related regulations, a number of other COVID related public health measures are
currently in place:
• An EU Digital COVID Certificate (COVID-19 pass) (vaccine or recovery certificate) is required for indoor hospitality and events
• Face masks must be worn in certain settings. (They can be removed for consumption of food or drinks as appropriate)
• Collection of contact tracing data in certain settings
• COVID-19 passes, and fixed capacity limits do not apply for outdoor events. However, sectors should ensure appropriate protective measures are in place
• Religious services and weddings can proceed without capacity limits but with all other protective measures remaining in place
• Everyone should work from home unless it is necessary to attend the workplace in person. This means a return to the situation on working from home as it applied before 20 September 2021
• COVID-19 passes (based on vaccination or recovery) are required for cinemas and theatres
• Midnight closing time for all on-licensed premises, including hotel bars and hotel residents’ bars, with all customers vacated from the premises by that time, regardless of the event taking place (for example: weddings, dinner dances and other similar style functions all finish at midnight)
• Household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms should restrict their movements until they have 3 negative antigen test results taken within a 5-day period. For further information on what to do if you are a close contact, visit the HSE’s website. You can also see a quick guide to isolation on the HPSC’s website
• All school going children over the age of 9 must wear masks in the classroom. Children who do not comply
with this may be denied entry to school.
