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The Irish Government has implemented the new ‘traffic lights’ approach to international travel, which applies to countries in the European Union/European Economic Area and to the UK. 

Based upon common EU epidemiological data, the ECDC ‘traffic lights’ mapping information is updated every Thursday and the changes are applied with effect to travel to Ireland from the following Monday.

You can view the latest map showing the status of each country here 

Regions are classified as:

1. Green if the 14-day notification rate is lower than 25 cases per 100 000 and the test positivity rate below 4%;
2. Orange if the 14-day notification rate is lower than 50 cases per 100 000 but the test positivity rate is 4% or higher or, if the 14-day notification rate is between 25 and 150 cases per 100 000 and the test positivity rate is below 4%;
3. Red if the 14-day notification rate is 50 cases per 100 000 or higher and the test positivity rate is 4% or higher or if the 14-day notification rate is higher than 150 cases per 100 000;
4. Grey if there is insufficient information or if the testing rate is lower than 300 cases per 100 000.

For persons travelling out of Ireland to regions that are not categorised as green, comprehensive guidance is available at Gov.ie

For persons travelling into Ireland the following arrangements apply:

1. Persons arriving from EU green regions are not required to restrict their movement but should adhere to the generally applicable public health measures.
2. For persons arriving from EU regions that are not categorised as green the advice to restrict movement for 14 days applies.
3. The advice to restrict movement does not apply in the following instances:
   • Travellers with an essential function or need while exercising this essential function
   • An arrival from an EU orange region subject to the person having a negative/not-detected result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than three days before the day of departure.

From midnight 29^th November, arrivals from an EU red region will not be expected to restrict movements following receipt of a negative/not-detected result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland. This provision will also be available to arrivals from orange regions who may not have availed of a pre-departure test. 

It remains a requirement for intending arrivals to Ireland to adhere to the guidance set out in the Air and Maritime Travel Protocols, available on the Department of Transport website, specifically in relation to the enhanced self-declaration of COVID-19 status required pre-boarding, i.e. that:

1. They are not symptomatic for Covid-19 and have not tested positive in the last 14 days;
2. They are not a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19, and
3. They have not been advised by doctors to restrict their movement.

It remains a mandatory requirement for arrivals to Ireland (excluding essential transport workers) to correctly complete a Passenger Locator Form which can be completed online here 

COVID-19 TESTS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

There are a number of Covid-19 testing technologies currently available or emerging on the commercial market. However, subject to the ongoing review of testing by NPHET and Government, a negative result from a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test result that means the passenger is not expected to follow advice to restrict movements. Testing technology and delivery options for facilitating international travel will be kept under review.

Testing provision under Ireland’s framework for international travel will not be provided through the public health system, but rather will be met by the private commercial sector testing supply on a user pays basis.  As the availability of testing cannot be guaranteed intending passengers wishing to avail of a test should seek an early appointment for a test in advance of travel.

All arrivals are expected to follow the prevailing public health advice in Ireland upon arrival. The information and guidance concerning public health measures and international travel are available on Gov.ie. Currently, public health advice is that there should be no non-essential international travel.

It is important to emphasise that Ireland is currently under level 5 of the Government’s National Framework for living with COVID-19 and the advice remains that there should be no non-essential international travel.