Under the current Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions in place in Ireland only essential travel into the country is permitted.

On the 26 January 2021 The Government announced the introduction of additional short-term restrictions.

The new measures are aimed at reducing travel in and out of the country and the risk it poses. These new measures include:-

• an increase in the fixed penalty fine relating to breaches of the non-essential international travel restriction,
• Increased Garda checks and enforcement activity relating to people travelling internationally who are in breach of the current Level 5 restrictions.
• a range of mandatory quarantine measures,
      – mandatory quarantine at a designated facility will be required for passengers who arrive in breach of the pre-departure negative/’not detected’ PCR requirement
      – mandatory quarantine at a designated facility will be required for persons who arrive from Brazil and South Africa
      – In other cases, passengers will be required by law to quarantine at home
• the restriction of travel from South Africa, Brazil and all other South American countries including suspension of visa-free short-term visits until 5 March 2021

Under the existing regulations anyone arriving into the country must produce evidence of a negative PCR test taken in the previous 3 days and this requirement has been extended until 5th March 2021

Application of these measures to passengers who are not EU/EEA citizens can be introduced by regulations. For all other passengers, it will be necessary to amend primary legislation. The detailed legislative work to implement this is to get under way immediately.

However we recommend that anyone considering travel to Ireland should consult the following Government website beforehand