There are restrictions on travel back to the Republic of Ireland from some countries including the UK due to new security issues. The rules for travel back to Ireland from the UK have not change since 2021. For all passengers travelling from the UK with a current valid passport; one single entry visa is allowed. All passengers leaving the UK for the Republic of Ireland or any other destination are required to have a three day stay, with a further three day period permitted for those travelling from the UK with a UK passport but without an entry visa.
Visa-free travel to the Republic of Ireland from EU member states and non EU countries was suspended with effect from 4 February 2021. With effect from 14 February 2021, a further legal requirement is introduced for all passengers travelling to Ireland from the UK. This fourteen-daybanishment to the Republic of Ireland of all passengers who do not hold an unlimited pass or a British Passport must undertake a home quarantine at the designated address specified on the passenger locator form. The additional travel advice and guidelines for the Republic of Ireland will be available from the Republic of Ireland Travel Agency and British High Commission. For further information regarding the restrictions on travel back to the Republic of Ireland from the UK, you can get travel advice from the British High Commission.
There are three main areas of concern with regard to the issue of Ireland’s National Health Information System (NHSIS) and the effects it may have on travelling outside the European Union. These concerns relate to the introduction of a three-day quarantine for all travellers from the UK who do not hold an unlimited pass or a British Passport; the introduction of a fourteen-day travel warning period for all those travelling from the UK but who do not hold a British Passport; and the reintroduction of the twelve-monthly trade visitors’ visa, previously introduced in 2021. The three main areas of concern are as follows:
Quarantining Irish Travellers When the three-day public health alert was issued on november 30th of last year, travellers from the UK who did not have an unlimited entry or a British Passport were subject to a travel advisory which commenced on november 1st, which advised them not to travel to any of the designated counties in Ireland or to the city of Dingle. The three counties involved were Galway, Kerry and Donegal. The reason for this advisory was the threat of infection from infectious disease carried by mosquitoes. Travellers to the Republic of Ireland were required to complete an application form for a three day public health quarantine followed by a written examination by a medical officer of the Department of Health in Ireland and by a representative of the Irish Garda Road registered Garda. If a positive result is obtained the applicant is issued a certificate that authorizes him or her to enter the country.
Entry Into the Republic of Ireland On the day that the green list was released, travellers were required to appear in their particular county of entry and obtain a written confirmation from the Garda Office that they had obtained a three day public health warning. Travellers were also required to produce two passport photographs when travelling outside of the Republic of Ireland as required by the Garda. A record of the issued document is to be kept by the Garda Office as proof that the individual travelled within the Republic of Ireland and is not considered a traveller who may overstay their visa. This requirement was included as a precautionary measure to reduce the possibility of overstaying, or worse, returning to the country after having been abroad for a long period of time.
Travel Restrictions When arriving at airports in the Republic of Ireland, customs officials will often require proof that you are coming from a country that is not on the restricted territory list. Additionally, there are many other requirements that can be applied at the port of departure, including proof of identity and that you are departing from a safe destination. In addition to the above requirements, it is important to note that the duration of your stay in an international airport (i.e. a non Dublin airport) is usually limited to three days if you are coming from Northern Ireland or the rest of the Republic of Ireland.