Confused over travel

[TopoTip]

I'm confused over the current travel rules. I know to leave Ireland we need an essential reason but does that also apply for people arriving into Ireland?

For example if someone flew into Ireland and met the requirements for the negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival, completed passenger locator form and then quarantined for 5 days and did another PCR test, is that okay or do they also need an essential reason to arrive in the first place?

It's so confusing isn't it. Would like to know the answer to this too. Are you travelling from the UK? @LilaButterfly

No i live in Ireland but a friend was telling me her brother is coming over from Italy next week to see them and he definitely doesn't have an essential reason (nor are they worried about not having one!).

I'm confused about this too. We live in the UK (in England) and we're trying to work out how/if my Irish DH can fly to visit his elderly parents, who he hasn't seen since Feb 2020.

I've read and re-read the stuff on the Irish govt. website, but still can't see if he'd have to quarantine the whole time he's there, which wouldn't really be feasible. He's had both vaccine doses, as have his parents.

@YouLando He would be able to do a PCR test after 5 days quarantine rather than the full 14 days. Would that work for him?

NI opens to all travellers from within the Common Travel Area after 24th May so I'm hoping it will open here too. I can't see there will be much point keeping different rules here as people can just fly into Belfast then and drive down!

TopoTip

That could work for him, thanks 😊👍

I flew back from uk to Ireland last month - with my new baby ! I filled in passenger locator form and had a negative test - nobody asked me anything about my reason for coming or anything though

Glued to this. Have booked ferry home to Ireland for July. Haven’t seen family since Christmas 2019. If Indian varient fecks up being let in I just don’t know

@Fupoffyagrasshole that's good to know! What happened when you went back to the UK - did they ask you why you were leaving Ireland?

@MegCleary I've heard on the grapevine that no questions are asked at all if you get the boat

Leaving Ireland nobody asked me anything either - walked through security and got on th plane! I was asked for my negative test before getting on the plane - saw someone get turned away and not allowed on as they had no test done!

Got to Stansted and walked straight out too and went home

@Fupoffyagrasshole I didn't think tests were needed to back to the UK? I thought it was just coming into Ireland?

Maybe it’s now changed -the rules were very confusing

This was back in March

@Fupoffyagrasshole Another question, sorry! Do you know if the confirmation of the PCR test can just be shown to immigration on your phone or does it need to be printed off when coming into Ireland?

@TopoTip travelling from Ireland to U.K. requires morning. Travelling from U.K. to Ireland requires a PCR valid within the 72 hours before your arrival plus a completely passenger locator form. You don’t need to print there and can show them on your phone (just make sure you will have enough battery as I nearly got caught out with that!) I screen shot the confirmation of negative PCR and confirmation of passenger locator form so it was quick to show it instead of going in and out of emails.

Sorry should be travelling from Ireland to U.K. requires nothing

@ForeverAintEnough12 Thank you for confirming. Yes I meant From UK to Ireland.

Waiting to see what the announcements are on Friday now. I hope they give some actual dates rather than just 'mid'-July..

With the 14 day quarantine thing, what if you only wanted to stay for a few days? Can you just leave and fly back? I am desperate to visit family but can only do a few days due to work. It's just all so impossible right now.

So does this mean you can go to Ireland from 19th July and not quarantine? And what about children? DH and I fully vaxxed woo hoo but children 10 & 13 not. And do we still need PCR to go there.
I know a lot of ifs and ands and questions but I just want to go home

My understanding is after the 19th July the UK will be treated with a similar approach as the EU vaccine passport approach.

So you can travel to/from Ireland without having to quarantine if you've been vaccinated/have PCR tests or had Covid. Re unvaccinated kids - I think they would have to have PCR tests from age 6 up.

Meant to add this screenshot before the other one

In the same boat (or plane…) here. We are fully vaccinated but kids are not and we’re planning to travel over in July from the US. We have refundable flights booked but I’m worried it won’t be possible because of the kids being unvaccinated and new variants emerging. I emailed the consulate here and they said we could quarantine at home since we - the adults - are vaccinated and then the quarantine would end after 5 days subject to a negative COVID test but I’m not sure. Advice isn’t that clear and we’re a long way from home if anything goes wrong…

Coming from uk end of July. So I'm vaccinated I do the five days self quarantine with a test on day five. Kids need a negative pcr before travel bit did they have to quarantine five or ten days?? Is Irish government guidance always this vague? We're coming on through belfast so I'm aware rules still apply even if half of Louth Monaghan seem to be ignoring this as far as I can see from family

I have the same query so joining in. No help sorry. As I see it they will make us quarantine 10 days with the children or accept 5 days for all of all PCR’s negative after 5 days. Sigh.

@megcleary I think we will still go if it'ss five days plus pcr for all of us. I'm just worried the kids will be ten days and that's just impossible. I'm desperate to see my parents.