1. Entry Restrictions

All passengers arriving in Ireland must possess a certificate showing a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland, except for the following:

• Children below the age of 7;
• Holders of diplomatic passports;
• Merchant seamen

Passengers arriving in Ireland from overseas are furthermore required to complete the online COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form prior to arrival, except for children below the age of 16. Travelers who fail to complete the form re subject to severe penalties, including a fine of up to €2,500 or imprisonment for up to 6 months or both.

Ireland has currently suspended visa-free entry for holders of UK short-stay visas.

2. Quarantine/Self-Isolation Requirements

Passengers arriving in Ireland from designated countries (or those who have been in designated countries within 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland) are required to pre-book and pre-pay for accommodation in a designated quarantine facility where they will need to complete a mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days. These arrangements also apply to any passenger who is travelling on to Northern Ireland. Passengers who receive a negative (“not detected”) COVID-19 PCR test result on Day 10 of their quarantine period are able to complete their quarantine period early and leave the quarantine facility. The following passengers are exempt from the mandatory hotel quarantine:

• Passengers holding a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
• Airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew and who arrive in Ireland in the course of performing duties
• Passengers travelling to Ireland for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons and these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner

The following persons may temporarily leave their place of quarantine when necessary to perform their essential function – and only for as long as strictly required:

• a person required to carry out essential repair, maintenance, construction or safety assurance of critical transport infrastructure, critical utility infrastructure, manufacturing services, information services, or communication services
• a member of staff of an international organization, or person invited, carrying out functions required for the proper functioning of such organizations and which cannot be carried out remotely
• a person who is participating in a sporting event and has been provided with written certification by Sport Ireland
• journalists, carrying out their professional functions

Passengers arriving in Ireland from countries not on the designated countries list are able to quarantine for a period of 14 days at their personal residence provided that they can present a negative or “not detected” COVID-19 PCR test. Passengers permitted to quarantine at their personal residence or home may stop quarantining if they get a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 5 days their arrival or as soon as possible after those 5 days. Passengers must keep the written confirmation of their test result for a period of at least 14 days.

It is a criminal offense if passengers do not fulfil the legal requirement to present for mandatory hotel quarantine, if they resist being brought to quarantine or if they leave a designated facility without authorization. A person found guilty of these or other relevant offences is liable for a fine of up to €2,000, imprisonment for 1 month, or both.

3. Impact on Work/Residence Permit Processing

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) continues to process all types of employment permit applications. As part of COVID-19 measures, copies of employment permits will be issued electronically to employers in Ireland (the issuance of certified original copies of employment permits is temporarily suspended) . Additionally, the DBEI will temporarily allow applications for Stamp 4 Letters of Support to be submitted electronically via e-mail.  

The GNIB Registration in Dublin is temporarily closed to the public. All permission renewals in the Dublin area are now being processed online only at https://inisonline.jahs.ie. All permissions that are due to expire between 21 April 2021 and 20 September 2021 are automatically renewed through 20 September 2021. The renewal of permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach.

Irish Diplomatic Missions have temporarily ceased to accept new visa applications, with the exception of priority/emergency cases that are limited to the following:

• transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods for use in the territory as well as those merely transiting;
• patients travelling for imperative medical reasons;
• pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis and Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of 3rd level study;
• persons travelling for imperative family or business reasons;
• diplomats, staff of international organizations and people invited by international organizations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organizations, military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;
• passengers in transit;
• seafarers;
• journalists, when performing their duties.

Please note that COVID-19 related visa and immigration policies are subject to frequent change. For additional information, please contact emea@tandslaw.com.