Ireland Travel Restrictions to Remain Until July 20th

Ireland’s current coronavirus travel restrictions will remain unchanged until at least July 20th. Authorities had planned to ease travel restrictions for the country by July 9th. But the government is concerned about a potential second wave of cases should travel restrictions be lifted too early.

14-Day Quarantine

Ireland’s current travel restrictions require all arrivals to fill out a Passenger Locator Form and then self-isolate for 14 days. The form is meant to assist authorities in confirming that visitors are complying with the rules. But official figures show that fewer than 70% of arrivals answered follow-up phone calls to check on their quarantine status.

Americans Can Visit Ireland

In theory, U.S. residents can visit Ireland during this pandemic. That make it the only European Union or Schengen nation accepting American visitors at all. New E.U. guidelines do not include the United States on its list of safe countries from which to accept visitors.

However, Ireland’s 14-day quarantine rule is a major travel restriction that precludes visitors from enjoying their vacation. Self-isolation rules allow visitors to spend time outdoors in their own space, not public areas. But I’m not visiting Ireland to spend time by myself.

Northern Ireland

Ireland has no travel restrictions for residents of Northern Ireland. The two countries retain their open border, even during the pandemic. Both countries require visitors to self-isolate for their first 14 days within either country. Ireland makes an exception for arrivals from Northern Ireland.

Arrivals to Northern Ireland do not have to self-quarantine if they have spent the past 14 days in the Common Travel Area — England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. So a visitor from Scotland, for example, would not need to quarantine while in Northern Ireland. That same person would need to quarantine if crossing to Ireland.

What Happens July 20th?

Authorities had been planning to revise Ireland’s travel restrictions on July 9th. They planned to issue a “green list” of places residents can visit, and from which tourists can visit Ireland.

But the European Union strongly encourages all member nations to adopt the same rules. That is, the bloc wants Ireland to allow visitors from any other E.U. or Schengen Area nation, along with visitors from every other country on its regularly-updated safe list. Indeed, that’s what may eventually happen. But there is some precedent for not going along with the rest of Europe. Denmark continues to do its own thing, with stricter rules than the rest of the bloc.

We expect to know more by July 20th and will continue to update this space. My wife and I are planning to visit Ireland this summer, so we’re closely following the latest from Ireland. For U.S.-based travelers, though, no visit to Europe (not just Ireland) looks likely anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

Ireland’s current travel restrictions will remain in place until July 20th, and maybe longer. The country is taking things much more slowly than the rest of Europe, at least on paper. In reality, they still allow visitors from the United States. And national carrier Aer Lingus still flies between the two countries. Visitors could simply flaunt the quarantine rules, risking a fine. I don’t recommend it, but that’s what many visitors to Ireland are almost certainly doing.

I want to visit Ireland and was hoping to do so this summer. But until the country is fully ready for visitors, now is probably not the time to go.