Ireland (08 July 2021) – Upcoming changes to travel advisory - EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC)

What are the changes?

Government advice to avoid non-essential travel will remain in place until 18 July 2021. From 19 July 2021 this will be changed to advise citizens to travel safely and in accordance with public health guidance and restrictions.
From 19 July 2021, Ireland plans to operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU and EEA.

Key points:

• Implementation time frame: The changes will take affect from 19 July 2021 subject to government advice.
• Who is affected: All nationals travelling into Ireland.
• Next steps: Employers should update their employees who are seeking to enter Ireland after 19 July 2021. EEA travellers should take appropriate action to ensure they have the right permission to travel safely within the EU. Non-EEA nationals should ensure they are taking the right precautions depending on the country that their travel originates from.

Passengers arriving into Ireland from within the EU/EEA:

From 19 July, subject to the prevailing public health situation, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA.

A DCC will show if a passenger:

• Is vaccinated against COVID-19;
• Has recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months; or
• Has received a negative COVID test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival

Passengers arriving into Ireland with a DCC will not have to undergo quarantine.

However, passengers with a DCC based on a non-PCR test (for example, antigen), or those arriving without a DCC, will require proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Children aged between 7 and 18 who have not been vaccinated must also have a negative PCR test.

A passenger who has been in a non-EU/EEA country in the 14 days prior to arrival into Ireland will be subject to the rules applying to that country (see below).

All passengers will be advised to observe public health restrictions and to present for post-arrival testing if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Passengers arriving into Ireland from outside EU/EEA:

From 19 July 2021, Ireland will also broadly align itself to the EU approach to non-essential travel into the EU from third countries.

To protect its citizens against importation of variants, an ‘emergency brake’ mechanism will be coordinated at EU level to react swiftly to the emergence of a variant of concern or variant of interest.

Government advice will be to avoid travel to a country where the emergency brake has been applied.

Scenario 1 – Journey originates in a country to which the EU has not applied an ‘emergency brake’

If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, no travel-related testing or quarantine will be necessary.

If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• Present evidence of a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival into the country
  Self-quarantine
• Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE

Scenario 2 – Journey originates in a country to which the EU has applied an ‘emergency brake’

If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• Produce a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• Undergo self-quarantine
• Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE

If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• Produce evidence of a negative result from a PCR test undertaken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• Undergo mandatory hotel quarantine
• Undergo post-arrival testing

Analysis & Comments: The Irish government has made this recommendation, which is line with other countries, in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The plans to allow greater movement and travel within the EU and will continue to pave the way for reduced restrictions.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your designated Deloitte contact