Ireland ditches most of its COVID-19 rules: Americans welcome just in time for St. Patrick's Day
Editor's Note
Ireland is further loosening COVID-19 restrictions. In fact, over the weekend the Emerald Isle scrapped nearly all coronavirus-related restrictions.
Prime Minister Micheál Martin said, "We have weathered the Omicron storm," as he announced that bars and restaurants will no longer have to close at 8 p.m. and indoor and outdoor venues can return to full capacity. Masks will still be required on public transportation and inside shops, but only until the end of next month.
Pubs are allowed to open at full capacity with no social distancing, and Ireland will be again be able to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in traditional style for the first time since 2019.
Ireland scrapped its requirement that vaccinated travelers get a pre-departure COVID-19 test at the beginning of the new year – making it one of the easiest countries for Americans to visit right now. The same rule applies to those who can prove that they've already had and recovered from coronavirus in the past six months.
Most recently, all visitors – including the vaccinated – had to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of arrival.
COVID-19 rules for Ireland
Americans have been allowed to visit Ireland during the pandemic, but until May 28, 2021 they had to quarantine for two weeks at their own expense at a government-sanctioned hotel. There is no quarantine requirement now.
Related: Everything you need to know about EU vaccine passports
As long as you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to have a negative COVID-19 coronavirus test result.
The Irish government says it will accept a digital vaccination certificate like the ones from the European Union or a paper certificate like the CDC cards issued to vaccinated Americans provided that it has:
- Confirmation that the person to whom the record or evidence refers is a vaccinated person
- That it has listed the date or dates on which the person was vaccinated
- That the authority cited has been authorized to issue the evidence about the person concerned
All travelers must fill out a passenger locator form. Requirements for traveling to Ireland are here. Details on the latest restrictions can be found here and here.
Aer Lingus also offers helpful information on travel requirements.
Ireland accepts vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm.
Unvaccinated Americans can visit Ireland, but they will need to provide a negative test and they face other restrictions.
Related: Americans will be welcomed back to Ireland without quarantine on July 19, 2021
And a reminder that you will need a COVID-19 test within a day of your return to the United States. Airlines will be checking to make sure you have the correct documentation to return to the U.S.
Related: Our favorite hotels in Ireland
Current COVID-19 situation
Related: Visiting Dublin and Edinburgh
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still spreading rapidly in Ireland, though new infections of omicron may have peaked. Ireland had been breaking records of new cases as of a few weeks ago, but the prime minister says the large percentage of the Irish population that is vaccinated and boosted is helping keep the virus under control.
In response, the government tightened COVID-19 restrictions in December shutting down nightclubs and ordering pubs and restaurants to close at 8 p.m.
Now with about 82% of the country vaccinated, however, the prime minister says hospitalizations and deaths are down and Ireland can return to business as usual.
Don't miss TPG's Ireland hub — it's got everything you need to know about traveling to the Emerald Isle.
Note that Ireland is also no longer requiring an EU COVID-19 vaccine passport for most venues and events. You can see the previous rules below.
For additional information, visit the U.S. Embassy in Ireland's website.
The U.S. State Department's advisory for Ireland is Level 4: Do Not Travel and the CDC's advisory for the country is Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees