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.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.