Ireland - COVID-19: Pre-Departure Testing Requirements for Arriving Passengers
IE - COVID-19: Pre-Departure Testing Requirements
The Irish government has announced the requirement for a pre-departure negative PCR (COVID-19) test for passengers arriving in Ireland from all countries from 16 January 2021, with some limited exemptions. There may be a need for changes to upcoming travel plans in the short-term and new procedural requirements for travellers to Ireland. There could be consequences in cases of non-compliance.
The Irish government has announced the requirement for a pre-departure negative PCR (COVID-19) test for passengers arriving in Ireland from all countries from 16 January 2021.1
WHY THIS MATTERS
The introduction of these new pre-departure testing requirements may affect employers and their globally-mobile employees conducting business or work in Ireland in terms of the potential need for changes to upcoming travel plans in the short-term and new procedural requirements for all travel to Ireland going forward. Individuals should also note the consequences of non-compliance.
New Pre-Departure Testing Requirements for Passengers Arriving to Ireland from 16 January 2021
The Irish government has announced the requirement for a pre-departure negative PCR (COVID-19) test for passengers arriving in Ireland from all countries from 16 January 2021.
All individuals arriving at Irish airports and other points of entry into Ireland will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. Passengers will be asked to present evidence of their negative COVID-19 test result before boarding their airplane or ferry and will be required to produce this evidence to Immigration Officers upon arrival in Ireland.
Some Exemptions Allowed
Passengers arriving from Northern Ireland and children aged six years and under are exempt from this requirement. Certain international transport workers are also exempt.
Passengers who arrive in Ireland solely for the purpose of travelling onwards to another state and do not leave the airport are also not required to provide evidence of a test. Certain exemptions also apply where an Irish citizen has a genuine humanitarian emergency requiring urgent travel.
Penalties for Non-compliance
Passengers without evidence of a negative COVID-19 test may be subject to prosecution, punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.
KPMG NOTE
Organisations and their employees with planned travel to Ireland will need to consider these new requirements and may need to build in additional time into their immigration/travel processes to be able to meet the requirement of producing evidence of a negative COVID-19 test prior to any relocation or business travel to Ireland. (For recent travel restrictions applying to travellers from Great Britain and South Africa, see GMS Flash Alert 2021-011, 8 January 2021.)
For advice on this changing situation, please contact your travel agent and local qualified immigration counsel or the Corporate Immigration and Employment Law Team with KPMG in Ireland.
FOOTNOTE
1 See "Travelling to Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic," from the Department of the Taoiseach at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/#new-pre-departure-testing-requirements-from-16-january-2021-for-all-passengers-travelling-to-ireland .
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Ireland.
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