Fully vaccinated Canadians can now travel to Ireland without quarantine or tests. These details, and others, are spelled out in a unique letter to the Canadian trade from Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons, who promises that “the tourism industry right across the island of Ireland are very much looking forward to welcoming back your clients and will ensure they enjoy their visit.”

Gibbons adds, “We know and understand the very great difficulty uncertainty causes for your business and will continue to do everything we can to help and will update you on any developments as they take place. Many thanks for your ongoing support for Tourism Ireland and the tourism industry on the island of Ireland. We very much value your business and look forward to working with you to rebuild it in the months and years ahead.”

To that end, Gibbons offers the latest A to I primer on visiting the Emerald Isle for Canadians:

• From July 19 Ireland is welcoming visitors from Canada who have valid proof of vaccination. For those that are fully vaccinated no travel-related testing or quarantine is necessary.

• For those who do not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to: present evidence of a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival into Ireland; self-quarantine; undergo post-arrival testing provided through the Health Service Executive in Ireland.

• Ireland will be applying an ‘emergency brake’ mechanism that will be coordinated at EU level to react swiftly to the emergence of a variant of concern or variant of interest. In the event that this ‘emergency brake’ mechanism is applied to Canadian visitors the requirements will change and more detail can be found on the Irish Government website.

• Before arriving in Ireland, Canadian visitors will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form, which will be checked prior to departure to Ireland by the relevant air carrier and visitors may be asked to provide the vaccination certificate indicated on their form.

• On arrival in Ireland, spot checks will be carried out on proof of vaccinations and negative RT-PCR tests as appropriate.

• Travellers should be aware that the introduction of these additional checks may cause some delays and so should give themselves extra time either side of departure and arrival.

• Children between the ages of 12 and 17 must have a negative RT-PCR test to travel into Ireland, even with fully vaccinated or recovered adults. Children under 12 do not need to take a RT-PCR test prior to travelling to Ireland.

• Only those fully vaccinated or with proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past six months will be able to avail of indoor hospitality during their stay in Ireland. It is anticipated that this will apply from July 26. Those staying in hotels can access the indoor hospitality options within the hotel.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is operating a system of green, red, and amber countries and the measures in place will depend on the countries the visitor is travelling from or passing through. Canada is currently on the amber list of countries, which means that if visitors are travelling to Northern Ireland, either directly or via another country including Ireland, they must:

• provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to three days before departure
• book post-arrival testing
• complete a UK passenger locator form either on arrival, or in the 48 hours before arrival
• self-isolate for 10 days.

Further details and ongoing updates can be found on the Irish Government website for the latest information.

Gibbons also invites members of the trade with any further questions to contact the Tourism Ireland team in Toronto “who will be happy to help and provide answers where they can.”