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THE GOVERNMENT’S NEW travel Green List kicks in from today, with just four countries on it.
People arriving into Ireland from Green List countries are not required to restrict their movements for 14 days, as is the requirement for people arriving from non-Green List countries.
The government has pledged to update the Green List on a weekly basis based on the prevailing rates of Covid-19 in different countries.
The new system will see EU/EEA countries with an incidence rate of fewer than 25 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past fortnight included on the Green List.
The latest update was announced last Thursday and comes into effect from today.
As of now, the Green List has four countries. They are:
The continuation of the Green List will remain in place until the European Commission’s new guidelines on air travel across the EU is adopted.
Due to come into effect next month, the plan would create a traffic light system.
These proposals will establish a common criteria and thresholds for EU member states when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions.
Regardless of whether a country is on Ireland’s Green List, the Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish people that they may face quarantine or other restrictions when they land in other countries.
Three of the four of the countries on the updated list – Cyprus, Finland and Latvia – currently have some form of restrictions for arrivals from other jurisdictions, including Ireland.
Cyprus
Cyprus has split countries into three categories; A, B and C. Ireland is a Category B country.
Passengers from Category B countries will need to:
There are some exceptions, including in cases where people are travelling from countries whose authorities are not able to offer Covid-19 testing to those wishing to travel to Cyprus.
These passengers will have the option of taking the test upon their arrival in Cyprus and will be required to pay for the cost of the test.
Finland
Ireland is classified as a Category 1 country and restrictions apply to those arriving into the country.
Some work related travel is allowed. Other than that, only family members or those in a relationship with someone living in Finland are allowed to travel there.
And self-quarantine is recommended for those arriving in Finland from these countries.
Latvia
Latvia is advising against travel by its citizens to countries with an incidence rate above 25 cases per 100,000 over a 14-day period. This includes Ireland.
Anyone arriving in Latvia from Ireland must self-isolate for 10 days.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein requires people to quarantine for 10 days on arrival into the country if they arrive from a “Covid risk area”, but Ireland is not currently listed as such an area.
Liechtenstein uses the same list as Switzerland, which does not list Ireland as an area with a high risk of infection.
How much time and money is being wasted on this utterly pointless green list? It would be quicker and easier for them to just ban travel outright. Not that I’d be in favour of that, but this weekly back and forth is just causing people confusion and lost money, and benefits literally no one.
It’s really 3 countries any can visit. Liechtenstein doesn’t have an airport.
It really is the Leitrim of the world.
@Madra: it’s like Monaco was on the first list. It’s just a way to save time in the absence of a plan to get the Irish healthcare system back on track…
@Claude Saulnier: Monaco is a lovely spot.
Switzerland has put Ireland on its 10 day quarantine list so therefor so must Liechtenstein. So you can’t go anywhere
@MrLynchGloPolitics: Why? Liechtenstein is an independent country. It can set any rules it likes. You may have to travel by private plane and drop in by parachute to get there, but you don’t have to quarantine when you arrive.
@Conall: Lichtenstein authorities themselves are stating that “The same regulations apply to entry the Principality of Liechtenstein as for Switzerland”. So the OP is 100% correct that if Switzerland is restricting travel from Ireland, Lichtenstein will as well (even if you arrive James Bond style). See:
https://tourismus.li/en/our-country/about-liechtenstein/current-information-on-covid-19-in-the-principality-of-liechtenstein/
I’ve alllllllways wanted to holiday in Lichtenstein
@danny: it’s actually a stunning little country! I’d highly recommend it as a holiday destination! You’d need to fly to Zurich and rent a car!
@Dec: Or hop the train to Sargans, and take the local bus to Feldkirch in Austria that goes all the way through Liechtenstein! Vaduz Schloss is class.
@danny: Right now I’d like to holiday anywhere.
Travel bans, red lists, black lists, quarantine list ARE NOT FEASIBLE!!
The only way to get travel back in some form, not just for holidays but for business and connectivity, is TESTING!
Have a negative test result 72 hours prior to your flight. If not, get tested in the airport on arrival, quarantine until you get your results (orange countries). Second test after 5 days (Red countries). Fines for those who don’t quarantine.
We must get back travelling.
Pointless having a list,
Confusing… either we allow travel or we don’t. Simple.
@Eddie Michael: Travel was never banned it was just advised not to travel which is still the case so you can take the governments advice or take your own advice.
you can LEAVE for cyprus once you have undergone a test for Covid-19 at a certified lab, within 72 hours prior to departure, and hold a certificate demonstrating the negative result to the test;
and what about ARRIVAL from?
if we are allowed travel to states under that criteria do we also have a list that requires same entry procedures?
@Kavsie: its same. That’s Cyprus’s requirement. They justbwont let you leave here without it cause you will need it on arrival.
Feck, and there was I hoping to holiday in North Korea…
What is the point seriously you may as well just not have a list at all, farcical stuff.
Not to worry you can fly to the following countries from Northern Ireland.
Since 10 July 2020 you will not have to self-isolate when you arrive in Northern Ireland, if you are returning from the following countries and territories:
A
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
B
Barbados
Bermuda
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
C
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Curaçao (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00am on 26 September 2020)
Cyprus
D
Denmark (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00am on 26 September 2020)
Dominica
E
Estonia
F
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
G
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece (excluding the islands of Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Crete, Mykonos, Santorini and Zakynthos (Zante) – which have been removed from the Travel Corridors list with effect from 4.00am on 9 September 2020.)
Greenland
Grenada
Guadaloupe (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00 am on 19 September 2020)
H
Hong Kong
I
Iceland (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00am on 26 September 2020)
Italy
J
Japan
L
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
M
Macau
Malaysia
Mauritius
Montserrat
N
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
P
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
Poland
Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores
S
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Seychelles
Singapore (this only applies to arrivals on or after 4.00 am on 19 September 2020)
Slovakia (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00am on 26 September 2020)
Slovenia (this does not apply to arrivals on or after 4.00 am on 19 September 2020)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
Sweden (this only applies to arrivals on or after 4.00 am on 12 September 2020)
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus
T
Taiwan
Thailand (this only applies to arrivals on or after 4.00 am on 19 September 2020)
Turkey
V
Vatican City State
Vietnam
Also ferries to
What’s happened in Finland makes everybody who’s praising Sweden’s approach look very silly.
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