Ireland to open borders in July

Outbound foreign travel from Ireland is to be permitted from July 19, under plans agreed by the country’s Cabinet Committee on COVID-19.

While most medical tourists go from Ireland to the UK, lack of capacity and queues for treatment in certain specialities means that the thousands who use the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive might choose a different EU country.

Ireland’s government will introduce the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate (EUDCC) on July 19, and people who are fully vaccinated will be free to travel abroad without producing a negative COVID-19 test on their return. They will also avoid hotel or home quarantining.

Vaccinated passengers will be able to visit Ireland without a negative test and will also be exempt from any quarantining measures.

Most of Ireland is expected to return to normal during June and July.