Many travellers are setting off on holiday this summer after two years of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While you may know the entry requirements for your destination, it's important you know the Covid-19 rules for if you test positive for coronavirus while on holiday. Restrictions have been relaxed in some countries but others have self-isolation requirements still in place.
The Department of Foreign Affairs offers a country by country breakdown or travel and isolation rules on its website. Here's a breakdown of what you have to do if you test positive in these popular destinations:
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Spain
If you are travelling to Spain from Ireland or any other EU or Schengen Area country, you are not required to present a COVID certificate or the Spain Travel Health form.
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Spain from Ireland. There is no requirement to present certificates of vaccination/testing for COVID-19.
Passengers travelling from outside the EU or Schengen Area, including Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will be required to present a valid EU digital Covid certificate or equivalent or complete a Spain Travel Health Control Form.
If you test positive for COVID-19 while on holiday in Spain, you may be required to isolate in line with local health requirements. Please note that not all regions of Spain have dedicated quarantine hotels or facilities for those who test positive for COVID-19, and you may need to contact your accommodation provider to arrange to extend your stay.
Costs incurred from extending your stay in Spain are at the traveller’s own expense. As such, you are strongly advised to ensure that your insurance policy provides adequate cover in the event that you need to extend your stay in Spain due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
If you are a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you must follow the guidelines of the local health authorities.
Information on what to do if you present symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, is available in English on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Greece
Passengers arriving in Greece from Ireland are not required to present evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, recovery or a negative test and are not required to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
If you test positive for COVID-19 while in Greece, you must self-isolate for 5 days from the date of the positive test result. You may leave self-isolation after 5 days if you are no longer experiencing symptoms, otherwise you should continue to self-isolate.
All visitors must abide by all COVID-19 health protocols in place by the Greek Government without exception. The Embassy cannot intervene in the mandatory isolation procedures or request an exception on your behalf. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection can be contacted directly at +30 213-15100 or by email at generalsecretary@civilprotection.gr.
Visitors to Greece are no longer required to wear masks anywhere inside or outdoors and are not required to show proof of vaccination to enter shops, restaurants and attractions (with the exception of pharmacies).
The mask mandate on airplanes (domestic and international flights), intercity trains and buses (KTEL) is no longer enforced.However, people travelling on public transport and in taxis are still required by law to wear masks.
France
If you are travelling from Ireland and are fully-vaccinated, or have a negative test result, or you have proof of recovery from COVID-19, you are permitted to enter France without being subject to further restrictions or quarantine.
All passengers arriving by air must complete the EU-PLF form. Passengers arriving by sea or land are not required to complete this form.
The remaining requirements for travel to France from Ireland depend on your vaccination/recovery status.
If you are vaccinated, you must present proof of complete vaccination.
If you are recovered, you must present a certificate of recovery dated more than 11 days and less than 6 months prior to the date of arrival (a certificate of recovery is a document issued to persons who have contracted COVID-19, upon presentation of a positive RT-PCR or antigenic test).
If you are unvaccinated, you must present a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to your departure or an antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before departure.
If you are unvaccinated and relying on an antigen test, please note that only tests that can detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein will be valid. You should confirm this with your test provider.
If you do not demonstrate that you meet the above requirements, you may be denied boarding.
If you test positive for Covid-19 in France and you’re fully vaccinated (including a booster) or if you’ve had Covid-19 in the last 4 months, you must self-isolate for 7 days from the day on which you first develop symptoms, or 7 days from the date of the positive test result.
Self-isolation can be reduced to 5 days if you take a negative PCR or antigen test (supervised, not self-administered) on day 5 and you have not displayed any symptoms over the previous 48 hours. These isolation rules also apply to children under the age of 12, regardless of their vaccination status.
Italy
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Italy from Ireland. There is no requirement to present certificates of vaccination/testing for COVID-19.
All passengers entering Italy by plane, ferry, train or coach must wear an FFP2 mask in order to enter the country.
Before embarking on a trip to Italy, make sure that your region of destination has no further measures in place, including for isolation if you test positive. For additional information, some useful regional contacts are available. Information on the public health requirements in place in Italy can be found on the ‘Health’ tab.
If you are tested and the result is positive, you must immediately self-isolate in your accommodation and call your regional hotline.
You may be able to remain in your existing accommodation for self-isolation, or be required to transfer into a state hospital or other government-provided accommodation. You may be required to fund accommodation.
You can contact the emergency services in Italy by dialling 112.
Turkey
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Turkey from Ireland. There is no requirement to present certificates of vaccination/testing for COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19 while in Turkey, you must self-isolate for 7 days. The isolation automatically ends after 7 days unless you have symptoms. You may be tested on the fifth day, and if the result is negative the isolation ends. Close contacts who are fully vaccinated are not required to self-isolate.
Portugal
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Portugal from Ireland. There is no requirement to present certificates of vaccination/testing for COVID-19.
If you test positive for Covid-19 in Portugal, you will have to self-isolate. If you’re in mainland Portugal, you’ll have to self-isolate at your own expense for at least 7 days.
If you’re in Madeira, Porto Santo or the Azores, you’ll have to self-isolate at your own expense for at least 5 days. For more info, CLICK HERE.
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