COVID-19 Updates and Travel Advice
News
09 February 2021
COVID-19 - Travel Information and Embassy Services
From late April, Passport Online, our online passport application service, is open to all Irish citizens resident in Canada. Consequently, the Embassy no longer sends nor accepts paper based passport applications from Canada-based applicants. We will continue to provide them to first time applicants based in Jamaica and the Bahamas. Passport renewals must be completed using Passport Online. Applicants whose last passport was issued more than 15 years ago must apply as a first-time applicant. Further details are set out below.
As of 27 April, 2022, the Embassy will no longer accept new paper applications from Canadian residents under the age of 65 without a valid reason for not using the online service. For new applications that arrive, a $15 fee for registered mail will be taken and the applications will be returned.
There are updates to requirements for those departing Canada by air. Full details are set out below under "Departing Canada by air"
Updated 24 August 2022
Travel to Ireland
Entering Ireland from Canada
For full details and all updates to current measures, please monitor gov.ie - Government advice on international travel (www.gov.ie)
From Sunday 6 March, travellers to Ireland are not required to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival.
There are no post-arrival testing or quarantine requirements for travellers to Ireland.
Any individual that develops COVID-19 symptoms while in Ireland should follow the HSE guidance in relation to isolation and undertaking antigen or PCR testing as appropriate.
Travellers should check with their airline to ensure that they comply with any separate testing requirements demanded by their carrier prior to travel.
EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU-DCC)
All Irish Passport holders who were vaccinated outside of the EU are now eligible to apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate. Applications will be accepted from individuals 18 years of age and older who hold a valid Irish passport and a vaccination certificate for a vaccine type currently authorised for use for international travel into Ireland.
For further information please see the following GOV.ie link: gov.ie - EU Digital COVID Certificate (www.gov.ie)
For queries on the EU-DCC, please call the designated hotline at +353 76888 5513
Departing Canada by air
From 30 October 2021, travellers who are 12 and above departing from Canadian airports on both domestic and international flights, and travellers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, will need to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, with very limited exceptions. This will also apply to travellers on cruise ships when the cruise season commences in 2022.
At this time, unvaccinated foreign nationals may board a plane to leave Canada on one way tickets only.
Passports / Irish Citizenship
From late April, our Passport Online system will be open to all Irish citizens - including children and first-time applicants - applying from Canada. As of now, the Embassy no longer sends or accepts paper application forms from Canada-based applicants. The Embassy will continue to provide paper application forms to applicants based in the Caribbean: Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Passport Online - https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/ - is a faster and simpler way to apply for your passport. Once you upload a photograph, it takes about 10 minutes to complete the online application and pay with a credit card. If you are an adult renewing your passport with the same information, you normally won’t need to submit any supporting documents. If you are a first time applicant, renewing for a child or changing the information on your passport, Passport Online will e-mail you a list of documents which you need to submit directly to the Passport Service in Ireland. When your passport is printed, it will be sent back to you directly at the postal address you provide.
If you wish to apply for an Irish passport for the first time, please check your entitlements. If your connection to Ireland is through a grandparent born in Ireland (i.e. if your parent was not born in Ireland), you must first be entered on the Register of Foreign Births and have received your Foreign Birth Registration certificate. This is an online application process centralised in Dublin.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registrations is now open following a pause in services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Details are available here. The Embassy has no involvement in the FBR process and thus is not in a position to advise on individual queries.
Visas
We would draw your attention to the fact that COVID-19 restrictions are severely affecting visa processing times. Priority and emergency applications may take several weeks to be processed. Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be contacted directly. In order to ensure that resources can be used to best effect, we ask that you do not contact the Embassy to seek updates on your application.
Canadian citizens do not require a visa for study in Ireland. However, you must register with the immigration authorities on arrival. If your university is delivering your course of study online only for the next semester, you should not travel to Ireland at this time.
On 26 January the Government announced the introduction of additional, short-term restrictions. Updated information on these measures will be made available on the gov.ie website, the website of the Immigration Service Delivery and on the Department’s country specific travel pages.
For more information, please refer to the Visas section of our website and the travel section of www.gov.ie website.
Working Holiday Authorisations
We have now resumed processing of Working Holiday Authorisations for Canadian citizens.
For more information, go to our WHA FAQ page here.
Vaccination Certificate
The Embassy would encourage all Irish citizens in Canada who have been vaccinated to get their enhanced certificate of vaccination. Details on which provinces are now eligible to receive the enhanced certificate, and how to get the certificate can be found here: About the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination - Canada.ca
Embassy Measures
The Embassy will be open to the public Monday to Friday from 09:00-12:00pm by appointment only.
You can book an appointment via email (ottawaembassy@dfa.ie) or by phone (+1 613 233 6281).
Please note that at this time, only urgent appointments will be accepted.
Phone lines remain open from 9:00am-12:00pm Monday to Friday with the exception of holidays.
Please do not visit the Embassy without an appointment. The only exception to this will be for consular emergencies.
For consular emergencies outside working hours please call the Embassy on +1 613 233 6281 and leave a voicemail. This voicemail is monitored by the Embassy Duty Officer. Alternatively, you can call the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Dublin on +353 1 408 2000.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we implement these changes.
Travel to Canada
All information on travelling to Canada during the current restrictions can be found here: COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders - Travel.gc.ca