As the Deputy will be aware, there are risks associated with international travel generally in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 led to the introduction of new global restrictions on travel, many of which have since been eased. However, restrictions remain subject to change at short notice and this may remain the case for the foreseeable future.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate has been one of the EU success stories since the onset of the pandemic and it will remain an important tool to facilitate easier travel throughout the EU in the coming period.
Each country continues to be responsible for the definition of its own entry requirements and rules, including requirements to provide COVID-19 certificates of vaccination or recovery. There is no uniform approach to these requirements across the EU, and the United States of America also has its own specific rules. Information about entry restrictions applied by other countries is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs country-specific travel advice pages on our website. Anyone considering travelling abroad should monitor the latest advice before travel.
My Department provides comprehensive travel advice for over 200 countries so that citizens can make informed decisions on travel for themselves. I encourage citizens to exercise caution when making any decisions about international travel, taking account of their overall health and vaccine status, and to be aware of the risk of testing positive for COVID-19 while abroad.
