Latest Official Travel Advice

Travel Advice- USA

As of 16 March, the Government of Ireland is recommending against all non-essential international travel, including to the United States.

While the US Government has introduced restrictions on travel to the US from Ireland, there are no restrictions on flights from the US to Ireland.  Irish citizens, and others, are free to leave the US on any scheduled flights from a US airport and transatlantic flights continue to operate, albeit with schedule changes.

This is a fast-moving situation, however. As such, we strongly encourage all Irish citizens and residents wishing to return to Ireland to make provision to do so now.

You should book or make changes to your existing bookings directly with your airline, recognising that airlines' call centres are under significant pressure.  

You should check regularly with your airline's website for status updates and for any additional information they may require before you can board. 

We strongly recommend that you do not travel to an airport without a confirmed booking.

On return to Ireland, all travellers will be requested to restrict their movements for 14 days. 

For information on the outbreak at national level in the US, please refer to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation for latest updates. Please consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Ireland's official travel advice.

Information – Western United States

The Consulate strongly encourages all citizens within our Consular area to continue to follow federal, state and local public health authorities for up-to-date information and advice.

Website and social media information for relevant federal, state and city / county public health authorities are in the Information and Advice section of our website. This is not an exhaustive list but does include the relevant federal authority, all State level authorities in the Western USA consular area and cities / counties in the region where there is a known high density of Irish citizens.

You can access local up-to-date information for other individual U.S. States and consular areas through the websites of our Consulates in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US Travel Restriction 

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak the US has implemented special entry restrictions for their territory. 

As detailed in the US President's Proclamation of 14 March, from 11.59 PM EST Monday 16 March, entry into the US is restricted for those travelling from Ireland and the UK. Non-US nationals, including Irish nationals, who have visited or resided in Ireland or the UK for any period in the 14 days prior to their travel to the US will be denied entry, unless they are legal permanent residents of the US (i.e. green card holders). 

This holds unless they are the spouse or child of a US national or permanent resident, or the sibling of same providing both are under 21 years of age. 

This extends the coverage of measures the US President announced in Proclamation of Friday 13 March, restricting the entry to the USA of non-US nationals who had visited or resided in Schengen Area countries over the same period, and Proclamations published on 31 January and 29 February, respectively restricting travel from China and Iran. 

Non-US nationals with legal permanent residence in the US (i.e. Green Card holders) and their immediate family, as well as the immediate family (spouse and children) of US nationals, are not restricted from entering the US. However, if travelling from a restricted country they will now be required to enter the US through one of thirteen designated airports and will undergo additional screening on arrival. Further information can be found here. 

It is important to note that there are currently no restrictions on flights from the US to Ireland or the UK. You should check with your airline for any additional information they may require before you can board.

In addition to federal restrictions, there are a number of restrictive measures in place at the state or city level.

Seeking Consular Assistance from the Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco

On March 16th the Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco, London Breed, issued a 'Shelter in Place' Order, which is effective as of midnight on Monday 16 March until 7 April, 2020, or until it is extended. Similar orders are in place across the six counties of the Bay Area.

The Consulate's public office is closed for the duration of this Order.

During this period normal consular services (passport renewal, visa applications, working holiday agreement etc.) will not be available except in cases of genuine emergency.

If you are in need of emergency assistance, you can contact the Consulate, through our website "Contact us" form: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-consulate/sanfrancisco/contact-us/ or on the emergency number: +1 415 823 7150 and leave a message.

The mailbox and answering machine are both monitored regularly and an officer will contact you as soon as possible.