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Please be advised that the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Travel Advice is now available at Ireland.ie/travel . Travel Advice on this webpage is no longer being updated.

Travel Advice

Our travel advice helps you to make informed decisions when you’re planning a trip overseas and offers you an objective assessment of the risks you could face.

Travel Advice by Destination

Quick links to most popular destinations:

• Afghanistan
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• Philippines
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• Russian Federation
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• Saint Lucia
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• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Switzerland
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• Trinidad and Tobago
• Türkiye (Turkey)
• Turkmenistan
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• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America (USA)
• Virgin Islands (UK)
• Virgin Islands (US)

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We use the best information available to us, including reports from:

• Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad
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We make every effort to ensure our travel advice is accurate and up-to-date, but you shouldn’t regard it as definitive or comprehensive in all respects.

Just because there’s no specific advice about a particular country or region, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s safe to travel there. Situations can change quickly from one day to the next and from one part of a country to another.

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We advise all Irish citizens travelling abroad to be mindful of their surroundings at all times and take the necessary precautions for their personal safety and that of their belongings.

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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Ireland

Telephone: 112 or 999 (ambulance, fire, police)

Irish Tourist Assistance Service ( ITAS )

Telephone: +353 (0)1666 93 54

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Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

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For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

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FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

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If you are abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission .

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Britons issued travel warning as cases of 'potentially life-threatening' disease rise in England, Wales and Nothern Ireland

Britons going abroad have been urged to check travel advice

By Anna Barry

Published: 24/04/2024

Holidaymakers can avoid contracting malaria by taking precautionary measures

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Britons have been warned of a rise in travel-acquired malaria cases, with an increase in diagnoses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that can be passed on to humans by mosquitoes.

The number of imported malaria cases diagnosed in 2023 was higher than they have been in 20 years, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

GOV.UK said: "New data from the UKHSA, published ahead of World Malaria Day (April 25), shows an increase in malaria diagnosed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with reported cases exceeding 2,000 for the first time since 2001. Cases were confirmed in individuals who had recently been abroad.

"The number of cases highlights the importance of taking precautions to minimise the risk of malaria when travelling abroad.

Britons should consult travel advice before going abroad

GETTY IMAGES

"In 2023, there were 2,004 cases of malaria confirmed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland following travel abroad, compared to 1,369 in 2022."

The rise in cases has been linked to the "resurgence of malaria in many countries", coupled with an increase in overseas travel post-pandemic.

The most recent guidance by Travel Health Pro - which was set up by the Department of Health to protect the health of British travellers - reads: "Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

"Malaria is widely distributed throughout tropical regions in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), the Middle East and Oceania (islands in the Pacific Ocean between Asia and the Americas)."

Britons were warned that symptoms can be non-specific and flu-like.

Malaria symptoms

• Abdominal discomfort
• Muscle aches

The UKHSA added: "Although symptoms of malaria from several species of the Plasmodium parasite can cause severe disease, illness with Plasmodium falciparum can progress rapidly and cause life-threatening complications if prompt treatment is not given."

What Britons need to do

Holidaymakers should be careful when travelling and ensure they take the necessary precautions.

The UKHSA said: "Following the ABCD of malaria prevention - ‘Awareness of risk, Bite prevention, Chemoprophylaxis and Diagnose promptly and treat without delay’ - can help travellers to be protected against the infection.

"UK travellers are reminded to seek and follow travel advice for their destination, which may include antimalarials and mosquito bite avoidance measures. There is no licensed vaccine against malaria for travellers, but vaccines are available for other travel-associated infections."

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Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes

Britons were urged to consult Travel Health Pro, the "one-stop-shop for information to help people plan their trip abroad".

"Travellers should be aware that even if they have visited or lived in a malarious country before, they will not have the same protection against malaria as local residents and are still at risk. Travellers should consult their general practice, pharmacist, or travel clinic four to six weeks before their trip for individual advice and malaria prevention tablets where required."

Holidaymakers heading to countries where there are insects that spread diseases, for example, malaria, dengue and zika, should use insect repellent, cover exposed skin, and sleep under a treated bed net.

Anyone feeling unwell during their travels should seek medical help while away. Once back in the UK, individuals feeling unwell should promptly seek medical attention, also informing their healthcare provider that they have been travelling recently.

Britons should not be fearful if they ensure they exercise caution by taking proactive measures.

Director of the UKHSA Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL) Professor Peter Chiodini said: "All malaria cases are preventable and simple steps like using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, sleeping under treated bed nets and taking malaria prevention tablets can lower infection risks."

However, he did issue a warning: "While malaria can affect anyone, the majority of Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in the UK occur in those of African background. Even if you have visited or lived in a country before, you will not have the same protection against infections as local people and are still at risk. We are working in partnership with communities at greater risk to improve their access to and use of effective malaria prevention measures."

British holidaymakers have also been warned as a "fatal" disease is spotted across the globe, including a popular tourist hotspot.

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Politics latest: Potential contender confirms she's considering standing to replace Humza Yousaf

Kate Forbes tells Sky News she is considering running to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader, as John Swinney - another potential candidate - says the SNP must "come together".

Tuesday 30 April 2024 22:10, UK

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• Kate Forbes confirms she is considering standing to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader
• John Swinney - another potential candidate - issues call of unity in Sky News interview
• What you need to know about Forbes and Swinney
• The contest explained  | Why Yousaf resigned
• Number 10 responds after Irish PM says UK must respect arrangement to take back asylum seekers
• Local elections: Everything you need to know about this week's votes
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Samuel Osborne

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned – days after he cut the SNP's powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens.

It followed a bitter row over the SNP's climbdown on climate targets as he said the agreement between the parties had "served its purpose".

As a result, his former Green allies teamed up with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats to get behind two no-confidence motions, one in himself as leader of Scotland and another regarding the entire Scottish government.

Now attention turns to another SNP leadership contest and what the divisions in Scottish politics could mean for the future of the independence campaign.  

On the Sky News Daily , Matt Barbet speaks to Paul Hutcheon, political editor of the Daily Record, and Shona Craven, from The National, about how the SNP can move on after Mr Yousaf's resignation.

Plus, Connor Gillies , our Scotland correspondent , explains how the leadership election will unfold.  

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local election campaign well under way, Labour is still sitting comfortably ahead, with the Tories trailing behind.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

The UK has sent the first failed asylum seeker to Rwanda - under a voluntary scheme.

The scheme is for those who have gone through the asylum process and had permission rejected, rather than for migrants who have illegally entered Britain by crossing the Channel on small boats.

The migrant was sent on a commercial flight and handed a fee from the British taxpayer to help relocate under the terms of a deal with Rwanda.

According to The Sun, the man of African origin claimed asylum in the UK but was rejected at the end of last year. He then accepted the offer to go to Rwanda.

He left the UK on Monday.

You can read more from Sky News here: 

By Sam Coates , deputy political editor

More than 2,600 seats are up for election in 107 English councils on Thursday.

Now, YouGov has made its final calls for some key contests using the MRP polling method after interviewing almost 9,000 people over two weeks.

Here, exclusively on Sky News, are the headlines...

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned yesterday in the face of two confidence votes after he dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end last week.

How did we get here?

The Bute House Agreement - signed back in 2021 and named after the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - brought the Green Party into government for the first time in the UK.

It gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green members, and also made Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater junior ministers.

Without it, the SNP would need to have operated as a minority administration at Holyrood.

What caused the relationship to sour?

There had been mounting tensions between the largest party at Holyrood and their junior partners in government.

The Greens were angered at the SNP-led administration's recent decision to ditch a key climate change target.

That, combined with the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers to under-18s at Scotland's only gender clinic, resulted in the Greens announcing they would have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal. 

What brought things to a head?

Mr Yousaf decided to pull the plug on the agreement last Thursday - arguing it had "served its purpose" - prompting a major fallout with his former allies, who vowed to back a no-confidence motion in his leadership proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Scottish Labour also submitted a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government as a whole.

In the face of the two votes, Mr Yousaf announced he would stand down yesterday, but said he would stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

Scotland's health secretary has been told the NHS is "not coping, GPs are struggling, and primary care is on its knees".

Neil Gray came under questioning at the Scottish parliament on Tuesday amid reports that the number of private GP clinics in Scotland has more than tripled since the COVID pandemic as patients have struggled to get appointments on the NHS.

Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan asked: "Does the cabinet secretary accept that by not adequately funding GP services, this government have overseen the development of a two-tier health system where the worst off go without and even those on lower incomes are forced to pay for them or their loved ones just to see a GP?"

In response, Mr Gray said  COVID  was the "biggest shock in the history of the NHS and its effects are still felt".

You can read more from Sky News below:

Nominations have now opened in the SNP leadership contest to find a replacement for First Minister Humza Yousaf after he announced he was stepping down yesterday.

Senior figures have backed former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job, while a smaller number of the party's parliamentarians have backed former finance secretary Kate Forbes.

Mr Yousaf has said he will stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

How does the contest work?

The SNP's national secretary announced nominations had opened yesterday at 11.59pm.

They will close next Monday.

Prospective candidates will need to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches in order to qualify for the contest.

What happens next?

Whoever wins the contest will then need to be able to win enough votes in Holyrood to be elected first minister.

The SNP needs just two votes to secure an overall majority.

The most likely backers for the SNP would be the Greens, given both parties are pro-independence.

However, the Greens announced last week they would not support the first minister in a confidence vote after Mr Yousaf scrapped the powersharing agreement between the party and the SNP, which eventually led to his political downfall.

By Daniel Dunford , senior data journalist

There might not be a general election just yet, but there are important votes that will define how the areas around us are run for the next four years. 

See what's happening where you are here:

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates is now joining Sophy with some new polling ahead of the local elections, which will take place on Thursday.

YouGov have tonight made some final calls for some of the key contests, after interviewing almost 9,000 people over a two-week period.

As Sam explains: "Let me start with two key battlegrounds - and it's Milton Keynes and Hyndburn. Now, we're about to see Labour HQ will be very pleased with Sky and YouGov saying they're both going red.

"Now, Hyndburn is a red wall council that has proved sticky recently, that's why they'll be pleased."

However, Sam does point to a few councils which YouGov says are too close to call.

These include Norwich and Tamworth. Labour could be building momentum here,  but the pollster was unwilling to make a call.

With Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader, Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell takes a look at some of the potential candidates that could throw their hat into the ring to take the top job.

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Please be advised that this page has moved and this content is no longer being updated. Up-to-date information is now available at Ireland.ie/travel .

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Travel advice.

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Planning a trip abroad? Follow our basic travel advice and be prepared.

Assistance Abroad

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Frequently asked questions on obtaining a visa.

Our Services

We offer a range of consular services and practical supports to all Irish citizens travelling abroad.

EU Consular Protection Directive

Citizens of European Union member states travelling outside of the EU can approach any embassy or consulate from another EU member state to seek assistance, if their country of origin does not have representation.

In 2021 the Department of Foreign Affairs provided support to over 1,200 Irish citizens abroad.

Get Travel and Medical Insurance

Before travelling, the Department strongly recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical repatriation/evacuation, repatriation of remains and legal costs. You should check any exclusions and, in particular, that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

Our tips for Safe Travels:

• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance which covers all your intended activities.
• Get a European Health Insurance Card
• Register your details with us so that we can contact you quickly if there’s an unforeseen crisis like a natural disaster or a family emergency.
• Follow us on twitter @dfatravelwise for the latest travel updates.

Read our ‘Know Before You Go’ guide .

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