Overview

General COVID-19 Travel Advisory in Operation:

Avoid non-essential travel until further notice:

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises against all non-essential travel overseas until further notice. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship.

If you are currently travelling outside of Ireland:

Flight restrictions and route cancellations are happening on a daily basis worldwide and there is no guarantee that air routes will continue to operate. For this reason, where commercial flights are still an option, we recommend that people who wish to do so make arrangements to return to Ireland as soon as possible.

We are working with airlines to show maximum flexibility to those passengers who need to change their existing flight arrangements. Where commercial flights are no longer available, we are working side-by-side with our international partners to identify alternative options where possible.

It may not be feasible or possible for everyone who wants to travel back to Ireland to do so in the short term. We ask Irish citizens remaining abroad to make decisions that safeguard their health and well-being and that they follow local public health and safety requirements.  We ask that they remain in close contact with family, friends and their local Irish Embassy or Consulate. 

We know that this is a stressful situation for citizens and our embassy network is working around the clock to provide people with all the information and assistance that we can, bearing in mind the situation is unfolding across multiple countries and is not one under our control. 

What to do on entering Ireland from abroad:

The Irish Health Authorities require anyone coming into Ireland, apart from Northern Ireland, to restrict their movements on arrival for 14 days. Check the Irish Health Service COVID-19 Advice Page for full information on these requirements. This includes Irish residents. Exemptions are in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.

Where to go for more information:

We continue to make updates to our online travel advice for over 200 countries and recommend that you download our TravelWise App and follow us on Twitter. If abroad you should register with your local Irish Embassy or Consulate and regularly check their website and especially their Twitter accounts for details of any local public health measures and travel restrictions.

Security Status

We advise you to avoid non-essential travel to Burkina Faso.

Latest alert

Citizens should be aware that political instability continues in Burkina Faso, that the situation is tense and liable to change at short notice. The Department advises citizens to exercise extreme caution if in the country, stay indoors, be aware of their surroundings and monitor local media for updates. There is the strong potential for the security situation to deteriorate without warning.

There is also an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including places where foreigners gather. There is a credible risk that terrorist groups may cross the northern borders from neighbouring countries to carry out kidnap attacks. Terrorist threat has increased in recent months and we advise against all travel to the border area with Benin, Mali, Niger and Togo, and more particularly to the provinces where the state of emergency is currently in effect (Kénédougou, Kossi, Sourou, Louroum, Soum, Oudalan, Séno, Yagha, Gnagna, Komondjari, Gourma, Tapoa, Koulpélogo and Kompienga).

Emergency assistance

Because there is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in Burkina Faso, we’re limited in the help we can offer you in an emergency. The best help is often close at hand so if you have problems, try talking to your local contacts, tour operator representative or hotel management.

If there is an emergency, or if you need help and advice, you can contact our Consular Assistance Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin on +353 1 408 2000.

EU Directive on Consular Protection

Under the EU Consular Protection Directive, Irish nationals may seek assistance from the Embassy or Consulate of any other EU member state in a country where there is no Irish Embassy or permanent representation.

Our tips for safe travels

• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance which covers all your intended activities
• Add an alert for your destination within the Travelwise App.
• Register your details with us so that we can contact you quickly in an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a family emergency
• Follow us on twitter @dfatravelwise for the latest travel updates    
• Read our Topical ‘Know Before You Go’ guide