Publication
TRAVELLING ABROAD
From Department of Defence; Office of Emergency Planning
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Defence; Office of Emergency Planning
Published on
Last updated on
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides information and advice to prepare citizens before travelling abroad, and offers an objective assessment of the risks they could face.
Our key messages are:
When making decisions about international travel, you should consider your overall health, vaccine status, and the public health situation in other countries.
We strongly recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance, which can save you and your family a lot of money if something goes wrong. It will also ensure that you get the medical attention you need, when you need it. Hospital bills can quickly run into thousands of euro, and a medical evacuation back to Ireland can cost thousands more.
Irish residents are entitled to receive healthcare through the public system in countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland if ill or injured while on a temporary stay there. Ensure that you get or renew your EHIC (the new name for the E111) before you go, and remember, you will need one for every person travelling in your group.
Please note that the EHIC is not a substitute for proper travel insurance provided by a reputable insurer. It does not cover medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. Also, some private hospitals may not accept the EHIC, so you should check with the hospital administrator beforehand.
We provide a range of help and support to citizens in distress abroad. 24/7 emergency consular assistance is available through our Embassies and Consulates and through the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin.
Assistance is provided within the remit of our Consular Assistance Charter.
If you experience difficulty while abroad and require consular assistance, you can contact the relevant Embassy or Consulate.
If you are in Ireland and calling on behalf of a family member or loved one abroad, the Consular Assistance Unit can be contacted on +353 (0)1 4082527 during office hours or out of hours on +353 (0)1 4082000, in the event of a genuine emergency.
We recommend that all citizens travelling abroad register with their local Embassy or Consulate. This information will allow us to contact you in the event of a crisis or emergency in that location. Please note that you should only ring out of hours or use Consular Directorate’s emergency assistance phone number in the event of a genuine emergency.