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COVID-19 tests for HGV drivers travelling on the UK Landbridge to France & certain other countries
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- 1. What COVID-19 testing requirements have been introduced by France for truck drivers?
- 2. Where can I get a free COVID-19 antigen test in Ireland?
- 3. When can I get a test at these sites?
- 4. Is it free to get a COVID-19 test?
- 5. How long does it take to get a COVID-19 test at one of these sites?
- 6. How do I set up an account or change my current RocDoc Covid Check account?
- 7. Do I need to book in advance?
- 8. I have 72 hours before boarding, to get a test. Can I get a test a day or two before I leave?
- 9. I work as a HGV driver for a company in another country (NI/GB/other country), and I don’t live in Ireland, can I still avail of a test at one of the sites?
- 10. Do I need to bring any proof to the test centre?
- 11. How do I prove that I’ve tested negative for COVID-19?
- 12. What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?
- 13. What are the requirements for HGV drivers travelling from Ireland to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, or Switzerland?
- 14. If I am travelling from Ireland to Great Britain to use the landbridge route to reach France, the Netherlands, or Germany, how can I get tested?
Important Update: From 05 March France no longer requires that any Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver or Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver or Coach driver travelling directly from Ireland to France to present proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test. Neither are they required to provide a “declaration of honour”. The requirement for drivers travelling via the UK landbridge remains. Existing testing facilities in Ireland remain.
France requires that any Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver or Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver or Coach driver must present proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result (from a list of approved tests) before the driver will be allowed to embark on a ferry from the UK bound for France.
The test (whether PCR or antigen) must have been obtained less than 72 hours prior to embarking on a journey to France.
Proof of the negative test result must be shown to the shipping company before boarding and to French authorities upon disembarkation in France.
From 22 February, drivers that are returning to France having spent less than 48 hours in UK territory are exempt from the requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the shipping company. They must however provide proof to the ferry operator that they have spent less than 48 hours in the UK.
In addition, a COVID-19 test carried out in Ireland is now acceptable for UK landbridge travel to France, subject to the French requirements, and that it was obtained less than 72 hours before departure from the UK.
Drivers using the UK Landbridge will still be required to have completed a “declaration of honour” confirming that he/she has no COVID-19 symptoms and that he/she has not been a close contact of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 14 days.
Proof of this declaration must also be shown to the ferry company before departure.
The form is now available to download in English and French at the following link: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Deplacement-des-transporteurs-routiers-internationaux
Further, France has indicated that each driver should present a copy of their EU certificate for international transport workers (Annex 3 cert). This can also be downloaded at the above link – please click on the English link at the above link.
Testing sites have been established where drivers are now able to avail of a free COVID-19 antigen test in Ireland.
Dedicated COVID-19 (antigen) testing sites for HGV/LGV/coach drivers intending to travel from Dublin and Rosslare ports to continental Europe have been established and are operated by RocDoc. Drivers can obtain an antigen test free of charge at these locations. Drivers must make sure that they obtain a test within 72 hours prior to embarking on a ferry bound for France, and drivers are encouraged to pre-book their test and ensure that they arrive at the testing site on time. If a driver arrives without a pre-booking, he/she may have to wait or queue for a test.
Dublin
The Dublin site is open since Thursday 28 January. It is located South of Dublin Airport and is using part of what was previously Dublin Airport’s Blue Long Stay Car Park, signposted from M1 Junction 2 (Airport) and M50 Junction 4 (Ballymun). https://goo.gl/maps/stMwL14fLHSGhmkz7
Wexford
There are two sites serving Rosslare – a primary testing site, at Gorey Motorway Service Area (Circle K) which is open (since Thursday 28 January), and one at Holmestown Civic Amenity Facility, which is now open (since Monday 1 February).
Gorey
Gorey Motorway Service Area (Circle K) is located just off the M11 motorway, at a purpose-built junction between junctions 21 and 22, 78 km from Rosslare Europort. https://goo.gl/maps/FijbUu8wy8PbBy7x5
Holmestown
Holmestown Civic Amenity Facility is now open. It is located at the Holmestown Waste Management facility, 650m from the N25 in Holmestown, County Wexford. Eircode – Y35 Y28W. The site is 27 km from Rosslare Europort. https://goo.gl/maps/hQB2LSdmV6vUqjZe8
Cork Airport HGV Facility
A further HGV option has been put in place at Cork Airport to facilitate sailings from the Port of Cork and drivers in the Munster area. Follow signage on airport approach. Parking facilities for HGVS at the Airport are now in place. Pre-booking is mandatory at this facility.
Other Rocdoc Sites
All four of the above facilities have parking for HGVs and are near the three ports with RoRo ferry services to France (Dublin Port, Rosslare Port and Port of Cork). A small number of drivers have received tests at some of RocDoc’s other test centres (Shannon Airport, Ireland West Airport and the other Dublin Airport test centres). With these four facilities now available bookings will no longer be taken from HGV/LGV/coach drivers for free tests at these other Rocdoc sites.
Other Private Testing Facilities
Alternatively, hauliers and drivers can get an authorised COVID-19 antigen or PCR test at their own cost from a private testing facility around the country and firms may have their own arrangements. However, drivers must ensure that if they are undergoing an antigen test privately, that the test is on France’s list of approved antigen tests: https://covid-19.sante.gouv.fr/tests
Each driver should ensure that they have downloaded their test results prior to arriving at the Port and that it is available for inspection.
Opening hours are as follows:
Dublin
- Monday to Saturday 8am-7pm
- Sunday 07 March 10am-2pm
- Sunday 21 March 10am-2pm
Gorey (Until Sunday 07 March)
- Monday to Friday 9am-8pm
- Saturday 9.30am - 8.30pm
Gorey (From Monday 08 March)
- Monday to Saturday 9am - 7pm
Holmestown (Until Sunday 07 March)
- Monday to Friday 12pm-8pm
- Saturday 10am-9pm
Holmestown (From Monday 08 March)
- Monday to Friday 12pm-7pm
- Saturday 10am-7pm
Cork Airport HGV Facility
- Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm (subject to update)
- Pre-booking is mandatory at this facility.
All hours subject to ongoing review and based on demand. Please revisit this site to keep up to date.
It is important that drivers make an appointment for their test. Please see point 6 below for guidance on setting up an account with RocDoc and point 7 below for how to book a test in advance. Walk-ins will be facilitated where possible. It should be noted, however, that pre-booked tests have priority.
Yes, COVID-19 testing will be free at the designated sites outlined above for all HGV/LGV/Coach drivers who are taking an international journey within 72 hours to a country requiring COVID-19 negative test results (currently France/Netherlands/Germany). Drivers will also be asked to show photo identification to the testing provider and it is suggested that you bring your digital tachograph card as identification .
You may have to wait/queue for a COVID-19 test. Therefore, it is very important that drivers pre-book their test. Drivers can also book in for a test in the days before they travel to France (as long as this is within 72 hours prior to boarding the ferry to France).
The test is an antigen test taken using a swab. It takes about 10 minutes to get the test. Test results should be available within an hour of receiving the test.
You will receive an email notifying you that your test result can be viewed online on your portal. You will then have a QR code and the option of downloading your test result on your phone – if your result is negative, please download the test result.
To set up a new account
- Go to www.covidcheck.ie or www.rocdochealthcheck.ie and click on the green ‘Get Tested’ button at the top.
- Click on the orange ‘Create a New HGV Account’ button (the blue option is for general public accounts). You can also log into a current account here using the green bottom option.
- You will then be asked for personal information such as name, email, password, date of birth, gender and home address.
- You will need to upload a recent head and shoulder photo at this point also, please do not upload a photo of your passport, driving licence, tachograph card, etc. This must be against a plain white background with no other persons in the photo, no hats, no sunglasses, etc. This photo is used for identification purposes at the testing site and also will show on your testing information on the portal used for the applicable authorities.
- You will need to insert your personal digital tachograph card number here. If you do not have this you will not be able to book a HGV test. If you are a light goods vehicle driver then please add your driving licence number making it to 16 digits using zeros.
- Finally, you need to submit all details meaning that your account is now created. You will receive an email to notify you of this also (please check your junk, clutter, spam, other email inboxes as sometimes the email goes into these).
- Please note that if you do not register and set up an account, then you will be asked to do so at the test centre.
If you already have a Covid Check account and need to add your HGV details
- You can either use the Get Tested button on the website or by selecting ‘Personal Login’ from the Login menu option.
- Click on the bottom option ‘Book HGV Covid Test’
- At this point you can add your tachograph number, then submit
Yes , you should pre book a test in advance. Once you’ve created your profile/portal as outlined above, you should follow the below steps to book.
- Click ‘Book HGV Covid test’ on the home page
- Use the search function to look for an available tests on your desired date
- Once you find a date, time and location that suits you then click on the green ‘book’ button to the right
- Then you will just need to complete some specific booking details and tick the consent fields, sign, and submit.
- That is the test booking complete and notification will come up on the screen to confirm the details
- You will receive an email with all of this information on it and your unique appointment barcode
- If you need to check any details then please go to ‘My Tests/Tokens’ on the home page and all information will be on here also along with your unique appointment barcode
- When you arrive for your test you will need the unique appointment barcode and your photo ID (tachograph card)
Contact details
Administrative Support through a Customer Care Team is also available for assistance between 0800 – 2200, 7 days a week (00353(0)1 9697893) or email admin@rocdochealthcheck.ie . HGV drivers can also communicate with the testing provider via their personal customer portal messaging system.
Yes.
Yes. If you are taking the ferry from Ireland to France you can avail of a free test here in Ireland.
Yes, you should bring proof of your ferry booking (if you have this) with you to the test centre. The test provider will ask you to show them your ferry booking details to confirm that you intend to travel to the continent within the next 72 hours. Please also bring photo identification and this should ideally be in the form of your digital tachograph card.
If you undergo a test at one of the testing sites described above, you will receive an email enabling you to check your test result, along with the time and date of your result.
If you obtain a negative (non-detected) result, you can then proceed on your journey towards the port to take the ferry to France.
If you live in Ireland, contact your GP who will refer you for a free COVID-19 PCR test.
If you do not live in Ireland, the testing provider can contact a GP/doctor for you, who will formally refer you for a free COVID-19 PCR test in Ireland.
In all cases, if the PCR test result is positive, drivers must follow Irish public health guidance and self isolate in accordance with public health guidelines available here.
In all cases, your employer will need to make arrangements regarding the truck you are driving and the goods you are carrying.
The Netherlands
In addition to the above requirements being introduced by France, haulage operators must be aware that the Netherlands and Germany also have testing requirements in place.
Drivers travelling from the UK to the Netherlands by ferry are required to show evidence of a negative antigen test obtained within 24 hours of boarding a ferry departing for a Dutch port. Drivers and crew of HGVs, and drivers of LGVs and vans must get tested before they arrive at their (UK) port of departure.
Germany
For drivers who have been in Ireland during the last 10 days prior to entry into Germany, pre-registration is mandatory.
The German entry registration portal is available at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/ . If that is not available the alternate paper form available here: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus-infos-reisende/info-sheet.html . If using the paper form it must be completed before entering Germany handed over to German authorities upon request.
A negative COVID-19 test result obtained less than 48 hours before arrival in Germany is also mandatory.
German regulations depend upon the classification of the country the haulier is travelling from. Ireland is currently considered as an “area of variant of concern” and the above rules apply. Up-to-date information on the classification of countries as “risk areas”, “high incidence areas” or “areas of variant of concern” may be found under the link https://www.rki.de/risikogebiete (German/English version).
Belgium
HGV drivers travelling to Belgium do not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result however they must complete a Sworn Declaration in respect of the nature of their essential travel. The English version of the Sworn Declaration to be completed by those travelling for essential reasons to/from Belgium is available here. A hard copy paper form can be downloaded or an online version of the form can be filled out (from which a PDF can be downloaded as proof of completion).
Switzerland
HGV drivers travelling to Switzerland do not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. However, from 8 February 2021, drivers coming from high risk countries are required to provide contact details when entering Switzerland. The tool for online PLF registration can be found at: https://swissplf.admin.ch/home
If you are travelling from Ireland to France via the landbridge, proof of a valid negative COVID-19 test result obtained in Ireland, subject to French requirements, is now acceptable, if obtained less than 72 hours before departure from the UK . You may also get a test in Great Britain at one of the haulier advice sites offering tests. Free testing is available at 36 Information & Advice (I&A) sites across the UK, where hauliers and drivers can also get support with documentation requirements. Alternatively, hauliers and drivers can get an authorised negative COVID-19 test from a private testing facility and firms may have their own arrangements.
A map of all sites can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948524/haulier-advice-site-locations.pdf
Haulier advice sites are located at motorway service stations and truck stops. Most haulier advice sites in Britain are open between 6am and 10pm, 7 days a week.
If you are travelling from Ireland to the Netherlands or Germany, you can get a test in either Ireland or the UK, providing it follows each of the respective country’s requirements (see sections on the Netherlands and Germany above).
