Airport Security FAQs
Security in T1 opens at 03:00hrs and remains open until the last departing flight.
Security in T2 opens at 03.30hrs and remains open until the last departing flight.
We advise passengers to arrive at their terminal 2 hours before departure time for short-haul flights, and 3 hours before long-haul flights.
If you are checking bags or travelling in a group you should allow more time. Always consult your airline for check-in in desk and bag drop opening hours.
Security Queue Times can be viewed by clicking here.
You can also view check-in times by airline and by terminal below.
You can view Security Queue Times on our website by clicking here or on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger and via the Dublin Airport App.
The security queue times displayed are not fully real-time, they represent the median queue time that it took passengers to complete the Security screening process in the previous 15 minutes. This means individual passengers can experience queue times that can be either longer or shorter than the time displayed. However, showing this median time can give an indication of the queue time that passengers can expect
In Terminal 1, the queue time shown covers the Security queue within the departures floor. However, if the queue goes outside of the Terminal, this queue time is not captured
In Terminal 2, the queue time shown is measured from the top of the escalators on the Level 2, i.e. it covers queuing across that area. However, if the queue goes beyond this point, that part of the queue time is not captured.
In general, you can bring small items that are 6cm or less in your carry-on baggage. Examples are small nail scissors, small nail clippers or pins. Knitting needles are ok too, even if longer than 6cm. No scissors/blades are allowed for US bound flights.
Check which terminal you're departing from.
We advise passengers to arrive at their terminal 2 hours before their scheduled departure time for short-haul flights, and 3 hours before long-haul flights.
If you are checking bags or travelling in a group you should allow more time. Always consult your airline for check-in in desk and bag drop opening hours.
If checking a bag, verify your airline’s check-in & bag drop desk opening times, and if possible, allow up to one hour of additional time to check-in luggage. You can also view check-in times by airline and by Terminal below.
Ideally only 1 piece of carry-on baggage per person. Check with your airline for their carry-on baggage allowance.
There is no limit on the number of liquids and gels that can be carried, items in containers up to 2 litres can be brought through security
Liquids, gels and electronics can stay in your carry-on baggage.
Any oversized garments, which may conceal additional items or the outline of your person, will have to be removed for Security screening. Please remove the top, be it an over-sized hoodie, jumper, jacket or sweater and place in the tray for screening.
Any shoes, runners or boots that are at ankle height or higher, such as runner boots or sock boots, will have to be removed, to place in the tray for Security screening.
More information on how to prepare for security is available here.
Liquid Restrictions FAQs
There is now no limit on the number of liquids and gels permitted in carry-on baggage, provided that each individual container does not exceed a capacity of 2 litres.
Regulations at different airports can vary. While the roll-out of C3 scanning technology is complete for all passengers at Dublin Airport, this may not be the case at other airports.
Yes, passengers can bring liquids, including bottled water, through security in containers up to 2 litres.
Yes. passengers can bring food and liquids through security in containers up to 2 litres including:
Essential medications
Food stuffs
Special dietary liquids
Baby food or milk
Passengers due to return to Dublin Airport should check the security rules for the airport they are due to return from, to ensure their hand luggage meets their requirements.
Whether you're connecting or self-transferring, the new liquid rule allows you to carry as much liquid as you need through security in containers up to 2 litres. If you need to go through security screening again, the same allowance as departing passengers applies
Yes, you can still buy liquids and other substances covered by the regulations, in containers of any size, after the security screening point and on board European airline flights. Liquids and gels purchased after the security screening point or on board your flight will be packed and sealed for you in a tamper-evident bag as necessary by the shop or cabin personnel.
Additional FAQs
Yes, sharps bins are located at Security Screening, please inform a security officer should you need to use them.
If you have a diabetes-specific medical device, please inform the security officer prior to screening. While our body scanners do not use x-rays, instead, they operate using micro-millimetre waves which are safe and non-invasive. Please check the guidelines of your medical device as some of the more recent devices may not be exposed to micro-millimetre waves. Please let our security officer know if you need them to be aware of any pain (i.e. surgery) or medical equipment to ensure extra care is taken. Alternatively, passengers can request to opt out of going through the C3 Scanners, which will be conducted in a separate private area, If you have a wheelchair, or other medical equipment, this will be subjected to search, via, x-ray, hand search or ETD, this is standard procedure.
If you have any medical devices, please inform the security officer prior to screening, our body scanners are safe for passengers, including those with medical implants, pacemakers, insulin pumps, stomas or prosthesis. Our body scanners do not use x-rays, instead, they operate using micro-millimetre waves, which are safe and non-invasive. If you have any medical devices this will show up on our scanners and will be subjected to further screening, this is the standard procedure with the new scanners. In some cases, we may conduct hand searches. Please let our security officer know if you need them to be aware of any pain (i.e. surgery) or medical equipment to ensure extra care is taken. If you feel uncomfortable being searched in public, please request a private search which will be conducted in a separate private area. If you have a wheelchair, or other medical equipment, this will be subjected to search via, x-ray, hand search, ETD or swabbed by security staff, this is standard procedure.
You can bring photography / camera film through security, but if you request that your photography / camera film is not screened using x-ray/EDS (explosives detection system) units, the photography / camera film canister must be hand searched and sampled using ETD (explosive trace detection). If the photography / camera film is within a camera, it must be removed from the camera by the passenger, placed in the film canister for hand search and ETD sampling or screened using x-ray/EDS. The film should be wound fully into the cartridge prior to its removal from the camera. Please be advised that daa cannot be held responsible if films become corrupted. The camera and lenses must be screened via x-ray/EDS units.