Many of us have been looking forward to a holiday in the sun, and after a long time at home, jetting off is now possible as international travel to and from Northern Ireland makes a return.
The Northern Ireland Executive has announced that a traffic light system will be used for international travel, which allows holidaymakers to travel to a limited number of countries in Europe and beyond without the need to quarantine.
The new system categorises countries as red, amber, or green based on their coronavirus risk, with different rules for travelling to each.
Countries on the red list have the most restrictions.
Other changes to travel rules include the return of non-essential travel throughout the rest of the UK and the removal of Stormont’s Stay Local message.
If you’re planning to jet off from Northern Ireland anytime soon, there are some rules and mitigations to bear in mind.
Which countries are on the NI travel green list?
The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed that 12 countries have been added to a green list to allow for international travel, with the new advice applying to residents and visitors to Northern Ireland from Monday.
Countries on the green list are:
- Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira
- Australia
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Faroe Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Gibraltar
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Brunei
- Falkland Islands
- Israel and Jerusalem
- Singapore
What are the rules for travelling to a green list country?
If you’re travelling to a green list country from Northern Ireland, it means you won’t have to isolate on your return home.
Travellers arriving in Northern Ireland from green list countries will have to take a PCR test on or before day two after arrival. This will have to be booked prior to travel.
If you have travelled from Portugal, Singapore, Israel, or Jerusalem you are requested to take an additional free Covid-19 PCR test on day eight after your arrival.
Children under the age of four will not need to take a test.
You do not need to self-isolate unless your coronavirus test result is positive, and you must self-isolate if you travelled with someone who has tested positive.
