Changes to Northern Ireland's international travel restrictions are set to come in from next week as the current traffic light system is set to be scrapped.
From 4am on Monday, 4 October, the rules for international travel to NI will change from the red, amber, green traffic light system to a 'red list of countries'.
The Department of Health has also announced simplified travel measures for arrivals from 'non-red list countries’.
The rules for travelling to Northern Ireland from countries and territories not on the red list will depend on your vaccination status.
To qualify as 'fully vaccinated' you must have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days either:
-under an approved vaccination programme in the UK, Europe, USA or the UK vaccination programme overseas
-with a full course of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen vaccines from a relevant public health body
-under a formally approved COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial in the US, Canada and Australia and have a proof of participation (digital or paper-based) from a public health body
Travelling from non red-list countries if you are fully vaccinated
From 4am on Monday, 4 October, if you have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days you must:
- complete a UK Passenger Locator Form on arrival or within 48 hours of arrival in Northern Ireland
- before travelling, book and pay for a day two PCR test to be taken on or before day two following your arrival in Northern Ireland
- be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated with a document (digital or paper-based) from a national or state-level public health body
Travelling from non red-list countries if you are not fully vaccinated
From 4am on Monday, 4 October, you must follow these rules if you:
- do not qualify under the fully vaccinated rules
- are partially vaccinated
- are not vaccinated
Before travelling to Northern Ireland
Before you travel you must:
- complete a UK Passenger Locator Form on arrival or within 48 hours of arrival in Northern Ireland
- take a pre-departure COVID-19 test(external link opens in a new window / tab) in the three days before you travel to Northern Ireland
- book and pay for a day two and day eight PCR test package, to be taken after your arrival in Northern Ireland
After arriving in Northern Ireland
After you arrive you must:
- self-isolate at home, or at the address that put on your Passenger Locator Form where you are staying in Northern Ireland, for 10 days
- take a COVID-19 PCR test on or before day two and on or after day eight of your stay
- You cannot leave self-isolation until you have tested negative on your day eight test and completed your 10 day isolation period.
Travel from red list countries
From 4am on Monday 4 October, all red list arrivals must follow these rules, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Before travelling to Northern Ireland:
- complete a UK Passenger Locator Form on arrival or within 48 hours of arrival in Northern Ireland
- take a pre-departure COVID-19 test in the three days before you travel to Northern Ireland
- book and pay for a managed isolation package (managed quarantine hotel), t which will include your day two and day eight PCR tests
After arriving in Northern Ireland:
- After you arrive in Northern Ireland you must travel directly from your port of arrival to the managed quarantine hotel to begin you
