If, like most people, you’re confused by exactly where you can travel to and from – and the measures you have to take in order to do so – these are the Department of Health’s regulations.
International Travel
Spain has announced they will welcome UK visitors who are fully vaccinated. Can I travel there without having to test or isolate on return?
Spain is currently not on our green list. You will therefore have to self-isolate on return and test on day two and eight.
How often will travel be reviewed and will I have time to return home if a country moves from green to amber?
International travel categories are reviewed every three weeks. If cases were to rise suddenly in a particular country then action would be taken to amend this country’s status, ie moving from Green to Amber/Red. No prior notice would be given.
Will I be fined for travelling to Spain or France?
If you comply with all of the requirements upon return, no. If you don’t, then you are likely to receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £2000.
Vaccine certification
How can I prove I have had two vaccinations?
Work is ongoing on vaccine certification and we hope to launch the scheme in July.
Why has vaccine certification taken so long?
The format of the certificate (with security features) for devolved administrations was only agreed last week. Work has started to deliver a vaccine certification scheme that will be robust with built in counterfeit prevention measures.
Can I get confirmation from my GP that I have been vaccinated?
No. You need an official certificate to travel. Work is ongoing and it is hoped vaccine certification will be available in July.
Travel around the Common Travel Area
Will I be fined for taking a hotel break in Scotland?
No. When you come back to NI we ask you to self-isolate for 10 days if your travel has been for leisure.
Are you allowed to travel to Dublin to take a flight to a green list holiday destination?
Check local restrictions in place in ROI to ensure travel to the airport and onward internationally is permitted. If you return to NI via Dublin after a holiday, you are still subject to the rules and regulations on international travel. Check before you travel to avoid fines on return.
I need to travel to Dublin for a meeting. Will I need to self-isolate if I return on the same day?
Travel for work purposes to cross border areas is permitted.
Do you have to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) if travelling within the CTA?
You do not have to complete a PLF for travel within the CTA. You will have to complete one if you have been outside of the CTA within the previous 10 days.
Who is going to check if I am visiting family or just having a holiday?
This is about personal responsibility. NI has little presence of variants of concern which are more transmissible. If those variants were to become prominent then we could begin to see a rise in hospital cases and potentially deaths.