NI travel rules update: pre-departure Covid tests scrapped

A number of travel rules which had been introduced to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant in Northern Ireland are being removed.
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The Department of Health has confirmed that from 4am on Friday (January 7), fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival.

However, fully vaccinated passengers are still required to complete a passenger locator form and take a test on or before day 2 of their arrival.

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From Sunday (January 9), this can be either a lateral flow or PCR test. NHS Test and Trace tests cannot be used for international travel and lateral flow tests for this purpose must be purchased from a private provider.

New travel rules come into force in Northern Ireland from Friday, January 7.New travel rules come into force in Northern Ireland from Friday, January 7.
New travel rules come into force in Northern Ireland from Friday, January 7.

Anyone with a positive lateral flow test will be required to book a free confirmatory PCR test and isolate. If the subsequent mandatory confirmatory PCR is negative, then the isolation period can end.

People who are not deemed as fully vaccinated are required to complete a passenger locator form, take a pre-departure test, have booked a PCR day 2 and day 8 test package and complete 10 days self-isolation.

The latest advice and rules on travel are available on NI Direct.

READ MORE:

‘No shortage’ of lateral flow tests in Northern Ireland insists Department of Health