International travel update

Date published: 09 November 2021

A number of changes to international travel have been announced, including the recognition of additional vaccines for the fully vaccinated policy and confirmation that under 18s will be treated as fully vaccinated.

Graphic for news update

Following a public health assessment, international travellers vaccinated with vaccines on level 4 of the Vaccine Recognition Framework of the World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) will now be recognised as fully vaccinated when arriving into Northern Ireland.

From 4am on 22 November, passengers vaccinated with a full course of the Sinovacm, Sinopharm Beijing and Coraxin vaccines will be treated as fully vaccinated. These vaccines will be added to the list of the currently recognised Oxford / AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen vaccines.

This means that individuals vaccinated with a full course of any of the above named vaccines will not need to self-isolate. However they must:

  • complete a UK Passenger Locator Form on arrival or in the 48 hours before arrival in Northern Ireland
  • before travelling, book and pay for either a day two PCR or LFD test to be taken on or before day two following your arrival in Northern Ireland

More information is available on NI Direct at Coronavirus (COVID-19): travelling to Northern Ireland from a non-red list country | nidirect

In addition, every international arrival under the age of 18 who is travelling or returning to Northern Ireland from a non-red list country will also be treated as being fully vaccinated. Currently only those under the age of 18 who are residents of the UK or from certain non red-list countries are deemed as fully vaccinated.

Further details are available on NI Direct at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-non-red-list-country.

Notes to editors: 

  1. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
  2. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt
  3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110

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