Skip to main content
Department of Health Department of Health An Roinn Sláinte Männystrie O Pouste

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Travel regulations update

    Topics:
    • Public health policy and advice

    Date published: 20 August 2020

    From this Saturday those arriving in Northern Ireland from Portugal will not need to self-isolate.

    Following a review of the scientific and medical evidence Portugal will be added to the Travel Corridors exemption list at 4am on Saturday 22 August.

    Austria, Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago will be removed from the list. As a result, anyone arriving from these countries after 4am on Saturday 22 August will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

    Speaking about the changes, Health Minister Robin Swann said: “Given the ever-changing picture of Covid-19 around the world I will not hesitate in moving swiftly to make changes to the regulations when necessary. Anyone considering travelling abroad should bear this in mind and should review the travel advice on NIDirect and FCO websites ahead of travelling. Countries on the exempt list can be removed at relatively short notice – therefore if you’re planning to travel abroad, even to currently exempted countries, there is a possibility that you will be required to quarantine on your return. This is absolutely necessary to help keep the people of Northern Ireland safe.”

    Further information is available on NIDirect:

    www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact 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 between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Statistics on Smoking Cessation services in Northern Ireland: 4 Week follow up figures for 2024/25, and 52 week follow up figures for 2023/24

      12 November 2025

    • Minister confirms restoration of pay parity for health service staff

      6 November 2025

    • Automatic passporting to Help with Health Costs scheme to be reinstated from December

      5 November 2025

    • Publication of ‘Healthy Child, Healthy Future - Health Review Statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25’

      30 October 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens