Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Holiday advice from nidirect

Before you go on holiday, why not take some useful information with you? nidirect can help you plan and prepare for your well deserved break, at home or abroad.

Going abroad

If you're going overseas, nidirect offers advice, top tips and online transactions, for example:

  • a travellers checklist
  • advice on taking out travel insurance
  • ways to protect your health abroad
  • apply for a European Health Insurance Card

You can find out more at the ‘Before you travel’ page.

Passports and visas

You need to make sure that you have a current passport and the necessary entry visas to be able to travel overseas.

Don't ruin your holiday by forgetting to check that everything is up to date and in order. Visit the following section to find out about passport and visa applications and renewals. And, don't forget that if you're taking your pets with you they also need passports.

European Health Insurance Card

Inside the European Union free or reduced-cost emergency treatment is available to patients with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can use nidirect to sort this out online - at a time that suits you. You can apply for your EHIC card at the following page in the do it online section:

If things go wrong

Most holidays go by without a hitch, but sometimes things can go wrong. If they do, you can find helpful information at the following section.

Getting there

You might want to travel to and from your holiday destination by using public tranport. You can plan your journey and find out more about land, sea and air travel at the following section.

Don't forget your sun cream

Remember, staying out in the sun for long periods can cause painful sunburn in the short term and harm your skin in the long term.

The following nidirect page offers sensible tips to help protect you from the harmful effects of the sun. This advice also applies to those of you who are holidaying at home this summer.

Holidays in Northern Ireland

If you are staying at home, why not take a look at some ideas for things to do locally. You can read more about exploring forests and woodlands, visiting museums and galleries or finding out about attractions and events taking place around Northern Ireland. Or, why not watch some videos online, highlighting some of the wonderful places to visit locally.

Access nidirect at a time that suits you

If you have internet access while you're away, you can still log on to nidirect for government information and services. For example, you might even want to book your car in for an MOT for your return - or do it now before you go.

More useful links