Arrival and transport to your accommodation

This page contains information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern Ireland, including details of main entry points, Welcome Points and how to access free public transport.

Main entry points

There are five main entry points:

Belfast International Airport
George Best Airport (Belfast City)
City of Derry Airport
Port of Belfast
Port of Larne

You can also arrive through airports and ports in the Republic of Ireland and travel to Northern Ireland (NI) - to do this you should have your visa to travel into NI.

Arriving in Northern Ireland

At each of the entry ports there are areas to meet your family or sponsor. You will also see information welcoming you to Northern Ireland. Port staff will be there to give immediate help, if you need it. Ideally, your sponsor will meet you when you arrive but if that is not possible, or your sponsor is unexpectedly delayed, the information and port staff will be able to help you in making your onward journey.

Go to the general information point at the port if you need to speak to someone if no-one is present at the Welcome Point. You can also ring the free Make the Call helpline on: 0800 232 1271.

Transport to your accommodation

Free public transport on buses and trains is run by the state-owned company Translink to help get you to a safe place. This applies to any Translink bus or train service at any time of the day. You cannot get a return journey. The bus or train will have the Translink name and logo on the side.

Free public transport is available from any stop or station in Northern Ireland, including air and sea ports, to any place in Northern Ireland.

If you are coming to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland first, the offer also includes free travel from Dublin on Translink Ulsterbus services from Bus Áras station or the Enterprise train service from Connolly Station.

To get free public transport from Translink you will need to show:

your Ukrainian passport or ID issued by the Ukrainian Government
evidence of entry into Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, such as an airline boarding card, ferry ticket or a booking email from an airline/ferry company, dated within the previous seven days

You can use the Translink journey planner to help you plan your journey or telephone the Translink Contact Centre for advice:

Translink journey planner
phone: 028 9066 6630

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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Arrival and transport to your accommodation

Main entry points

Arriving in Northern Ireland

Transport to your accommodation

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment