Coronavirus (COVID-19) - keep distance, wear face covering, wash hands

Coronavirus (COVID-19) regulations guidance: travel

Information and guidance relating to the current Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations.

Travel and holidays

You should carefully consider your holiday and travel options, in light of the continuing COVID-19 threat.

A 'staycation' is one way of mitigating the risks - while also supporting the local economy.

You should not travel unless it is essential. If you do have a permitted reason to travel, you will have to self-isolate for a period of 10 days on your return home.

The UK government has tight restrictions in place to reduce the introduction and transmission of new variants of COVID-19 from ‘red list’ countries, associated with current variants.

This list is regularly reviewed, so make sure you check it if you have recently travelled or are planning to travel outside of the UK.

Remember to always follow the public health advice whether you are abroad, having a 'staycation', or staying at home.

Wash your hands frequently and well, and keep practising social distancing.

That’s the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Further information and guidance for people who are either travelling overseas or returning to Northern Ireland from abroad is available at this link:

Information about holidaying at home is available on the Discover Northern Ireland website.

Many holiday accommodation providers, visitor attractions, restaurants and pubs, events venues and tour and coach operators across Northern Ireland have signed up to the newly launched ‘We’re Good To Go’ scheme.

Businesses displaying the ‘We’re Good To Go’ symbol have completed a COVID-19 risk assessment and put in place measures to allow them to operate safely.

Travelling at home

There is guidance to help you understand how to travel safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Northern Ireland as restrictions ease.

This includes when using public transport, walking, cycling and travelling by car:

Public transport

Face coverings have been mandatory on public transport since 10 July 2020. On 14 October 2020 this requirement was extended to private hire transport and air travel.

All passengers above primary school age must now wear a face covering on all forms of passenger transport and in stations, unless they are exempt, for example due to a disability.

Further information about these laws and exemptions can be found on the Face Coverings page.

Share this page

What do you want to do?
What is your question about?
Do you want a reply?
Your email address
To reply to you, we need your email address
Your feedback

We will not reply to your feedback.  Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

This feedback form is for issues with the nidirect website only.

You can use it to report a problem or suggest an improvement to a webpage.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly as we don’t have access to information about you held by government departments.

You must be aged 13 years or older - if you’re younger, ask someone with parental responsibility to send the feedback for you.

The nidirect privacy notice applies to any information you send on this feedback form.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Plain text only, 750 characters maximum.
Plain text only, 750 characters maximum.

What to do next

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

What to do next

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.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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.

What to do next

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.

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

For queries about:

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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

What to do next

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.

What to do next

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.

What to do next

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

For queries or advice about property valuation, email:
valuation@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about land registry, email:
CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk

For mapping queries, email:
Mapping.Helpdesk@finance-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

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

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

What to do next

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