Keep safe abroad

When planning a trip or a longer stay in a foreign country, it's important to think about what to do in an emergency. Here are some basic safety tips to help you relax and enjoy your time abroad.

Current travel advice

COVID-19 -  guidance for Northern Ireland residents who are either travelling overseas or returning to NI from abroad: Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice

Check travel advice for the country you are visiting. Information is available on the GOV.UK website. 

If you are travelling on an Irish passport you can find useful information on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Entry requirements

Different countries have different rules about who they allow to enter and under what conditions. Make sure that you have a valid passport and the necessary visas. Also make sure that you have the necessary vaccinations before you arrive.

Money

Be sure to take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, for example travellers' cheques, sterling or United States of Amerrica dollars:

Travel insurance

Buy travel insurance and check that the cover is suitable. If you're flying, make sure your holiday package is financially protected by Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL).

Make copies of important documents such as your passport, insurance policy (including your insurer's and card protection's 24-hour emergency number) and ticket details - leave copies with family and friends

Travel agent advice

Make sure your travel agent is a member of the one of the following organisations:

Health

Check if you need to take extra health precautions. In particular check what vaccinations you need and when you you need to take them before you go.

Certain vaccinations may be a condition of entry If you are travelling in the European Economic Area consider the European Health Insurance Card to avoid unexpected medical bills.

Local laws and customs

Do some research on the country you plan to visit. Get a good guidebook and get to know your destination. This should include finding out about local laws and customs. 

More useful links

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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For queries about:

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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 for land registry, email:
CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk

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

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.