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Pre-departure test required on all international travel from Tuesday

The Department of Health has announced the move which is 'to help slow the ingress of the omicron variant'

Belfast International Airport

Changes to international travel have been announced to help slow the ingress of the omicron variant.

As of 4am on Tuesday, December 7, anyone arriving into Northern Ireland from abroad will be required to take a pre-departure Covid test. This applies to all travellers aged 12 years old and over, including those who are fully vaccinated. It is a temporary measure and will be reviewed prior to 20 December.

International travellers will have to provide a negative pre-departure PCR or LFD test taken 48 hours before travelling, in addition to a negative PCR test on or before day two after arrival.

Nigeria has also been added to the red list for international travel from 4am on Monday 6 December, meaning all travellers returning to Northern Ireland from Nigeria will be required to enter hotel quarantine upon arrival and isolate for 10 days.

Travellers that have arrived from Nigeria in the last 10 days are required to self-isolate, along with other members of the household, and take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8. These will be provided by NHS Test and Trace.

Countries currently on the red list are: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namiba, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The latest advice and rules on travel are available on NI Direct.

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