I cant work out the travel restrictions between UK and Ireland

[postitgirl]

Do I need a PCR test to get into the republic? Do I need to quarantine? I keep reading the gov sites, and then at the end it says 'except Ireland or the Common Travel Area'. I don't understand!!!!!

www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/great-britain/#travelfrom

Here you go. Looks like you need a pcr and to isolate on arrival.

Arrival into Ireland via any air or sea port requires a PCR.

I have been looking into this recently, this website is helpful.

www.tourismireland.com/Press-Releases/2020/March/COVID-19-coronavirus

You definitely need a test, although not for children aged 6 and under dont need one.

You also need to quarantine for a fortnight at a designated address (but not hotel quarantine).

There may be changes after 19 July, but not looking great at the moment.

You need a negative PCR test to enter the country and 14 days quarantine. But you can take a PCR test after 5 days to end quarantine early.

So I still cant visit family :( Even though I'm vaccinated and so are they! Cant afford to pay for PCR for all of us, and quarantine, plus another PCR. I wonder could I go down from the north.

On local radio NI today it reported that lots of southerners and GB people are travelling through NI then south without testing or isolation perfectly legally.

Yeah we're in the same boat. My dad wants to see his very old mum in the North then more family South so we could do it that way in theory.

@postitgirl

So I still cant visit family :( Even though I'm vaccinated and so are they! Cant afford to pay for PCR for all of us, and quarantine, plus another PCR. I wonder could I go down from the north.

I feel you. Haven't seen mine since 2019, my DH since just before this started😑 There were deaths of parents and relatives at that time.

It will settle soon. It's hard, but it will ease. Nearly there. That's what I am telling myself

Please do not do this. Roll out of vaccination is much much slower here, which is why we have the regulations in place. You may be vaccinated but still carry it, also if you are travelling with children they won't be vaccinated? You'll still be stopping for fuel etc. We have had limited cases of Indian variant which they are trying to stop coming into the country. Please respect our regulations which exist to protect our population. Guidance changes on 19th July, please respect that and follow it

I'm going from UK to the Republic of Ireland on Friday. I require a swab 72 hours in advance and then I can be swabbed again after 5 days if i wish to end quarenteen early. The locator form must also be completed but this can be done online now.

@Labyrinthian

Please do not do this. Roll out of vaccination is much much slower here, which is why we have the regulations in place. You may be vaccinated but still carry it, also if you are travelling with children they won't be vaccinated? You'll still be stopping for fuel etc. We have had limited cases of Indian variant which they are trying to stop coming into the country. Please respect our regulations which exist to protect our population. Guidance changes on 19th July, please respect that and follow it

All of this.

Yes you do it sucks, we’ve had to cancel our holiday as there’s no point really

Also we’re worried about a potential funeral situation but apparently they let you off for that. Think we would not be going in that case either

Yes technically you can go through the North. Although if driving I’m not sure if we are able to go into Scotland. I’m losing track. We are also hoping to go home in July. We’ll also be fully vaccinated.

I'd be very cautious. I work in Ireland and I and other colleagues have family in the UK and/or live there; we've all been told that there's quite a strength of feeling about people travelling unnecessarily/trying to bend the rules.

I live near Belfast and there are a very large amount of southern reg cars around the last few weeks and a lot of southern Irish folk in the city. No one is really that bothered but I’m not travelling down south until it’s “legal” nor are my friends coming up yet either - hopefully it won’t be too long.

What's the situation or requirements for PCR tests if you travel on the ferry from Holyhead/Fishguard, arrive in Dublin/Rosslare, then journey to NI without stopping en route. There would be no interactions etc (as someone who has had both vaccinations)

@FrDamo

This was our plan and we would have had to quarantine In northern Ireland when we arrived

I had booked it thinking we could dodge quarantine as going from UK >UK

Previously we had intended to go to southern Ireland where my parents are from

I have confirmed through many sources that we can’t avoid self isolation and also I don’t want to enrage people when they hear my booming London accent echoing around the glens 😂

@FrDamo

What's the situation or requirements for PCR tests if you travel on the ferry from Holyhead/Fishguard, arrive in Dublin/Rosslare, then journey to NI without stopping en route. There would be no interactions etc (as someone who has had both vaccinations)

You’re still arriving into the Republic so the same rules apply. You’re final destination is immaterial.

Cant afford to pay for PCR for all of us, and quarantine, plus another PCR. I wonder could I go down from the north
It would be a big risk with public transport inspections, you'd face a hefty fine.

What's the situation the other way round? Going to the UK from Ireland. No test required is there?

What's the situation the other way round? Going to the UK from Ireland. No test required is there
Not sure about a test, travelling is for essential journeys only afaik.
Quarantine on return, pp's mentioned the vaccine schedule is much slower here we're not secure enough yet.

Please don't. Not for another few weeks at least.
We are vaccinating left right and centre now but we are not ready to cope with a big influx of other variants which we are just about containing right now.

We've been looking into it as dcs dad lives in the republic and they hwvent seen him for a year. Didn't realise they'd need to isolate when they get there. Children under I think it's 11 don't need a pcr to get back into the UK but adults do iirc

Although they won't be going until July

Coming back to the UK the messaging is confusing but you don’t need a test or even to fill out a passenger locator form as it’s within the CTA.