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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I cant work out the travel restrictions between UK and Ireland

162 replies

postitgirl · 02/06/2021 16:19

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!!!!!

OP posts:
seashells11 · 02/06/2021 23:06

Would going to mind grandchildren be classed as essential journey (to the UK from Ireland). My dd has asked if I can help her out for a month with child care.

FrDamo · 03/06/2021 00:23

It's all just too surreal for me now. I haven't seen my parents since 2019 with no realistic plans on the horizon. I do feel a bit defeated by it all.

EmeraldShamrock · 03/06/2021 00:42

Would going to mind grandchildren be classed as essential journey (to the UK from Ireland). My dd has asked if I can help her out for a month with child care. I think it could be classed as essential if not fly from Belfast. Wink

SchrodingersImmigrant · 03/06/2021 00:50

@FrDamo

It's all just too surreal for me now. I haven't seen my parents since 2019 with no realistic plans on the horizon. I do feel a bit defeated by it all.
Don't. We are getting there!
sharksarecool · 03/06/2021 01:06

I think some of the advice on here is wrong. ROI considers GB as the same country so moving between England and ROI is no different from moving between England and Scotland. The advice is confusing as it talks about needing a PCR test to arrive from overseas, but it then explains that this doesnt apply to the Common Travel Area.

Tealightsandd · 03/06/2021 01:11

@seashells11

What's the situation the other way round? Going to the UK from Ireland. No test required is there?
We are the higher risk country. We are more a risk to Ireland than the other way round.

Boris refused to control out borders and that's the consequence.

Tealightsandd · 03/06/2021 01:11

*our

Fuckitsstillraining · 03/06/2021 01:15

Please don't. You won't be welcomed with open arms by anyone other than your family, I understand the desire to see them but please please wait. Give us a chance to get more vaccinated, the Indian variant is here but in relatively small numbers so far, being vaccinated doesn't mean you can't carry it so again please stay where you are.

jessyjo2 · 03/06/2021 01:22

I had stena ferry booked for myself and 3 boys on 19th July. Called stena directly yesterday to ask what the story is as regulation to change that day. Told we still had to get tests all done, cost 120 each. Nearly 500 for all if us. Wasnt worth the hassle, another cancelled holiday!

Ijustdontcare · 03/06/2021 01:41

You don't need a PCR on your return from www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

You do not need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in England if you are travelling within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, (the Common Travel Area), and you have not been outside of the Common Travel Area in the previous 10 days.

seadreams · 03/06/2021 02:55

@sharksarecool

I think some of the advice on here is wrong. ROI considers GB as the same country so moving between England and ROI is no different from moving between England and Scotland. The advice is confusing as it talks about needing a PCR test to arrive from overseas, but it then explains that this doesnt apply to the Common Travel Area.
You are totally wrong. We do not consider GB to be the same country (and many would consider that highly offensive to say). All normal travel rules apply (BESIDES NI). If arriving through an Irish port you'll need to have a PCR and quarantine. I'm not sure if you need a PCR if coming through NI; travel across the border is allowed freely without restrictions. However, when you arrive into the ROI you need to quarantine as you'd been abroad in the last 14 days. You might not get caught but it IS illegal.

This website gives good information. www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

WeIcomeToGilead · 03/06/2021 07:00

@sharksarecool

I think some of the advice on here is wrong. ROI considers GB as the same country so moving between England and ROI is no different from moving between England and Scotland. The advice is confusing as it talks about needing a PCR test to arrive from overseas, but it then explains that this doesnt apply to the Common Travel Area.
Untrue and misleading

I Can assure you that I need to self isolate when going To either Ireland or Northern Ireland and need to do that for ten days

And can absolutely assure you also that they are NOT the same as GB - that is a ridiculous thing to say!

boringcreation · 03/06/2021 07:06

@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.
If you do this you are an absolute CF. You can still pass on the virus even if you are vaccinated and we don't want additional variants coming into Ireland while we try to ramp up our vaccination program.
boringcreation · 03/06/2021 07:07

@sharksarecool

I think some of the advice on here is wrong. ROI considers GB as the same country so moving between England and ROI is no different from moving between England and Scotland. The advice is confusing as it talks about needing a PCR test to arrive from overseas, but it then explains that this doesnt apply to the Common Travel Area.
We very much do not consider GB as the same country, not sure where you're getting this from.
sharksarecool · 03/06/2021 08:03

I just realised I typed ROI all the way through when I meant NI (posting too late at night). Those who have challenged me about ROI are correct, its a different country with its own rules, so my post eas wrong. But I think the rules for travelling to NI are now more relaxed with no requirement to quarantine or test.

MegCleary · 03/06/2021 08:05

We hope to come home in July, found a local place that does our PCR test £396 for the 4 of us. But does anyone know how we get the test 5 days after we quarantine in Ireland?

Confusedandshaken · 03/06/2021 08:10

We have a second home in the North West. We normally travel in through NI so could (theoretically) sneak in that way and escape quarantine but why would we do that? All our local friends and family would know what we were doing and wouldn't want to see us. I'm sure we wouldn't be welcome in local shops or bars. We'll wait until it's considered safe and we are welcome again.

romdowa · 03/06/2021 08:13

@MegCleary

We hope to come home in July, found a local place that does our PCR test £396 for the 4 of us. But does anyone know how we get the test 5 days after we quarantine in Ireland?
You can ring a local gp and they organise it .
DoodleLovin · 03/06/2021 08:14

@seashells11

Would going to mind grandchildren be classed as essential journey (to the UK from Ireland). My dd has asked if I can help her out for a month with child care.
It would be. My MIL travelled from Wales to ROI last week. We had to get a letter from our GP explaining why it was essential and she had to get a pcr test done 72 hrs before her flight and another one done here after 5 days.
kissmelittleass · 03/06/2021 08:23

Hope you don't mind me asking o here op, I'm in Ireland and haven't seen my parents in England for over a year and really hoping me and kids can get to see them this summer but not sure how it all works?
Do I need to get tested in Ireland before we leave and again in England before we leave?
Makes things very awkward tbh but I need to see elderly parents and they really want to see the grandkids.

MegCleary · 03/06/2021 08:26

@romdowa thanks a million. Fingers crossed not too much changes before then not seen my parents or sister since Christmas 2019Sad

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 03/06/2021 08:27

For anyone considering going via NI, my FIL has been stopped when he was crossing the border a few times. I'm pretty sure his car has a UK number plate rather than an NI one so he's perhaps more likely to be stopped but he said other cars were being turned back.

romdowa · 03/06/2021 08:30

[quote MegCleary]@romdowa thanks a million. Fingers crossed not too much changes before then not seen my parents or sister since Christmas 2019Sad[/quote]
No worries! I'm moving home so I've been researching this for ages 🤣🤣

Runssometimes · 03/06/2021 08:33

You book it with one of the test providers. In December we used Randox. It was very efficient and results were back within 24hours.

Runssometimes · 03/06/2021 08:34

@Runssometimes

You book it with one of the test providers. In December we used Randox. It was very efficient and results were back within 24hours.
Sorry that was for @MegCleary