By Q Radio News
The Department of Health has announced passengers who are fully vaccinated arriving into Northern Ireland from non-red list countries will be able to take a lateral flow test upon arrival.
The change will come into force at 4am on Sunday, bringing the region into line with other parts of the UK.
Those who are eligible will have the choice of taking either a lateral flow or PCR test on or before day 2 of their arrival.
To qualify as fully vaccinated, a person must be double jabbed for at least 14 days.
Those who test positive using the lateral flow test will then be required to book a free PCR test and isolate for 10 days.
If the PCR is negative then the isolation period can end.
Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased from a private provider as NHS test and trace tests cannot be used for international travel.
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All travellers must complete their passenger locator form prior to travel, including providing a test booking reference number supplied by a testing provider.
Individuals who are not deemed as fully vaccinated must still complete a passenger locator form, take a pre-departure test, have booked a PCR day 2 and day 8 test package and complete 10 days self-isolation on return from a non-red country.
The changes comes as the UK government has also announced its removing all countries from the red travel list.
From 4am on Monday, the remaining seven countries will be removed including Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Haiti and Venezuela.
It means people who are fully vaccinated travelling from those countries will not have to quarantine when they arrive in the UK.
Until Monday, anyone arriving from a red list country must adhere to all testing and quarantine requirements, regardless of vaccination status.
Rules for red list countries are available at: https://www.nidirect.gov.
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