Update as of 2/2/22

Current rules for travelling to Ireland:

– Fill out Passenger Locator Form linked here

– International vaccine certificate

– if you have proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior 6 months you do not have to do a PCR pre-departure COVID-19 test. (This it for arrival in Ireland please check your airline requirements & countries you are transiting through as some airlines/ countries may require a negative PCR to fly/ transit)

You can keep up to date with government requirements in Ireland here

Current rules for travelling to UK:

– From 4am on 11 February all testing requirements will be removed for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals, that being said I recommend checking your airline & transiting country requirements

Passenger Locator Form (PLF) now required (click here for form)

– Arrivals who are not recognised as fully vaccinated will need to take a pre-departure PCR test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after they arrive in the UK.

Current rules for travelling to Australia

– Official certification of double vaccination.

– Negative pre departure PCR taken within 72 hours of flight departure time

⁃ Travel Declaration Form completed 72 hours before linked here

– Rapid Antigen Test when you arrive

– No quarantine for international arrivals into NSW, VIC, NT, QLD, SA

I can’t believe I’m **finally** back writing another blog post for help and tips on TRAVEL!!! 🥳 ✈️ At long last!

Here are the steps I followed leaving Australia to make the long awaited return home. First off my flight was Sydney > Doha > Manchester > Dublin

What was required?

Negative PCR

PCR can’t be any earlier than 48 hours before departure.

You can either:

Book a PCR with Medlab, research your nearest location. Cost: $120

OR

Do the PCR at Histopath in the airport it’s cheaper and you get an instant result (within 90mins you can queue for checkin whilst waiting) $79

You can register for the test here. There is no need to make an appointment, just show up in good time to airport and do it before checkin!

Applies to Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane Airports. Histopath is just across from Gate D at Sydney International Airport.

PLF : Passenger Locator Form

We had to do a passenger locator form for UK & IRELAND because we were transiting through Manchester airport.

Here are the links:

Ireland can be completed 72 hours before departure linked here .

UK can be completed 48 hours before departure linked here

If you are transiting through the UK or it is your final destination you will be required to book and pay for a day 2 PCR (£45 was the cheapest we found through the link on government website, when you get to the section about your PCR booking number on the PLF you’ll see a clickable link directing you to all the purchasing options, we went with Vital)

International Vaccination Certification

You need to download your international vaccine certificate from the Medicare app.

If you are having any issues go into Medicare and they will print it for you. If you do get them to print it off for you, take a picture so you can keep a digital copy too.

Tips

– Print out all documentation.

– Allow extra time for checkin. It took us 1.5 hours just to get checked in & bags dropped off.

We got to the airport 4 hours before. It gave us plenty of time to get everything sorted and organised. There’s a lot of queuing as everyone is experiencing international travel for the first time in 2 years (ALOT has changed!), Many people hadn’t all the correct documents which slows up the checkin process. Make your life easy and arrive with all your documentation printed out and ready to go.

– I also recommend you keep an eye on the official government website of the country you are travelling to & your airline for any changes to rules & requirements as they do change often.

All in all it wasn’t stressful on the day. We had a smooth journey home to the Emerald Isle just in time to spend our first Christmas in five years with our beautiful families! 😭🥰

The return journey to Australia

I will update with links/options and added tips when I get myself organised for the journey back to Australia.

Requirements thus far;

– Valid Visa (you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa here, tourist visas aren’t available at the moment)

⁃ Negative PCR within 72 hours* before departure (I will be booking with Randox it costs £55)

⁃ Travel Declaration Form completed 72 hours before linked here

⁃ International Vaccination Certificate

⁃ PCR; fully vaccinated international passengers arriving in NSW must get a PCR (nose and throat swab) test within 24 hours of arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Take another PCR test on day 6.

⁃ At the moment there’s no quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals from Ireland/UK, however Australia change things quite rapidly so keep an eye here to find out any change in details.

*keep an eye that it doesn’t change to 48 hours as the UK changed theirs the day before our flight home from 72 to 48hours.

Happy Christmas everyone 🎅 Wherever in the world you are spending the holidays I wish you all the joy and happiness. For those of us not so fortunate in being able to leave Australia, I hope all your Christmas wishes come true in early 2022. Big love to everyone and especially those finding it tough.

Xxx