United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

Recommended Vaccinations For United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

For Some Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a low risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine is often recommended for travellers to this country.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended if travelling where contact with ticks might occur (camping, hiking, outdoor activities) during early spring to late autumn.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers whose activities or employment may bring them into direct contact with wild animals or bats (i.e. adventure travellers, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers, etc.).

Recommended Medications For United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

There are no recommendations for United Kingdom - Northern Ireland at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

For Some Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a low risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country.

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hanta Virus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

There is a risk of Tick-borne Encephalitis in some areas of this country. The transmission season varies, however, ticks are most active during early spring to late autumn.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.

Polio

The United Kingdom reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) detected in environmental (sewage) samples in London in May 2022. All travellers should take care with personal and food hygeine.

Rabies

Rabies has not been reported in the United Kingdom and is considered a low risk for travellers, However, it may occur in bats.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B occurs in this country.

Safety & Security in United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

Personal Safety

Northern Ireland has experienced a notable decline in crime. The overall crime rate dropped from 81.4 per 1,000 people in 2002/03 to 58.3 per 1,000 people in 2023/24. Recent data from the 2023/24 Northern Ireland Safe Community Survey shows that just 4.5% of residents were victims of at least one crime during the previous 12 months, down from 5.8% in 2022/23. Violent crime recorded 44,143 offences in 2023/24, a decrease from the previous year. Belfast City has the highest crime rate at 96 per 1,000 people. Most adults report that fear of crime has minimal effect on their quality of life. Petty crimes like theft and shoplifting occur but remain at manageable levels. However, recent unrest since 2023 involving anti-immigrant sentiment has triggered sporadic violence in certain areas, particularly during summer months. In June 2025, riots in Ballymena and other towns led to police injuries, property damage, and racially motivated attacks. These incidents remain isolated and are largely concentrated in areas with loyalist paramilitary influence. Most areas remain safe for everyday activities, but you should avoid demonstrations and areas where large gatherings occur.

Extreme Violence

Northern Ireland experienced three decades of sectarian conflict known as The Troubles, which largely ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. While paramilitary groups still exist, they have mostly disarmed and large-scale violence between communities has ceased. The historical conflict resulted from tensions between predominantly Protestant unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom and predominantly Catholic nationalists who sought unification with the Republic of Ireland. Although political violence is now rare, sectarian tensions persist beneath the surface. Legacy paramilitary organizations have shifted focus toward vigilante activities and internal community enforcement rather than targeting rival groups. Some dissident republican groups like the New IRA remain active and were responsible for the 2019 killing of journalist Lyra McKee. The 2024 and 2025 periods have seen outbreaks of far-right and anti-immigrant violence, particularly in areas with loyalist paramilitary presence. Riots in Ballymena in June 2025 involved petrol bombs, arson attacks, and assaults on police, with property damage and racially motivated violence. Similar unrest occurred in Belfast in August 2024 following the Southport stabbing attack in England. These incidents represent a new pattern of violence but remain geographically limited and do not typically affect tourist areas or business districts.

Political Unrest

Northern Ireland maintains a devolved power-sharing government established by the Good Friday Agreement, though political divisions between unionist and nationalist communities remain. The Brexit process and Northern Ireland Protocol created renewed tensions from 2020 onward regarding trade arrangements and the border with the Republic of Ireland. Political institutions collapsed and were suspended multiple times, most recently functioning again from early 2024 with Sinn Fein, a republican party, taking leadership of the Northern Ireland government for the first time. This shift has revived debates about a potential referendum on Irish reunification. Protests and demonstrations occur periodically, particularly during the marching season from Easter Monday through September when Protestant and loyalist groups hold parades with sectarian undertones. Since 2023, anti-immigration protests have erupted across Northern Ireland, sometimes escalating into violence. In June 2025, sustained rioting broke out in Ballymena, Belfast, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Lisburn, and other locations following an alleged sexual assault. These protests involved hundreds of participants throwing petrol bombs, setting fires, attacking police, and targeting minority ethnic communities. The Committee on the Administration of Justice noted these incidents follow a pattern occurring in areas with significant loyalist activity and paramilitary control. Avoid areas where protests or demonstrations are taking place, as peaceful gatherings can rapidly escalate.

Areas To Avoid

Belfast City Centre is generally safe and considered a neutral zone, though you should avoid leaving main streets at night and stay away from dimly lit areas. Certain neighbourhoods with historical sectarian divisions require awareness. The Shankill Road, a predominantly unionist area in west Belfast, is generally safe during the day but should be avoided at night. The Falls Road, a nationalist area, played a significant role in the city’s turbulent history and is similarly best avoided after dark. North Belfast areas including Tiger’s Bay, the New Lodge, the Antrim Road around Carlisle Circus, and Shore Road are best avoided at night. In East Belfast, the interface with the nationalist Short Strand neighbourhood can be a flashpoint and should be avoided at night. Crumlin Road is safe during the day but not advised at night. Outside Belfast, recent violence has occurred in Ballymena, Larne, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Lisburn, Carrickfergus, and Portadown, particularly during June 2025 when anti-immigrant riots targeted minority communities. These incidents involved arson, property damage, and assaults. The violence followed a pattern in areas with loyalist paramilitary presence. Peace walls and barriers still exist in certain areas to separate loyalist and nationalist communities, with gates that can close at night or during tense periods. You should not discuss politics or religion in public, avoid wearing colours associated with either community (Irish tricolour or Union Jack colours, sports jerseys), and stay in well-populated areas after dark.