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Travelling During Coronavirus
BREAKING NEWS FROM 10 DEC 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing before you travel to the UK
Effective 4am Tuesday 07 December 2021, anyone wishing to travel to the UK from countries and territories not on the red list must also show proof of a negative PCR or LFD pre-departure test, taken in the 2 days before your service to the UK departs. This applies to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above.
For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you could take a test any time on the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The test result must be available for boarding.
If your journey to England is a multi-leg journey, you must take the test in the 2 days before the start of the first leg.
BREAKING NEWS FROM 29 NOV 2021
There are new border entry rules that come into effect from 0400 30 November – lateral flow tests will no longer be accepted and all travellers arriving into the UK will be required to book and take COVID-19 PCR tests in accordance with their vaccination status.
Travellers that arrive in the UK after 0400 Tuesday 30 November who fully vaccinated, are required to self-isolate at home when they arrive, take a PCR test on or before Day 2, and continue to self-isolate until they receive a negative result. For those who test positive, they must isolate for 10 days. There will be no change for unvaccinated travellers.
Travellers who have already booked their lateral flow tests should contact their private testing provider, to discuss their options and ensure that they have the correct tests booked for their vaccination status and ensure the correct test details are provided on their PLF forms.
For recommendations of where is best to travel for the next few months speak to us for the latest updates for destinations. Several countries do still have their own restrictions, which we can help you navigate, ensuring you get the best from your holiday.
Latest Government Update: 04 October 2021
UK’s new simplified travel system takes off from today
International travel will be simpler with lower testing costs for people who qualify as fully vaccinated.
Whilst international leisure travel from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is permitted, border control measures remain in place.
- FCDO travel advice – FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to some countries and territories based on COVID-19 risks. Even where countries do not have an ‘all but essential travel’ restriction, there may be entry and other restrictions in place in the country; those intending to travel should read the travel advice and will be required to:
- Comply with country specific entry requirements and any other restrictions included within the individual country travel advice
- Comply with any country specific requirements on local COVID-19 measures that are in place.
- Comply with any specific FCDO advice against travel to the country or to parts of the country for non-COVID related risks that may be included in the specific advice.
- Destination border policy or restrictions.
- The UK Government Red list and Rest of the World list rules for inbound border controls and any separate advice published by the devolved administrations. Check the rules that apply to you in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Red and Rest of the World border controls list categorises countries based on the risk for inbound travel to the UK and associated control measures have been applied to each category that people must comply with as follows:
Travelling with children
Children aged 17 and under do not have to quarantine on arrival in England. This applies whether they are vaccinated or not.
Children aged 4 and under do not have to take any COVID-19 travel tests.
5 to 17 year olds:
do not have to take a COVID-19 test before travel to England
must take a test on arrival in England – before the end of day 2 at the latest (arrival day is day 0)
Until 4am 30 November, 5 to 17 year olds can choose a lateral flow test or a PCR test.
From 4am 30 November, 5 to 17 year olds must take a PCR test.
You should also check the rules in the country you are travelling from as they may require children to take a test at the start of your journey to England.
There are different rules for children who have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before they arrive in England.
PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK THE UP TO DATE ADVICE BEFORE TRAVEL FOR EACH COUNTRY ON THE FCDO WEBSITE.
*Conditions and exceptions apply – refer to the UK Government guidance for England and any separate advice published by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Do I need to take a test once I’m back in the UK?
Any tests you need to take once you’re back in the UK will need to be arranged before you go on holiday, as you’ll need to include the reference number on your ‘Passenger Locator Form’ that needs to be filled out up to 48 hours before your journey home.
If you are returning from or have transited through a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in the UK, you have to pre-book a mandatory 11-night quarantine hotel package, which will include two PCR tests, taken on day two and day eight.