Happy New Year
Before we get on to the latest travel changes, we’d like to take a moment to say Happy New Year to all our readers, clients, suppliers and friends. We hope the holiday season has provided a welcome respite from the challenges of the last 12 months and look forward to facing a brighter 2022 together.
Travel restrictions change after latest review
In November last year, the Government tightened entry requirements for all travellers to the UK in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Now that Omicron has spread throughout the community, this decision has been revised and the additional restrictions put in place have been removed.
What this means for fully vaccinated travellers:
Pre-Departure
Fully vaccinated travellers no longer have to take a PCR test before arriving in the UK; nor do they have to self-isolate whilst awaiting the results of their Day 2 test.
However, before their departure, they must:
- book and pay for a COVID-19 test – travellers may choose to book either a PCR or a lateral flow test
- complete a passenger locator form 48hrs before arrival – the COVID-19 test booking reference must be included on this form
Upon arrival in the UK
Upon arrival in the UK, fully vaccinated travellers must take their pre-booked COVID-19 test within 2 days.
Day 2 test results
If the results of a fully vaccinated traveller’s Day 2 lateral flow test is positive, they must self-isolate and order a free PCR test from .GOV.UK.
If the result of the PCR test is negative, they will no longer need to isolate.
If the result of the PCR test is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days.
Ending self-isolation early
Travellers may be able to end their self-isolatation after only 7 days if they take a rapid lateral flow test on days 6 and 7 of their self- isolation and:
- both tests are negative
- the tests were taken at least 24hrs apart • the traveller doesn’t have a high temperature
Other groups that may follow the same rules as fully vaccinated travellers
The rules for fully vaccinated travellers will also apply to the following people, regardless of their vaccination status:
- children under the age of 18
- individuals taking part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial in the UK or the USA (US residents only for USA trials), or a phase 2 or 3 vaccine trial that is regulated by the EMA or SRA
- individuals resident in England who can’t have a COVID-19 vaccination for a medical reason which has been approved by a clinician under the medical exemptions process
The rules for unvaccinated travellers:
Pre-Departure
Before travelling to England, unvaccinated travellers must:
- take a pre-departure COVID-19 test no more than 2 days before their date of travel
- book and pay for Day 2 and Day 8 COVID-19 tests – these must be PCR tests
- complete a passenger locator form 48hrs before arrival – the COVID-19 test booking reference must be included on this form
Upon arrival in the UK
Upon arrival in the UK, unvaccinated travellers must quarantine at home or the place they are staying for 10 days. (Travellers in England for less than 10 days must quarantine for the full length of their stay.)
They must also take their pre-booked Day 2 and Day 8 COVID-19 PCR tests.
Positive test results
If an unvaccinated traveller’s Day 2 test result is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days (the day they took the test is day zero), but don’t need to take their Day 8 test.
If a traveller’s Day 2 test result is negative, they must take their pre-booked Day 8 test. If the result of this test is positive, they must self- isolate for 10 days.
Negative test results
If an unvaccinated traveller’s Day 2 test result is negative, they must still self-isolate for 10 full days (the day they arrived in England is day zero), and take their pre-booked Day 8 test.
If their Day 8 test is negative, they must continue to self-isolate for 10 full days, or the day they receive the results of their Day 8 test, whichever is later. For example, if you receive a negative Day 8 test result on day 12, you must self-isolate until the end of day 12.
Further information
The above is a summary of our understanding of the current rules applicable to travellers arriving in England. For further information on pre-departure testing requirements and rules throughout the UK, please visit .GOV.UK, .GOV. SCOT, .GOV.WALES and NIDIRECT.GOV.UK
For any other assistance or booking enquiries, please contact us.