1. Updated Operational Guidance

The provisional Aviation Operational Guidance v5.3 (issued 4 February 2022) has been updated following finalisation of the Regulations. This guidance comes into effect at 04:00 UTC Friday 11 February. It includes the following changes since the provisional version:

  • Clarification of transitional measures for unvaccinated passengers who arrive before 11 February.
  • Minor clarifications to testing requirements for crew (section 5).

Changes to passenger information requirements and operator liability will come into force in Wales on 18 February.

2. Changes to inbound vaccination certification

From 04:00 UTC Friday 11 February, the vaccine certificates of Algeria, China, Guatemala, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macao SAR, Mexico, Sao Tome & Principe, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Turkmenistan should be accepted, if issued by a competent health authority and adhering to the minimum dataset.

From 04:00 UTC Friday 11 February, the vaccine certificates of Cape Verde, El Salvador and Togo should be accepted as these countries/territories have secured equivalency status with the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Eligible certificates for these countries/territories should be those that have secured EU Digital COVID Certificate equivalency status, irrespective of whether these meet UK Government’s minimum dataset.

From 04:00 UTC Friday 28 February for Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Panama, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Uruguay the only eligible certificates for these countries/territories should be the EU Digital COVID equivalent certificates, irrespective of whether these meets UK Government’s minimum dataset.

See guidance on: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countries-with-approved-covid-19-vaccination-programmes-and-proof-of-vaccination#approved-vaccines

Airline Licensing Consumers and Markets Group
Civil Aviation Authority
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