Update to International Travel Measures
I am writing to you following yesterday’s announcement of the January review of international travel measures.
Thanks to the UK’s vaccination and booster rollout, we can now have one of the most open travel sectors in the world. The framework set out yesterday is intended to be one that will last. It will provide stability for travellers and the travel industry throughout 2022, enabling the UK once again to be one of the best places in the world to visit, study and do business with, and for friends and families to make the most of their global connections.
Much of this has been made possible by the success of our vaccine and booster rollout, which has allowed us to move to a much reduced system that takes full advantage of the strength of our defences against COVID-19, proportionate to the threats we face.
From 4am on 11 February, in time for family trips over half-term, eligible fully vaccinated passengers will face no tests on arrival in England, and will only need to fill in the Passenger Locator Form. For inbound travel, all under-18s regardless of their individual vaccination status will continue to be considered as fully vaccinated, meaning they too will not have to take any pre or post arrival tests.
From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Robert Courts MP
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
E-Mail: robert.courts@dft.gov.uk
Web site: www.gov.uk/dft
25 January 2022
Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to prove their vaccination status or proof of prior infection via the digital NHS COVID Pass from 3 February for outbound travel, making it easier for children and families to travel to countries which require proof of vaccination or prior infection to gain entry, avoid isolation, or access venues or services. Our successes also allow us to reduce the restrictions on those who do not qualify as fully vaccinated. These travellers will face no isolation period, and will only need to take a pre-departure test (PDT) within 2 days of their scheduled departure, and a PCR
test taken on or before day 2 after arrival. As our booster programme continues to grow, we will keep the decision of whether to include boosters in our definition of fully vaccinated for inbound travel under review. But to continue to facilitate travel, we will also add 16 countries and territories to the eligible vaccinated arrivals policy, including China and Mexico, meaning we now accept certifications from over 180 countries/territories.
The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) will still be required for all travellers, but it will be simplified to make it as simple and as quick as possible. However, there is still a need to have robust, but proportionate, contingency plans for the eventuality that similar strategic threats emerge, and we will continue efforts to enhance global surveillance capabilities over the longer term to maximise the detection of variants. We have always said that the UK was committed to the safe reopening of international travel. The changes we announced yesterday deliver that, removing all testing requirements from fully vaccinated travellers and significantly reducing the restrictions on others. As a result, the UK enters 2022 with one of the most open borders in Europe.
In the coming weeks I look forward to working with you as we move away from the current red list measures and adopt a more flexible model which can respond in a targeted manner to threats as part of the Government’s long-term plan for living with COVID-19.
Yours sincerely,
ROBERT COURTS MP
MINISTER FOR AVIATION, MARITIME AND SECURITY
