Overseas Travel Advice

 

We do monitor the travel restrictions and guidelines for your holiday destination and do try to keep you updated, however as things can change quickly, we also recommend that you regularly check the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Advice for the destination that you are travelling to and any countries you may route or transit through (transiting is when you pass through one country on the way to your final destination).

 

Last updated: 11/05/22

 

Face Masks:

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, face masks are not compulsory, but you are required to wear a face mask* in Scotland in most indoor public spaces and on public transport.

 

You are also required to wear a mask when travelling on the Eurostar and in the stations and also when travelling on public transport (DB, TGV, OUIGO, etc…) these masks must be medical grade or FFP2 mask*. From 1st April 2022 it was no longer compulsory to wear a face mask on public transport in Switzerland.

*Unless medically exempt

 

Covid Vaccination Proof:

If you are fully vaccinated, you can acquire proof of your vaccination (NHS Covid Pass) through the NHS website, NHS app, by calling 119 or by contacting your GP. (You will need to download, reprint, or add an updated version to the app before you travel, so that the NHS Covid Pass is valid and has a clear QR code).

 

If you are unvaccinated, or unable to be vaccinated on medical grounds, please read the exemptions on the UK Gov website.

In some countries, you may also be able to use proof of recovery from prior COVID-19 infection if you have tested positive on an NHS PCR test in the last 180 days. You can use the NHS Covid pass as proof of recovery, but may be asked to provide a 'recovery declaration form'.

 

UK and CTA Travel Advice

 

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is made up of the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey).

You don’t need a passport when travelling between Crown Dependencies to the UK. However, you may need to show a Border Force officer document confirming your identity (valid passport, a copy of your passport or passport card with your identity clearly visible, an expired passport or passport card, a driving licence or an armed forces identity card, etc...

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travelling-between-the-uk-and-ireland-isle-of-man-guernsey-or-jersey#crown-dependencies

 

Isle of Man

Entry Requirements - There are no longer travel related restrictions on the Isle of Man whether you are vaccinated or not.

• More info - https://covid19.gov.im/travel/travel-to-the-isle-of-man/

 

Jersey

Entry requirements - There are no longer travel related restrictions on the Jersey whether you are vaccinated or not.

• More info - https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Travel/Pages/CoronavirusTravelAdvice.aspx

 

Guernsey

Entry requirements - There are no longer travel related restrictions on Guernsey whether you are vaccinated or not.

• More info - https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel/current

 

Northern Ireland

Entry requirements - There are no longer travel related restrictions in Northern Ireland whether you are vaccinated or not.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland/entry-requirements

 

 

Returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland or CTA:

You do not need to complete a UK passenger locator before your return, take any COVID-19 tests or quarantine when you arrive back. This applies whether you are vaccinated or not. However, you may consider taking some extra precautions (taking a lateral flow test or isolate if you experience coronavirus symptoms).

 

Foreign Travel Advice

 

Germany

Entry Requirements - The UK is not currently designated as a 'high-risk area'. However, all travellers entering Germany having spent time in the previous ten days in a country designated at the time of entry as a high-risk or virus variant area are required to complete a pre-departure digital registration, regardless of vaccination status.

• Digital Registration/Passenger locator form - https://einreiseanmeldung.de/#/

• German authorities accept the NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/germany

 

Netherlands

Entry Requirements -If you are fully vaccinated you can enter the Netherlands if you have acceptable proof of vaccination. Travellers are advised to take a self-test after arriving in the Netherlands and again on day five, however this is not enforced.

• Dutch authorities accept the NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/netherlands/entry-requirements

 

Switzerland

Entry Requirements - It is no longer necessary to provide proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test or complete an entry form to enter Switzerland.

• More info -   https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements#entry-rules-in-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Belgium

Entry Requirements - Travellers visiting Belgium for less than 48 hours do not need to present evidence of vaccination or a recovery or negative test certificate unless arriving from a country with a new Variant of Concern (VOC).

If you are stopping in Belgium longer than 48 hours, even if fully vaccinated, you need to complete a passenger locator form for whether you are directly or indirectly travelling through Belgium via a carrier (train, plane, boat...). This can easily be completed through the link below, within 6 months before your arrival in Belgium.

If you are unvaccinated you need to provide proof of recovery or a negative test certificate (recovery certificate is valid for 180 days, a PCR test 72 hours, whilst a RAT test is valid for 24 hours) and you must complete a Passenger Locator Form.

• Digital Registration/Passenger locator form - https://travel.info-coronavirus.be/public-health-passenger-locator-form

• Belgian authorities accept the NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium/entry-requirements#entry-rules-in-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19

 

France

Entry Requirements - If you are fully vaccinated you can travel to France, however you may be asked to complete an EU-PLF**. If you are not fully vaccinated you will need to provide either a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or a RAT result taken within 48 hours pre-departure.

Transiting through France is permitted for travellers from the UK in line with the entry requirements set out above.

• French authorities accept the NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

 

Spain

Entry Requirements - If you are travelling to Spain you need to show proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from Covid (in the last 6 months). You can only enter Spain from the UK if you can show valid proof of meeting the vaccination requirements or a medical certificate certifying that you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months prior to travel.

• Spanish authorities will accept the NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements#entry-rules-in-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Ireland

Entry requirements - There are no longer travel related restrictions in Ireland whether you are vaccinated or not.

• More info - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland/entry-requirements

 

**EU Digital Passenger Locator Form:

If your final destination is one of the below countries, you should complete a passenger locator form via the European Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF):

- France

- Italy

- Malta

- Slovenia

Each country has its own policy regarding who must complete the PLF

• Digital registration form - https://app.euplf.eu/#/

 

 

Passport Validity:

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip and renew your passport if you do not have enough time left on it.

Make sure your passport is:

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the destination

• less than 10 years old

For more info please refer to HM Passport Office.