Holidaymakers planning their summer holidays this year will find it much simpler as the last of the Covid travel restrictions fall away. The Passenger Locator Form and all remaining testing for arrivals, regardless of vaccination status, have been scrapped.
However, other countries may still require testing, health declaration forms or vaccination certificates — check before you travel.
Main photo: there are no more legal restrictions on travel, but check your destination before you travel (Getty Images)
When will Passenger Locator Forms be scrapped?
The Passenger Locator Form will no longer be required for arrivals into the UK from March 18, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced.
“All remaining Covid travel measures, including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for all arrivals, will be stood down for travel to the UK from 4am on March 18. These changes are possible due to our vaccine rollout and mean greater freedom in time for Easter,” he said on March 14.
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Are we allowed to travel?
Yes. There are no legal restrictions on outbound international travel from the UK and the red list has been scrapped. However, not every destination is open to UK travellers.
In response to high Covid infection rates in the UK, a number of countries have banned UK travellers, or are imposing quarantine — even for those who are fully vaccinated; check the latest UK Foreign Office travel advice for your destination.
Do I need a test to come back to the UK?
No, and this applies regardless of vaccination status. Passengers bound for the UK will not be required to fill in any forms or show any documentation.
Previously, unvaccinated travellers must have booked a PCR test to take after arrival into the UK, and vaccine records and PLFs were checked by the airline.
What tests do I need for travel?
You may need to get tested before you leave the UK and on arrival at your destination. The type of Covid test and when you need to get tested varies from country to country. Check the UK Foreign Office advice and, to be safe, you may also want to double-check with the country’s embassy.
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How will the war in Ukraine affect travel?
The European Union has announced it will drop testing regimes for fully vaccinated arrivals from outside the bloc. This removes the need for travellers to present a negative test on arrival, though it’s expected that anyone who has had a jab that is more than 270 days old will need to show proof of a booster jab. Separately, Greece and Portugal have also announced that fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to present a negative test on arrival.
Do I need to wear a mask on the plane?
Tui, Jet2, British Airways and Virgin have dropped the requirement to wear masks onboard on some routes, although they would continue to recommend their use onboard. Heathrow airport, the UK’s busiest, has also dropped the requirement for masks inside the terminal.
Testing requirements for red-list countries
There are currently no countries on the red list, although the government has said previously that countries could be added at short notice if the Covid situation were to change.
What countries are open for travel?
Plenty of options are still open to UK travellers, some with very few hurdles. The US, for example, asks only for a Covid test taken no more than one day before travel for the fully vaccinated, and plenty of countries have dropped the requirement for a test if you’re fully jabbed.
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Here’s our guide to where you can go on holiday right now — and what the rules are when you get there.
What do I need to be aware of?
Things can change quickly so it pays to be prepared. A robust travel insurance suitable for your needs is essential — it might help you recover some or all of your costs should you be left out of pocket because you had to cancel, postpone or curtail a trip because of Covid.
Similarly, it’s worth booking with a reputable holiday firm offering flexible booking policies on their Atol or Abta-protected package holidays. This protects you on a few fronts. In the UK, if a travel firm cancels your package holiday, they are legally required to refund you in full. And if the travel firm goes bust before you travel, you won’t be left out of pocket. Meanwhile the flexible booking policy gives you the option to change your plans in case you can’t or don’t want to travel. Just make sure you read the small print.
Finally, pay by credit card if you can, especially if it’s not a package holiday. If a travel firm goes bust before you travel — assuming you’re all paid up — you may still be able to get a refund through your credit card. This is because under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act the credit card provider and the service provider are jointly liable when there’s been a breach of contract.
Tried and tested
TUI has full testing packages from £24.90, while EasyJet and British Airways have partnered with Randox Health to bring the costs of complete testing kits down; expect to pay £43 when booking with either.
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