Travel to England rules
When you travel to England, you:
- do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel
- do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
- do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
It includes people who are transiting through England.
Other countries may have rules about what you need to do to leave the country to travel to England. You should check travel advice for the country you are travelling from.
How to stay safe while in the UK and on public transport
Travel provider and transport hub rules
Your travel provider, or the transport hub you travel through, may have COVID-19 rules in place. For example they may require or advise you to wear a face covering.
You should follow any COVID-19 rules and guidance from:
- your travel provider – airline, ferry, coach or train company
- the transport venue – airport, port, coach or railway station
Red list countries and territories
There are currently no red list restrictions in place for travel to England.
Travel abroad from England
Other countries have rules about what you must do to travel there from England.
Read separate guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.
Published 22 June 2021
Last updated 18 March 2022 +show all updates
-
When you arrive in England from abroad you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.
(Video) UK to ease travel restrictions for COVID-19 'low risk' countries -
If you will arrive in England after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.
-
If you began your journey in Russia, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.
-
If you began your journey in Ukraine, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.
-
From 9am Monday 28 February, you can fill in the UK passenger locator form up to 3 days before you arrive in England.
-
From 24 February, there is no legal requirement to self-isolate if you get a positive day 2 test result.
-
You do not need to take any COVID-19 travel tests or self-isolate on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated.
-
The testing and quarantine rules for international travel to England will change 11 February 2022.
-
You can now choose a lateral flow test or a PCR test as your post arrival test.
-
From 4am 7 January you do not have to quarantine on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England.
(Video) Denmark among countries added to England's travel quarantine list - COVID-19 update -
Changes to rules for fully vaccinated people travelling to England from 4am 7 January 2022.
-
People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can now end self-isolation after 7 days with 2 negative lateral flow tests.
-
Further information about quarantine rules for children aged 4 and under.
-
People aged 12 years and over must COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.
-
From 4am, Tuesday 7 December all people aged 12 years and over must also take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.
-
People who qualify as fully vaccinated must quarantine and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.
-
From 4am 30 November 2021, fully vaccinated people must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. They may leave self-isolation if their PCR result is negative. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.
-
South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests.
-
Travel to England rules for children no longer depend on their place of residence.
(Video) COVID-19: UK relaxes travel restrictions for US and all EU countries except France • FRANCE 24 -
Clarification about unclear or inconclusive test results.
-
From 4am 22 November 2021, all children aged 17 and under will not have to quarantine on arrival in England.
-
People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can book a lateral flow test for use from 24 October instead of a PCR test.
-
From 22 October, if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you will be able to book an antigen lateral flow device (LFD) test instead of a PCR for your ‘on arrival’ test.
-
Rule changes for international travel to England for people who qualify as fully vaccinated.
-
Changes to amber list rules on quarantine and testing.
-
First published.
FAQs
What are the COVID-19 requirements to travel to UK? ›
Travel to England rules
When you travel to England, you: do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel. do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive. do not need to quarantine when you arrive.
There are no restrictions or testing requirements if you're travelling from one region to another within the CTA (UK, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland). This includes travelling to Northern Ireland via the Republic of Ireland from overseas.
Are NHS Covid tests accepted for travel to UK? ›COVID-19 testing for the purposes of international travel is not available on the NHS. Testing for this reason is only available through private providers who must have self-declared that they meet the UK Government's minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer.
Can you travel out of the country if you have Covid? ›Testing. Consider getting tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel. Make sure you know your test results before travel. Don't travel if your test result is positive.
Do I need Covid pass for England? ›You do not need a COVID-19 booster vaccination to get an NHS COVID Pass for domestic use in England. Also updated to reflect the UK linking with the EU Gateway. Your NHS COVID Pass can be scanned to check and validate your COVID-19 vaccination status in venues in over 40 countries, including those in the EU.
Are you allowed to travel in the UK now? ›The United Kingdom (UK) government have removed all COVID-19 international travel restrictions for arriving passengers. No traveller arriving in the UK will need to take COVID-19 tests or complete a passenger locator form.
Do you have to be vaccinated to fly internationally? ›The CDC recommends that you do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. Please review additional CDC guidance for fully vaccinated travelers. The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens who travel internationally purchase travel insurance. To learn more, please visit this page.
Do you have to be vaccinated to fly on a plane? ›If you do not meet the requirements to be considered fully vaccinated, you will not be able to board your flight to the United States, unless you meet criteria for one of the exceptions.
Can you travel to Europe with COVID? ›Much of Europe is open to Americans, including more than two dozen countries without any COVID restrictions at all. However, it's important to double-check before traveling in case requirements change. If you're vaccinated, most countries are open to you as long as you can show proof of vaccination.
Do I need PCR for UK? ›You no longer need to take any coronavirus (COVID-19) tests when you arrive in the UK from abroad. If you have further questions, call our contact centre: 0151 676 0491 from the UK. +44 (0)151 676 0491 from outside the UK.
Do you have to be vaccinated to travel to Europe? ›
Vaccinated and recovered persons
they have completed the full primary vaccination series of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the EU or the World Health Organization (WHO) and fewer than 270 days have passed since the completion of that series. they have received a booster of an EU or WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine.
You need 2 doses for stronger and longer-lasting protection. Most people also need a booster dose to help improve the protection from the first 2 doses of the vaccine.
Is Europe open for travel? ›As of 1 March 2022, EU countries should allow non-essential travel also for persons vaccinated with vaccines approved by the EU or by the World Health Organization and for persons who recovered from COVID-19.
What do you need to travel to Europe from UK? ›...
Entering other countries
- show a return or onward ticket.
- show you have enough money for your stay.
- use separate lanes from EU , EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing.
show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. quarantine on arrival. complete a passenger locator form to enter the country. show proof of vaccination status (plus any rules about vaccine expiry or vaccine boosters)
Is an NHS Covid test OK for travel? ›You can get an NHS COVID Pass for travel if you've had a positive NHS PCR test in the past 6 months (not available in the Isle of Man). The NHS COVID Pass based on a positive NHS PCR test is available 10 days after the test and is valid for 180 days after the test.
What at home Covid tests are approved for travel to UK? ›To return to the United States, you can now purchase the Flowflex COVID-19 home test kit and take the test in the UK. To meet CDC requirements, take this test under video observation with ID verification no more that one day before departure to the United States.
Can I use NHS lateral flow test for travel? ›Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased from a private provider as NHS Test and Trace lateral flow tests cannot be used for international travel.
Can you use NHS PCR test to fly? ›COVID-19 testing for the purposes of international travel is not available on the NHS. Pre-travel COVID-19 tests are available in the private sector. If you need to travel internationally for work and require evidence of a test, you should speak to your employer or occupational health adviser.
How much is PCR test for travel? ›Traveller COVID-19 RT-PCR tests cost R500.
How much is a PCR test UK? ›
COVID-19 PCR Test-£99 per test.
Do you need to pay for PCR test? ›Free testing for coronavirus (Covid-19) from the NHS has now ended for most people in England. If you still want to get tested and you're not eligible for a free NHS test, you must pay for a Covid-19 test yourself. You can buy a Covid-19 test from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.
Does UK accept antigen test? ›Lateral flow antigen self-tests
In the UK, the MHRA has granted NHS Test & Trace an exceptional use authorisation to use certain lateral flow devices as self-tests to detect infection in people who do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and who may not otherwise have been tested.
You no longer need to take any coronavirus (COVID-19) tests when you arrive in the UK from abroad. If you have further questions, call our contact centre: 0151 676 0491 from the UK.
How much do lateral flow tests cost UK? ›How much does a test kit cost? Test kits cost from £1.89 - £17.
How long before my flight Do I need a PCR test? ›At present, some airlines and destinations require testing and certificates to be issued within 24-96 hours of departure.
Is it mandatory to have PCR test for international flights? ›Effective 20 February 2022, for all passengers (whether Vaccinated / Non-Vaccinated) : 1. A Negative RT PCR Test Certificate is NOT REQUIRED before Departure (Ex - India).
How long before you fly must you take a PCR test? ›Many require a negative PCR test to have been carried out no more than 72 hours before a flight, but please check the government's foreign travel advice for your destination to establish their exact requirements. We have clinics offering same day and next day results.