The government at Number 10 announced new UK travel rules today, Friday 11 February.
Fully vaccinated, meaning double jabbed, passengers no longer need to take a Covid-19 test on arrival to the UK as of 4am on 11 February, ahead of half term making traveling cheaper and smoother.
For those not fully vaccinated, and the completely unvaccinated, they will be required to take a pre-departure test two days before leaving and a PCR test on or before two days after arriving in the UK.
Children between the ages of 12 and 15 are also able to prove their vaccination record using the digital NHS Covid Pass.
Although all testing requirements have been removed for those fully vaccinated, simplified passenger locator forms will still be required.
Do I need a Passenger Locator Form for England and what information is needed?
Yes, a simplified one is needed for fully vaccinated arrivals and a full Passenger Locator Shape should be filled out by all unvaccinated travelers and those not fully vaccinated.
The information you will need on hand for the form includes confirmation of your vaccination status, travel history and contact details.
All the information you will need for the form includes:
- your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border
- your email – you’ll need it to be able to log back into your form and to receive your QR code
- your phone number – we should be able to contact you on this number in the UK
- your travel details, including times and dates
- the address where you want/do stay in the UK (if applicable)
- booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK (only required for the unvaccinated)
- whether you are vaccinated and where you were vaccinated
- the invoice number for your quarantine hotel booking if you need one
How do I fill in a Passenger Locator Form?
You must complete this form online at least 48 hours before you arrive in the UK and it is free of charge to do so.
You can use the Passenger Locator Form service to:
- set up an account to save your details if you travel frequently
- sign in to your account to edit and submit an unfinished form
- prove your vaccination status, if you’ve been fully vaccinated in the UK
When you are asked whether you are fully vaccinated, the vaccine must have been administered by either the UK vaccination program, or an approved overseas vaccination program in a listed country.
If you need further assistance completing the form, then you can call the following numbers:
From the UK
Passenger locator form helpline
Telephone: 0800 678 1767
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, GMT
Calls are free of charge
Outside the UK
Passenger locator form helpline
Telephone: 0044 207 113 0371
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, GMT
Call charges depend on the network provider
When do I not need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form?
You do not have to complete this form if you are traveling from the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
You must also have not been outside of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man at least 10 days before you arrive to your destination. If you have been outside of these places, then you will be required to fill out the Passenger Locator Form.
Lastly, if your job makes you exempt, then you do not have to fill out the form.
The following jobs qualify for the travel exemption of not filling out the Passenger Locator Form:
- Border security duties – UK and non-UK officials and contractors
- Defense personnel, visiting forces and government contractors
- Diplomatic missions, consular posts and heads of state (and their recognized dependants)
- Persons on official business
- Transport workers – aircraft pilots and crew
- Bus and coach drivers (of public service vehicles)
- Civil Aviation inspectors (on inspection duties)
- Drivers of goods vehicles (and employees of community license holders for the international carriage of goods)
- International rail workers (those of EuroStar, Eurotunnel Shuttle and freight train drivers)
- Port workers supporting ferry services
- Seamen and masters, pilots and inspectors and surveyors of ships