COVID-19: Testing requirements to be eased

The Home Office has announced that it will ease its COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers entering the U.K.

Key Points:

• Beginning Feb. 11, authorities will remove all testing requirements for eligible fully vaccinated travelers. Fully vaccinated travelers entering the U.K. will only have to complete the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) to enter the country.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must complete the PLF, take a pre-departure COVID test within 48 hours of departure, and take a PCR test on or before the second day after arrival.
• Travelers are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival unless an individual receives a positive PCR test after arrival.

Additional Information: Travelers under the age of 18 will be considered fully vaccinated regardless of their vaccination status. Different entry and testing requirements apply to travelers from a red-list country. As of Jan. 26, there are no countries on the red-list. More information regarding the current and Feb. 11 entry and testing requirements is available here.

BAL Analysis: Travelers should check the relevant territory-specific requirements for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland before planning travel to the U.K. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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