Travel to the UK during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
If you’re planning to travel to the UK, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The basics
The United Kingdom has seen one of the highest number of deaths from Covid-19 in the world, resulting in multiple lockdowns.
Most recently, the Omicron coronavirus variant has spread through the UK.
In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, most legal coronavirus restrictions were lifted over summer 2021, but restrictions remained in place across the UK regarding international travel, and some nations kept certain domestic measures.
The UK has since reintroduced some measures following the emergence of Omicron, but regulations continue to vary across the four nations. See more details below.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland divide countries into “red” or “green” categories. There are different travel rules depending on your vaccination status.
There are currently no countries on the UK’s red list.
What’s on offer
In London, the UK has one of the world’s greatest cities. But beyond the architectural marvels and nightlife of the capital, there is much to explore — the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands, distant Welsh lakes and the wide sweep of Cornish beaches, for starters, plus historic towns and cities such as Bath, Oxford and Harrogate.
Who can go
Since December 7, all travelers to the UK over 12 — regardless of vaccination status and country of origin — must show a pre-departure negative Covid test taken two days before travel. This test can be a PCR or lateral flow test.
However from January 7, 2022 fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test if they are returning to England.
Fully vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to do a test on or before day two of their arrival in England. But from January 7 this can be a cheaper lateral flow test, rather than a PCR, and fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-isolate while waiting for their result.
At present, this change has just been confirmed for arrivals to England.
Non-vaccinated travelers can also visit the UK, but are subject to additional testing and quarantine requirements. See below.
(The Republic of Ireland has entirely separate entrance regulations, which are enforced when crossing the land border.)
What are the restrictions?
All UK arrivals must complete a Passenger Locator Form before arriving in the UK.
Currently, anyone entering the UK must quarantine until they receive the results of a PCR test taken on their second day in the country. Anyone testing positive faces a 10-day quarantine.
Anyone entering the UK must also provide proof of a pre-departure negative Covid test taken in the two days before travel.
As mentioned above, these rules will be amended for fully vaccinated travelers to England from January 7, 2022.
Red list countries
There are currently no countries on the UK’s red list.
Previously, red list rules dictated that UK residents and British and Irish nationals arriving home from red list destinations had to go undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.
Non UK-residents from red list countries were banned from entering the UK.
Green list countries
Any destination not on the red list is considered green — so currently all destinations are green — but some green destinations don’t currently permit nonessential travel from the UK.
Anyone entering the UK must currently provide proof of a pre-departure negative Covid test taken in the two days before travel.
All travelers from green list countries to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must book and pay for a day two test.
Currently all international arrivals, regardless of vaccination status and country of origin, must also take a PCR test on day two and self-isolate until they receive a negative test result.
As mentioned above, these requirements are set to change for fully vaccinated travelers arriving in England. From January 7, 2022, fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test if they are returning to England.
Fully vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to do a test on or before day two of their arrival, but from January 7 this can be a cheaper lateral flow test, rather than a PCR, and fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-isolate while waiting for their result.
Non-vaccinated travelers to the UK from green list countries must do a pre-departure negative test and book and pay for a day two and day eight PCR test. Non-vaccinated green travelers must also quarantine at home, or at the place they are staying, for 10 days.
Non-vaccinated arrivals into England may also present proof of a negative pre-departure test via the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
Non-vaccinated travelers quarantining in England may be able to end quarantine early via the Test to Release scheme. Test to Release does not apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The list of countries with UK-approved vaccination program includes EU countries and the US. See the full list of countries here.
As of November 22, the UK recognizes Covid-19 vaccines on the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing, meaning Sinovac, Sinopharm Beijing and Covaxin are on the UK’s list of approved vaccines for inbound travel.
Other developments:
Cruising recommenced in the UK last summer. See government guidance here and check the specific cruise line for regulations.
Brits can use the NHS app as an NHS Covid Pass to display vaccination details or recent Covid test results for domestic or international purposes. Alternatively, they can request a paper letter with vaccine status.
Booster vaccination records are also available via the NHS Covid Pass for international travel. It is not currently required for travelers to show evidence of a booster for travel to the UK.
The UK government also encourages the use of the separate NHS Covid 19 app in England and Wales — and its equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland — in order to check into venues for contact tracing purposes. See more below.
What’s the Covid situation?
The UK suffered a devastating first wave of coronavirus in 2020, followed by a troubling winter 2020/2021 following the discovery of the Alpha variant.
Cases were dropping in early summer 2021, but then rose again amid concerns about the Delta variant.
There are now concerns about the Omicron variant, which has spread rapidly across the UK.
On December 22, over 100,000 Covid cases were recorded, a record high. This was topped on December 27, when 318,886 new cases were recorded.
There were 1,316,578 new cases in the UK in the week leading up to January 5.
There have been over 13.7 Covid cases and 149,417 deaths in the UK as of January 5.
The UK was the world’s first country to begin a vaccination program, which lessened the burden on the National Health Service (NHS). All adults in the UK have now been offered a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
UK citizens are encouraged to test themselves twice a week via rapid lateral flow tests, available for free via UK pharmacies and online.
As of January 5, over 134.9 million vaccination doses have been administered in the UK and over 71% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
The UK is now implementing a booster jab program. Following the discovery of the Omicron variant, the government announced all UK adults will be offered a booster jab.
In March 2020, there was a UK-wide lockdown that lasted until the summer. Since then, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed their own region-specific measures.
What can visitors expect?
- England
Following the emergence of Omicron, England moved into what the UK government calls “Plan B”, detailed here.
Face coverings are compulsory on public transport, and in most indoor public venues — like cinemas and theaters.
Additionally, venues operating with large numbers — like theaters, concert venues and nightclubs — now need to use the NHS Covid Pass mentioned above as a means of entry.
Under Plan B measures, people in England are encouraged to work from home where possible.
There are no rules on household mixing and English shops, museums, theme parks, bars, pubs, hotels, B&Bs, cinemas, theaters and nightclubs can remain open without restrictions.
Social distancing is no longer mandated.
Fully vaccinated contacts of a Covid-19 case are required to take a daily lateral flow test for 7 days. They don’t need to self-isolate unless they test positive.
Unvaccinated contacts of a Covid-19 case must self-isolate for 10 days.
Also, those who were vaccinated abroad — even in a country whose vaccination program is recognized by the UK — must quarantine if they are identified as a close contact of any Covid case while in the UK.
UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid David previously said that from December, anyone fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing vaccine “won’t need to self-isolate if identified as a close contact while in England.” Further details on this change have yet to be announced.
Close contact identification often takes place via the NHS Covid-19 app, which allows users to check in to restaurants, bars and other venues for track and trace purposes.
Using the app is not compulsory but is recommended by the UK government.
Travel within the UK is allowed, as is travel abroad, in line with the system described above.
- Wales
Wales is currently at what the country classifies as Covid alert level 2.
Under rules introduced in late December, in Wales only six people can meet in public places, people must keep 2 meters apart in offices and public places, a maximum of 30 people can attend indoor events and a maximum of 50 people can attend outdoor events. Additionally, nightclubs are closed.
People in Wales are advised to work from home.
Face coverings are mandatory in most indoor settings, including public transport.
Travel within Wales and the rest of the UK is permitted, as is travel abroad under the traffic light system.
Wales also uses the NHS Covid-19 app for test and trace. Using the app is not compulsory but is recommended by the Welsh government.
People in Wales must show their NHS Covid Pass to enter venues with large numbers of people, including cinemas and theaters.
- Scotland
Rules in Scotland currently advise that a maximum of three households should meet in a home or indoor public places at any one time.
While restaurants, bars, pubs and tourist attractions are open, Scottish nightclubs are currently closed.
Working from home is also encouraged.
Face coverings are mandatory in indoor public places and public transport.
Proof of full vaccination or a negative Covid test is compulsory for entry to events with large numbers of people in attendance. People in Scotland can use the NHS Scotland Covid Status App to confirm they’re jabbed, or they can request a paper record of vaccination.
Scotland also has its own version of the NHS Covid-19 app called Protect Scotland. It’s not compulsory, but its use is recommended by the Scottish government.
Travel within Scotland and the rest of the UK is permitted, as is travel abroad as outlined above.
- Northern Ireland
Currently in Northern Ireland it’s recommended that “no more than 3 households should meet together in a private home.”
A maximum of six people can sit together in Northern Irish hospitality settings, although up to 10 people can sit together if they’re from the same household, and children under 12 aren’t counted in the total. Table service is also be mandated. For exact guidelines, see here.
Dancing isn’t currently allowed in hospitality settings and nightclubs are closed. Indoor standing events will aren’t permitted.
Hotels and B&Bs are open, as are museums and other indoor leisure and visitor attractions.
Certain venues in Northern Ireland will ask you for proof of vaccination, such as nightclubs, cinemas, bars or theaters. More information on this available here.
Travel within Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is allowed, as is travel abroad as outlined above.
Face coverings are required on public transport and all indoor public settings, such as museums and galleries and cinemas.
Northern Ireland has its own version of the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app called StopCOVID NI. It’s not compulsory, but its use is recommended by the Northern Irish government.
Useful links
Our recent coverage
Planned New Year’s Eve events in Edinburgh and London were canceled, due to concerns about Omicron.
Last fall, we examined the dual impact of Brexit and the pandemic on the UK tourism industry.
Meanwhile, the town of Clovelly in southwest England made our recent list of the most beautiful towns in Europe.
Check out our list of the top places to visit in the UK, or if it’s England specifically you’re interested, here are some of the loveliest spots in the country. You’ll find our list of Scotland’s top spots here.
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