The UK government has waived quarantine requirements for visitors from Europe and the United States who have been fully vaccinated—and who have not been in France or a Red List country in the 10 days prior to arriving in the United Kingdom—as part of a range of new measures designed to continue reopening international travel.
Effective from 4:00 am BST on Monday, 2 August, travellers arriving in the United Kingdom from an Amber List country who have been fully vaccinated in the United States or Europe will not have to quarantine or take a day-8 test on arrival (but must still book and take a day-2 test). This rule applies to all European countries (excluding France), Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City.
Travellers must have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Europe, SwissMedic for Switzerland, or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the United States. Travellers must have had their final does of the vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in the United Kingdom.
Amber List arrivals who have been fully vaccinated will still be required to complete a predeparture test before arriving in the United Kingdom, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after their arrival. Passengers from all countries cannot travel to the United Kingdom unless they have completed a passenger locator form.
Travellers will need to provide proof that they have been vaccinated before travel with one of the following:
Even if fully vaccinated, travellers who have been in France in the 10 days before arriving in the United Kingdom must quarantine for 10 days after arriving and take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 or day 8.
The Test to Release scheme is still available to those travelling from France, whereby travellers can elect to pay for a private COVID-19 test on day 5 of quarantine, and if the result is negative quarantine can be ended.
Children under 18 from the United States or the listed European countries also do not need to quarantine or take a day-8 test, and are required to follow the same rules as children and young people from the United Kingdom: namely, provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel and take a COVID-19 travel test on or before day 2 of arrival.
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If you have any questions or would like more information on the guidance discussed in this alert, please contact any of the following Morgan Lewis lawyers:
London
Jennifer Connolly
Yvette Allen
Washington, DC
Shannon A. Donnelly