Latest COVID Travel Updates: All You Need To Know

Written by Sophie Heward Last updated May 2nd 202402/05/24

Created: 15/12/21
Updated: 06/01/22

Ready for a holiday? So are we! Despite the changing regulations, thousands of happy holiday-makers are still jetting off to divine destinations all around the world. It’s safe to do so when following the government guidelines, so you needn’t wait much longer for that sunshine you’ve been craving.

Even so, there are certain things to keep in mind when you’re travelling in the current climate. We’ve broken them down in a way that’s easy to understand and will allow you to have a holiday that’s as stress-free as possible.

Entry Requirements & Passenger Locator Forms

Rules for leaving the UK are dependent on which country you’re travelling to. You can find out information on entry requirements for all our destinations on the entry requirements table here.

Regardless of where you are, before you return back to England you’ll need to fill in your passenger locator form. This can be easily done online. Top tip: remember that each adult travelling will need to fill in a separate passenger locator form – it’s not just one per party.

Testing Before Your Return To England

As of 4am on 7 January, if you qualify as fully vaccinated, you do not need to take a PCR or lateral flow test before you travel home and you do not need to self-isolate when you arrive. You instead need to take a lateral flow test on or before day 2 after you arrive back to England, and if it’s positive you must take a PCR test.

The rules for those who are not vaccinated have not changed. If you do not qualify as fully vaccinated, you still must show a negative result for a PCR or lateral flow test taken two days before travelling home. You must also book in advance a PCR test for when you arrive back home and a second PCR test to take on day 8 of your return.

Please note that these rules are specifically for holiday-makers returning to England. Please see the government websites for rules for returning to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Testing Upon Arrival In England

Within two days of arriving back in England, you must take a lateral flow or PCR test, regardless of your vaccination status. If you are fully vaccinated, you must self-isolate until you receive a negative result.

However, if you are not fully vaccinated, please note that you MUST self-isolate for 10 full days when you return. You must take your first test on or before day 2 of arriving home, and a second test on day 8, ahead of your quarantine ending after day 10.

You can get home testing kits starting from just £35pp when you book TUI and First Choice holidays with Holiday Hypermarket – see more here.

Please refer to the government website for any further clarification on these rules.

What Happens If You Test Positive?

If you test positive whilst abroad, you must not travel back to the UK. You should check the local rules and guidelines from the FCDO at your destination for further information.

If you test positive upon your return to England, you must self-isolate for 10 full days, regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

Feeling Ready To Holiday?

If you’re ready to book your next holiday and get that much needed feeling of the sun on your skin, please remember that our friendly team of experts are here to guide you every step of your journey. We’ll reassure you and offer you a holiday that’s safe, relaxing and sunny!

You can browse our deals here, and don’t forget you can get in touch with us if you have any questions at all. In the meantime, we’ve rounded up some FAQs to help you get prepared…

FAQs

What does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated’?

You are fully vaccinated if you have had both doses of an approved vaccine.

Do children need to fill in passenger locator forms?

No – children can be included on adult passenger locator forms, as long as they are staying together at the same UK address.

What happens if you come to England without proof of a negative COVID-19 test result?

If you are not fully vaccinated and not able to prove your negative test result, you may not be able to board your plane back to England. If you arrive in England without proof of a negative test, you could be fined £500.