Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions

Updated 21 November 2020

Arrivals from Denmark

If you arrived in the UK after 4am on 7 November 2020, you must complete a passenger locator form and self-isolate until 14 days have passed since the day after you left Denmark. Members of your household must also self-isolate.

There are no jobs that qualify for exemptions from these requirements.

Some people don’t have to fill in a passenger locator form or self-isolate on arrival in the UK, because of the jobs they do.

This guidance lists the jobs that qualify for an exemption and tells people:

• if they need to self-isolate
• if they need to complete a passenger locator form
• any conditions they will need to meet or evidence they will need to show

If you do one of these jobs, you still need to follow the same health guidance and national restrictions as people who live in the UK. Check the guidance for:

• national restrictions in England
• national restrictions in Northern Ireland
• national restrictions in Scotland
• national restrictions in Wales

Travel from Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

People arriving from Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands (the Common Travel Area) may also not have to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate.

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate if you:

• arrive in the UK from within the Common Travel Area (CTA)
• have only been in the CTA in the last 14 days

You will need to complete the passenger locator form if you have been outside the CTA in the last 14 days. You must do this before you arrive in the UK.

You will need to self-isolate if you have visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that’s not on the travel corridors list during the 14 days before your arrival. You’ll need to self-isolate until 14 days have passed since the day after you left that country or territory.

You can show details of recent travel into the CTA, such as a boarding pass or itinerary, to help confirm:

• that you entered the CTA in the last 14 days
• how long it has been since you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that’s not on the travel corridors list

Travel corridors

Travel corridors are a separate matter. The travel corridor pages list countries and territories from where you can travel to the UK and may not have to self-isolate when you arrive. There are slightly different rules for:

• travel corridors for England
• travel corridors for Northern Ireland
• travel corridors for Scotland
• travel corridors for Wales

Legislation

This guidance provides a high level summary of the international travel regulations.

Jobs that qualify for travel exemptions

The following jobs qualify people for exemptions from completing the passenger locator form or self-isolating, or both.

Diplomatic missions, international organisations and conferences

Applies to:

Members of diplomatic missions and consular posts in the UK, officers, servants or representatives of international organisations, representatives at an international or UK conference granted privileges and immunities, and their families or dependents.

This includes representatives of international organisations who are travelling to the UK on official visits, for example to attend negotiations.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form.

You will not need to self-isolate if it is confirmed that your work is essential to the functioning of the mission, international organisation or conference and that it cannot be undertaken whilst self-isolating.

If your family members or other dependents travel with you, they will need to self-isolate after they arrive in the UK.

Before you travel, your mission, international organisation or conference will need to notify the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or Protocol Directorate who will issue an exemption letter to show at the border.

Representatives of a foreign country or territory or British overseas territories

Applies to:

Representatives of a foreign country or territory and representatives of the British overseas territories, along with their families or dependents travelling to the UK to undertake official business with the UK.

This includes representatives of foreign countries or territories who are travelling to the UK on official visits, for example to attend negotiations.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form.

You will not need to self-isolate if it is confirmed that you are travelling to the UK for official business which cannot be undertaken whilst self-isolating.

If your family members or other dependents travel with you, they will need to self-isolate after they arrive in the UK.

Before you travel, your mission or a representative of your country or territory will need to notify the FCDO who will issue an exemption letter to show at the border.

Defence personnel, visiting forces and government contractors

Applies to:

Defence personnel, visiting forces and government contractors who the Ministry of Defence has confirmed are required to deliver essential defence activities.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate.

You’ll need to request a letter from the Ministry of Defence confirming you are exempt. You’ll need to show this letter to officials at border control on entry to the UK.

Essential border security duties - UK officials and contractors

Applies to:

UK officials and contractors required to work on essential border security duties.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate if you’re either:

• required to undertake essential government work related to the UK border in the UK during the period which, but for this exemption, you would need to self-isolate
• undertaking essential government work related to the UK border outside of the UK but required to come back to the UK temporarily before departing the UK to again undertake essential government work related to the border

You should use your official photo identification to demonstrate your status.

Essential border security duties - non-UK officials and contractors

Applies to:

Non-UK officials and contractors required to work on essential border security duties.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate if you’re either:

• an official or contractor of a foreign government, required to travel to the UK to undertake essential border security duties
• in possession of a written notice signed by a senior member of your government confirming that you’re required to undertake essential border security duties in the UK during the period which, but for this exemption, you would need to self-isolate, and that that work cannot be undertaken whilst the person is complying with regulation 4
• your deployment is pursuant to a standing bilateral or multilateral agreement with the UK government on the operation of the border controls within the UK

You should use your official photo identification to demonstrate your status.

Crown servants or government contractors

This exemption only applies to those certified by a department of the UK government as meeting the criteria set out below.

You’ll need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate if a relevant department of the UK government has certified that you are:

• a crown servant or government contractor travelling to the UK for essential government work, or
• returning from conducting essential state business outside of the UK, or
• returning to the UK where this is necessary to facilitate the functioning of a diplomatic mission or consular post of Her Majesty or of a military/other official posting on behalf of Her Majesty

The relevant department of the UK government will issue you with a letter certifying that you fall within one of the categories above. You should contact them directly for this and bring it with you to the UK.

If you are working as part of a UK embassy, high commission, consulate or mission, the letter will normally be issued by the ambassador, high commissioner or their equivalent in the country you are travelling from (i.e. where you are working at post).You should contact them directly for this and bring it with you to the UK.

If you are directly employed by the MOD the letter will be issued through your chain-of-command in the country you are travelling from. You should contact them directly for this and bring it with you to the UK.

Regular work abroad

Applies to:

People who live in the UK but work in another country and travel between the UK and country of work at least once a week.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate if you are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You will need to self-isolate if you are staying in Scotland.

You’ll need to show evidence that you reside in one country but work in the other and you should also be able to demonstrate that you travel between the two on a minimum of a weekly basis, for example, a season ticket.

Regular work in the UK, living abroad

Applies to:

People who live outside the UK but work in the UK and travel between their country of residence and the UK at least once a week.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate if you are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You will need to self-isolate if you are staying in Scotland.

You’ll need to show evidence that you reside in one country but work in the other and you should also be able to demonstrate that you travel between the two on a minimum of a weekly basis, for example, a season ticket.

Bus and coach drivers

Applies to:

Drivers of public service vehicles and other employees of community licence holders for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK if you travel in part of the vehicle that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show that your travel is part of your job, for example a letter from your employer, a consignment note or your operator’s licence.

Drivers of goods vehicles

Applies to:

Drivers of goods vehicles and other employees of community licence holders for the international carriage of goods.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show that your travel is part of your job, for example a letter from your employer, a consignment note or your operator’s licence.

People transiting airside through the UK

Applies to:

People transiting airside (individuals who arrive in the UK but do not pass border control).

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate as you are only transiting via the UK.

You will not need to show anything as you will not pass through the UK border.

Civil aviation inspectors

Applies to:

Civil aviation inspectors engaged on inspection duties.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You should show your accreditation from appropriate authority in your home country. For example, the Transport Department or Civil Aviation Authority.

Eurotunnel workers

Eurotunnel train drivers and crew, Eurotunnel Shuttle drivers, freight train drivers, crew and essential cross-border rail freight workers operating through the Channel Tunnel.

You’ll need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK if you travel in part of the train that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey, unless passengers remain in their vehicles in that area. For example, on the Channel Tunnel passenger shuttle.

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you travel in a part of the train that is not accessible to passengers or (in the case of freight trains) the train does not carry passengers.

You will not need to self-isolate.

If you’re Eurotunnel staff, you should show a terminal access pass, or train driving licence.

If you’re a freight train driver, you should show your staff pass.

Eurostar International workers

Applies to:

Drivers and crew of trains operated by Eurostar International Limited, essential cross-border workers working for Eurostar International Limited.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK if you travel in part of the train that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey.

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you travel in a part of the train that is not accessible to passengers.

You will not need to self-isolate.

If you’re Eurostar staff, you should show a Eurostar staff pass, or letter from Eurostar, or train driving licence.

Channel Tunnel system workers

Applies to:

Operational, rail maintenance, security and safety workers working on the Channel Tunnel system.

You will not need to complete the passenger locator form or self-isolate.

You should show your terminal access pass.

Network Rail workers

Applies to:

Workers engaged in essential or emergency works to the rail network as part of a specialist team with or for Network Rail.

You’re only exempt if you’re either:

• working on automated ballast cleaning and track re-laying systems
• a specialist rail maintenance technicians maintaining or commissioning industrial machinery for use on national rail infrastructure

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You should show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details from your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification (sentinel card), you should bring this with you to the UK.

Seamen and masters and inspectors and surveyors of ships

Applies to:

Seamen and masters as defined in section 313(1) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, maritime pilots as defined in para 22(1) of schedule 3A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and inspectors and surveyors of ships appointed under section 256 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 or by a government of a relevant British possession as defined in section 313(1) of that Act.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK if you travel in a part of the vessel that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey.

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you travel in a part of the vessel that is not accessible to passengers or you travel on a vessel which does not carry passengers, for example fishing boats.

You will not need to self-isolate.

If you work on a ship, including fishermen, you should show a Seafarer’s Identification Document (SID) if you have one.

If you don’t have a SID, you can show your joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead. Alternatively, you could show a basic training certificate or declaration from the registered owners of the vessel that you are a crew member.

Aircraft pilots and crew

Applies to:

Pilots and crew, as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order 2016(h), where such crew have travelled to the UK in the course of their work.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK if you travel in any part of the aircraft that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey (for example the aircraft cabin).

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you travel in a part of the aircraft that is not accessible to passengers, for example a fully enclosed cockpit.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You should show a crew badge or ID.

Seasonal agricultural workers

Applies to:

Seasonal agricultural workers who have an offer of employment for seasonal work to carry out specific activities in edible horticulture on a named farm.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK and then immediately go to the farm where you are working.

You can start work immediately but you must self-isolate on the farm for 14 days. You’ll then need to follow advice for seasonal agricultural workers coming to England to work on farms.

If you’re from the EU

You should show a letter or email from your employer when you arrive at the UK border confirming that you’re an EU worker and will be employed as a seasonal agricultural worker.

The letter should include:

• your name
• your date of birth
• your employer in the UK
• your start date
• the address of the farm where you’ll be living
• contact details of your employer and/or farm

If you’re from outside the EU

You should present your visa at the border as usual if you’re travelling as a seasonal agricultural worker under the seasonal agricultural pilot.

Water supplies and sewerage services workers

Applies to:

Workers engaged in essential or emergency works, related to water supplies and sewerage services.

You’ll need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate.

You will need to show a letter from your company or the company you are coming to work for. Those bodies authorised to issue a letter are either:

• Water UK
• the relevant water undertaker, sewerage undertaker, water supply license, sewerage licensee or local authority that you’re carrying out the work for

The letter must include:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Specialist technical workers - goods

Applies to:

Workers with specialist technical skills for essential or emergency works or services (including construction, commissioning, installation, maintenance, and repairs and safety checks) to ensure the continued production, supply, movement, manufacture, storage or preservation of goods.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You should show a letter from your company which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• contact details for the business or organisation you’ll be completing work for in the UK
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK

You’ll need to show that your travel to the UK is essential for your work here, for example a letter from your employer, a consignment note or your operator’s licence.

Specialist technical workers - waste

Applies to:

Workers with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works (including construction, commissioning, installation, maintenance, repairs and safety checks) or to fulfil contractual obligations or warranty specifications in, or in connection with, waste management facilities used for the management, sorting, treatment, recovery, or disposal of waste (including energy from waste).

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• contact details for the waste management business or organisation you’ll be completing work for in the UK
• detail of what work you’ll be doing

If your employer has issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Specialist technical workers - power infrastructure

Applies to:

Workers with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works to ensure the continued safe and secure operations of generating stations, gas or electricity transmission or distribution networks, electricity interconnectors, gas terminals or district or communal heat networks

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Offshore oil and gas workers

Applies to:

Workers required for the continued safe and secure operation, maintenance and essential support services for offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the UK.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Specialist technical workers - space infrastructure

Applies to:

Workers with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works to ensure the continued safe and secure operations of space infrastructure.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Essential nuclear personnel

Applies to:

Nuclear personnel who are essential to the safe and secure operations of a licensed nuclear site.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Nuclear emergency responder

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

OPCW, IAES and Euratom inspectors

Applies to:

International nuclear safeguards and chemical industry inspectors, representing the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Euratom.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter at the border issued by the relevant department to your sponsoring organisation – either the IAEA, Euratom or the OPCW.

If your organisation issues you with identification or travel documentation, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Specialist aerospace engineers

Applies to:

Specialist aerospace engineers, or specialist workers responsible for ensuring the safe operation of aircraft.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Downstream oil facility workers

Applies to:

Workers with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works to ensure the continued safe and secure operations of a downstream oil facility that has a capacity in excess of 20,000 tonnes.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Postal workers

Applies to:

Postal workers involved in the transport of mail into and out of the UK.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Medical treatment

Applies to:

Individuals arriving to attend pre-arranged treatment, when receiving that treatment in the UK.

You’ll need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will be able to travel to and from your healthcare provider and the place you’re staying in the UK. You will otherwise be required to self-isolate.

You should show a letter or S2 certificate from your healthcare provider explaining your treatment.

Healthcare means all forms of healthcare including mental and physical health. There are also exemptions for live donors and those accompanying the individual, for example a carer or a child.

If you’re bringing a carer or care companion with you to the UK, they should show a letter from your care provider or their employer confirming that they’re providing care so they will also not need to self-isolate.

Registered health or care professionals

The exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for registered health or care professionals was removed on Friday 31 July 2020.

If you fall into this group and you arrived in England on or after 31 July you will need to self-isolate if you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that is not on the travel corridors list in the 14 days before your arrival.

If you fall into this group and you arrived in England before 31 July you will not need to self-isolate if you are required to work within 14 days of your arrival. Read the rules about when you need to self-isolate and for how long.

Transporting human cells or blood

Applies to:

If you’ve travelled to the UK for the purpose of transporting, to a healthcare provider in the UK, material which consists of, or includes, human cells or blood which are to be used for the purpose of providing healthcare.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show:

• your staff pass or photo identification
• confirmation from a healthcare provider explaining:
• the date, location and recipient of the products
• what material you’re carrying
• why you’re carrying it

If you’re transporting a controlled drug, you’ll need to show a Home Office import licence.

Human and veterinary medicines

Applies to:

Qualified persons and responsible persons for human and veterinary medicines, clinical trials, clinical investigations and pharmacovigilance.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show:

• your staff pass or photo identification
• confirmation from the trial sponsor including
• the date and location of the trial
• what your involvement in the trial is, for example if you manage, coordinate or administrate trials or medical research

Quality assurance inspectors for human and veterinary medicines

Applies to:

Quality assurance inspectors for human and veterinary medicines.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

If you’re conducting quality assurance assessments/inspections for any category of medicine, medical product or substance of human origin, you’ll need to show:

• your staff pass or photo identification
• confirmation of the date and location of your quality assurance assessment or inspection

Clinical trials or studies

Applies to:

Sponsors and essential persons needed for clinical trials or studies.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show:

• your staff pass or photo identification
• confirmation from the trial sponsor including
• the date and location of the trial
• what your involvement in the trial is, for example if you manage, coordinate or administrate trials or medical research

Data infrastructure maintenance

Applies to:

People involved in essential maintenance and repair of data infrastructure required to reduce and resolve outages, or in the provision of goods and services to support these activities.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

IT and telecoms workers

Applies to:

Information technology or telecommunications professionals whose expertise is required to provide an essential or emergency response to threats and incidents relating to the security of any network and information system and ensure the continued operation of any network and information system.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Work on electronic communications networks

Applies to:

People engaged in urgent or essential work on electronic communications networks.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

BBC broadcasting transmission network and services

Applies to:

People engaged in urgent or essential work for the BBC’s broadcasting transmission network and services.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

International prison escorts

Applies to:

International prison escorts, designated by the relevant Minister under section 5(3) of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984(a).

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

If you’re travelling internationally to escort prisoners, you’ll receive a letter from HMPPS. This letter will include your unique ID number linked to your prison service warrant card. You should present this letter and your warrant card on arrival in the UK which also includes your photograph.

There are also additional exemptions for those travelling to and staying in England.

Environment Agency relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management

Applies to:

Workers engaged in essential or emergency works on behalf of the Environment Agency relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

If staying in England, you will not need to self-isolate.

You should show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• detail of what work you’ll be doing and its location
• contact details for the Environment Agency or lead local flood authority in England, which you’ll be completing work for in the UK or, alternatively, a letter issued to you by the Environment Agency or lead local flood authority confirming that you are a worker engaged in essential or emergency flood and coastal erosion risk management works on their behalf

If your employer has issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Film and high-end television production

Applies to:

Individuals coming into the UK to work on film and high-end television productions which qualify as British under one of the government’s cultural tests or official co-production treaties.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will need to remain in a ‘bubble’ for 14 days since you were last in a non-exempt country. This means you can only leave your place of self-isolation to travel to your COVID-secure production locations and return back to your place of self-isolation during this period.

You should show a letter from the studio or production company responsible for the production which includes the following information:

• name
• date of birth
• passport number
• UK address
• production name, dates and locations
• contact phone number for the relevant studio / production company
• reference number from the certificate issued by the BFI on behalf of DCMS to prove the production has qualified as British and therefore meets the terms of the exemption

International elite sportspersons

Applies to:

International elite sportspersons and essential support staff participating in a UK elite sports event listed in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (as amended).

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You’ll need to self-isolate for the remainder of the 14 days since you were last in a non-exempt country. You can leave your accommodation to travel directly to and attend the listed elite sports event you are participating in with other elite sports persons and essential support staff. Travelling between multiple venue locations for the sports event or training is also permitted.

You’ll need to show written evidence from a United Kingdom or English national governing body for your sport of your status as an international elite sportsperson or essential support staff attending the specified event.

Domestic elite sportspersons

Applies to:

Domestic elite sportspersons and essential support staff returning from non-exempt countries to continue their competition or training in England.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate, but you should observe the Stages One to Four elite sport guidance framework as published by the UK government.

You should provide written evidence from a United Kingdom or English national governing body for your sport confirming both your status as an elite sportsperson who has travelled to a non-exempt country or territory to participate in an elite sports event, and that you will be continuing those activities on your return.

Medical examinations for elite sportspersons

Applies to:

Elite sportspersons (and any necessary accompanying support) who have made arrangements with a professional sports club to undergo a medical assessment to inform a transfer or contract negotiation to represent that club.

You and any accompanying persons will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will be required to self-isolate, except to travel to and from the place (or places) where your medical(s) will take place, and to and from the place where you’re otherwise self-isolating.

You and any accompanying persons will need to have written confirmation from the UK professional sports club on whose behalf the assessments are being conducted that you are an elite sportsperson attending a medical assessment, and any person with you does so of necessity.

Government contractors - the conduct of negotiations

Applies to:

Government contractors required to travel to undertake essential or emergency work overseas to facilitate essential government work or the conduct of negotiations.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You’ll need to request a letter from your responsible government department confirming you are exempt and you may be asked to present this to officials at UK border controls.

National Lottery

Applies to:

People who represent organisations which are participating in the fourth National Lottery Licence competition.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will need to self-isolate, except while undertaking activities necessary for the participation of the organisation you represent in the competition for the fourth National Lottery Licence, and any necessary ancillary travel.

You’ll need to show a letter from the organisation you are representing at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for the organisation
• confirmation that you are representing the organisation
• confirmation that the organisation is participating in the fourth National Lottery Licence competition
• what work you’ll be doing, and confirmation that this is essential to your organisation’s participation in the competition

If your organisation issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

When travelling within the UK you should comply with the safer travel guidance.

Advertising productions

Applies to:

Individuals coming into England to work on advertising productions as a:

1. director
2. actor
3. director of photography

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

If staying in England you can only leave your place of self-isolation to travel to your production location and return back to your place of self-isolation. This is known as forming a ‘bubble’. You will need to remain in this ‘bubble’ for the remainder of the 14 days since you were last in a non-exempt country.

You should show a letter from the production company responsible for the production which includes the following information:

• name
• date of birth
• passport number
• UK address
• production dates and location
• contact phone number for the relevant production company

Offshore oil and gas workers

Applies to:

Workers coming into England required to undertake or commence:

• activities on or in relation to an offshore installation
• activities on or in relation to upstream petroleum infrastructure
• critical safety work on an offshore installation or well being decommissioned or preserved pending demolition or reuse
• activities for the provision of workers, goods, materials or equipment or other essential services required to support the safe operation of the activities referred to above

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate if you have travelled to the United Kingdom in the course of your work and are required to undertake or commence the activities or work specified above within the 14 day self-isolation period.

You’ll need to show a letter from your company at the border which includes:

• your personal details, such as name and address
• contact details for your employer
• what work you’ll be doing

If your employer issued you with photo identification, you should bring this with you to the UK.

Seasonal poultry workers

Applies to:

Seasonal poultry workers who have an offer of employment for seasonal work to carry out specific activities in poultry processing on a named farm or processing site.

Self-isolation on arrival

Before you travel to England you should have accommodation arranged where you can self-isolate.

In order to benefit from the exemption, you will need to stay at the address specified in your passenger locator form when you are not at work or travelling to or from work. When working at a named farm this means you must stay in the on-site farm accommodation. If you are working at a processing site this means you must stay at the separate accommodation specified in your form. Your employer should arrange for appropriate accommodation and transport that will limit the risks of COVID transmission. You should travel, live, work and self-isolate in the same group of people of not more than 6 people. Your employer should only ask you to work in the same one function and location for the first 14 days.

Travel to England

You will need to accurately complete the passenger locator form before you travel to England and then immediately go to the named farm or processing site accommodation where you are living. If you are unsure of details, you must provide details of your employer, your full passport/identity card details and home address. You can start work immediately but you must self-isolate on the named farm or processing site and accommodation for 14 days. You’ll then need to follow advice for seasonal poultry workers coming to England to work on farms.

If you’re from the EU

You should show a letter or email from your employer when you arrive at the UK border confirming that you’re an EU worker and will be employed as a seasonal poultry worker.

The letter should include:

• your name
• your date of birth
• your mobile phone number
• your employer in England
• your start date
• the address of the named farm or processing site accommodation where you will be living
• contact details of your employer and either the named farm or processing site
• your end date, and date of leaving England (the end date must be before 31 December 2020)

If you’re from outside the EU

You should present your visa at the border as usual if you’re travelling as a seasonal poultry worker.

Specialist technical workers - subsea telecommunications infrastructure

Applies to:

Subsea telecommunications infrastructure personnel who are engaged in or whose role directly supports the installation, maintenance or repair of subsea fibre optic telecommunications infrastructure who have travelled to the UK in the course of their work.

You will need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to the UK.

You will not need to self-isolate.

You will need to show that you are covered by this exemption. The best way to do this is to provide a letter from your company or other legal entity or the company or other legal entity you work for at the border which states:

• your personal details, such as name and address, position, and employment status
• contact details for your company or other legal entity or employer
• details of the purpose of your travel and the work you’ll be doing.

You should provide as much detail as you can.

If your employer, company or other legal entity issues you with photo identification, you should also bring this with you to the UK.