Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): travellers exempt from border rules in the UK

Updated 8 June 2020

You still need to follow the same rules as people who live in the UK, even if you’re exempt from self-isolating for 14 days after you arrive. Check the rules for the nation you’re staying in:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Travellers from within the Common Travel Area (Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands)

If you are arriving from within the Common Travel Area (CTA) and have been in the CTA for the last 14 days before entering the UK, you will not need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form or self-isolate for 14 days.

If you are arriving from another part of the CTA and entered the CTA within the last 14 days, you’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form. You’ll only have to self-isolate until you have spent a total of 14 days in the CTA.

You can show details of recent travel into the CTA, such as a boarding pass or itinerary, to help confirm whether you entered the CTA in the last 14 days and how long you have spent in the CTA in total.

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 Public Health passenger locator form.

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days 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’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days after they arrive in the UK.

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

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 Public Health passenger locator form.

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days 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’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days after they arrive in the UK.

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

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 Public Health passenger locator form or self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You will not need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form or self-isolate for 14 days if you’re either:

• required to undertake essential government work related to the UK border in the UK within 14 days of your arrival
• 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.

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

You will not need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form or self-isolate for 14 days 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 within 14 days of arrival 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 travelling to the UK for essential government work

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

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days if you’re either:

• required to undertake essential policing or essential government work in the UK within 14 days of your arrival
• undertaking essential policing or essential government work outside of the UK and you are required to return to the UK temporarily and will thereafter depart to undertake essential policing or essential government work outside of the UK
• conducting bi-lateral or multilateral discussions with another state or international organisation

Your department, employer, or the Ambassador, High Commissioner or equivalent at the UK Embassy, High Commission, Consulate or Mission in the country you are travelling from (i.e. where you are working at post), will issue you with a letter confirming you are exempt. You should bring this with you to the UK.

If you’re engaged in defence activity, follow the advice for defence personnel

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

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days 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.

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

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days 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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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 (individuals who arrive in the UK but do not pass border control)

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days 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 engaged on inspection duties

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

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 Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

You should show your terminal access pass.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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 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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

If you don’t have a SID, you can show your joining papers, seafarers employment agreement or a seafarers 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.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

You should show a crew badge or ID.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health 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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

Workers with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works (including commissioning, 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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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 involved in the transport of mail into and out of the UK

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You’ll be able to travel to and from your healthcare provider and the place you’re staying in the UK. You’ll otherwise be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

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 travelling to the UK to provide essential healthcare, including where this is not related to coronavirus

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

You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in Scotland.

You’ll need to show:

• you’ll start work within 14 days of your arrival in the UK
• proof of professional registration with a UK-based regulator
• an employment contract or letter of confirmation from either an:
  • NHS Trust
  • independent healthcare provider
  • independent social care provider

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

Sponsors and essential persons needed for clinical trials or studies

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

People engaged in urgent or essential work on electronic communications networks

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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

You’ll need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before you travel to the UK. You will not need to self-isolate for 14 days.

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.