Guidance

Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Guidance for British people travelling abroad during the coronavirus pandemic, if they are legally permitted to travel under current UK COVID-19 restrictions.

From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published:
4 February 2020
Last updated:
5 March 2021, see all updates

COVID-19 travel

Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays. Check the rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Do not travel unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. In England, you must complete a declaration form for international travel (except for travel to Ireland).

Check our advice for all the countries you will visit or transit through. Some countries have closed borders, and any country may further restrict travel or bring in new rules with little warning.

To enter or return to the UK from abroad (except from Ireland), you must follow all the rules for entering the UK. These include providing your journey and contact details, and evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before you travel. When you arrive, you must quarantine and take additional COVID-19 tests. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red list travel ban country, or enter Scotland.

Plan for your travel: checklist

Developments in the coronavirus pandemic remain uncertain around the world. No travel is risk-free, and many countries have closed their borders to UK travellers due to the new variant of the virus.

If you are in the UK you should not travel abroad. Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. You must not travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays.

You should check the guidance for your personal circumstances before deciding whether you are legally allowed to travel internationally.

If you are legally permitted to travel abroad and are planning travel in the future, even if you are returning to a place you’ve visited before, follow this checklist.

Before you travel

  • follow all the current rules for where you live. In the UK, there are different restrictions in place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • you need a legally permitted reason to leave your home, including to travel abroad. If you live in England, you must complete a declaration form for international travel except for travel within the Common Travel Area which includes Ireland

  • keep up-to-date with the latest developments for your destination. Sign up for travel advice email alerts and check the TravelHealthPro website for travel health guidance 

  • find out about any entry restrictions, screening or quarantine requirements on arrival that might affect you. Check ‘entry requirements’ in our travel advice and contact the UK-based embassy of the country you’re travelling to for more information

  • if you need proof of a negative coronavirus test to enter another country, you must use a private test provider. The NHS Test and Trace testing service cannot provide the documents you will need for travel

  • read the safer air travel guidance on sensible precautions and steps to take if you’re flying. Consider your own circumstances and health, and remember you will need to wear a face covering on flights in England and Scotland. See also the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) guidance 

  • check with your accommodation provider for information about availability and the safety measures they have put in place 

  • read the advice of local authorities and follow all local health measures in place during your journey and in your destination. Local measures and travel restrictions may change before you arrive or during your stay. Check the travel advice page for your destination and check with your transport provider for more information 

  • get travel insurance, and make sure you are content with the level of cover it provides. If you already have travel insurance check it is valid and provides appropriate cover 

  • check your cancellation rights. Contact your tour operator, transport and accommodation providers if you have any questions 

When you’re abroad

  • continue to follow any updates to our travel advice for your destination

  • be prepared to comply with measures to manage localised outbreaks such as border closures, movement restrictions, testing requirements or quarantine rules. These could be brought in at short notice

  • if you test positive for coronavirus you are likely to need to get treatment locally and stay there until you have recovered. If you are required to quarantine or self-isolate by local authorities, you should expect to do so in the country

  • you may need to stay longer than you intended. Plan ahead for any delays to your return home and the financial implications or practical arrangements you may need to make

  • you should liaise closely with your travel company or airline to ensure you are aware of any changes to schedules. Plan for the risks of disruption and local domestic measures affecting your travel when arranging your return to the UK

  • if you will be returning to the UK, prepare for your return journey by completing the passenger locator form

  • to travel to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland from abroad, including UK nationals returning home, you must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure. If you do not comply (and you do not have a valid exemption) your airline or carrier may refuse you boarding and/or you may be fined on arrival

  • you must or quarantine when you enter or return to the UK from any foreign country except Ireland, unless you have a valid exemption:

When you return

You will need to follow the rules for entering the UK:

FCDO travel advice

Our travel advice explains that you must comply with the restrictions on travel, both domestic and international, that apply in each nation across the UK. You must not leave home or travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so.

It sets out the risks that you may face if you go to another country, including non-COVID risks, if you are able to travel abroad.

We continue to advise against all non-essential international travel to some countries and territories. You should check the country page for your destination. We also currently advise against cruise ship travel.

We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping this advice under constant review so that it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British people.  We take a range of factors into account.  For coronavirus, this includes the incidence rate and the resilience of healthcare provision in each country.  Find out more about how our travel advice works.

Consular help

We publish all our travel advice on GOV.UK. Our consular officers cannot provide any additional information by phone. Read more about the consular support we provide.

If FCDO travel advice changes when you are abroad

Travel advice is under constant review and may change at short notice, if risks in a country change.

Our travel advice may change while you are in a country to advise against all travel, or all but essential travel, because of COVID risks. If this happens, we do not advise you to return immediately to the UK. Instead, you should follow the local advice on any measures the local authorities are taking to control the virus before your return to the UK.

If you decide you wish to shorten your stay abroad because of a change in travel advice you should:

  1. contact your airline and travel company to discuss your options
  2. you must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure
  3. provide your journey and contact details before you travel using the passenger locator form
  4. check if and how you need to quarantine when you enter the UK on your return

If changes relating to a new COVID-19 variant mean you cannot return from travel abroad

If you are travelling abroad and unable to return to the UK, contact your airline or travel provider for advice. You can also contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate for urgent assistance.

Quarantine while you are abroad

If the local authority where you are proposes to quarantine you for your own protection, you should follow their advice.

If there are suspected cases of coronavirus where you are, you may need to remain in your hotel room or accommodation for 14 days, move to quarantine facilities and take tests for coronavirus. If you test positive, in some cases, you may need to be hospitalised abroad.

You should also contact your airline or travel company, and your insurance provider as soon as you can. We only organise assisted departure in exceptional circumstances.

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Keep in regular contact with the people who usually support you: family, friends and colleagues, especially if you are self-isolating abroad.

Read guidance on how to look after your wellbeing and mental health if you’re abroad during the current coronavirus pandemic.

If you live abroad permanently

As a permanent resident overseas, you should follow the advice of the local authorities where you are. Further information on COVID-19 measures that countries have taken is available in our travel advice pages.

COVID-19 vaccines if you live abroad

Wherever possible British nationals should aim to be vaccinated in their country of residence. We will share information on other countries’ national vaccine programmes on our travel advice pages as they are announced. You can sign up to get email notifications when a country’s travel advice page is updated.

If you live overseas find out about the vaccines available locally, and contact your healthcare provider for further advice. They can share the latest information about the national COVID-19 vaccination programme in the country where you live.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK authority responsible for assessing the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines. It has authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines for temporary supply and use in the UK. Find out more about MHRA approval for these vaccines.

British nationals living overseas should seek medical advice from their local healthcare provider in the country where they reside. Information about vaccines used in other national programmes, including regulatory status, should be available from the local authorities. This list of Stringent Regulatory Authorities recognised by the World Health Organisation may also be a useful source of additional information.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines on the World Health Organisation website.

Latest health advice

Read the latest NHS guidance on coronavirus for the current situation in the UK and abroad, and the latest government guidance on coronavirus.

The NaTHNaC provides general advice on preparing for foreign travel and how to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

Published 4 February 2020
Last updated 5 March 2021 + show all updates

  1. New link to the declaration form for international travel (for England), from 8 March.

  2. Updated as new quarantine rules come into force, with new links to quarantine guidance for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  3. Edited the checklist to provide further detail on requirements coming into effect from 15 February.

  4. New link to Scottish government quarantine hotels guidance, for when you arrive in Scotland from any foreign country except Ireland from 15 February onwards.

  5. From 15 February you will need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel if you arrive in the UK from countries on the travel ban list.

  6. UK government announced new rules on 27 January for outbound and inbound passengers. Top box updated: Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. You must not travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes.

  7. Updated with details of new requirements coming into effect from 4am on 18 January 2021.

  8. Updated with information on pre-departure testing for everyone travelling into England and Scotland.

  9. Updated to reflect latest UK restrictions

  10. Updated guidance to reflect changes relating to the new variant of the virus.

  11. Update to COVID-19 travel guidance

  12. New link to the guidance on getting a COVID-19 test to reduce self-isolation

  13. Updated to reflect the latest Tier-based COVID-19 rules for England

  14. Updated to include information on the new restrictions coming into force for England on 5 November

  15. Reviewed and updated to reflect current COVID-19 guidance

  16. Updated to reflect travel corridors coming into effect on 10 July. You may not have to self-isolate when you arrive in the UK from some countries and territories.

  17. Updated as the exemptions to the global advice against all non-essential travel come into effect

  18. Updated with a new checklist following the change in travel advice, where some countries will be exempted from the global advisory against non-essential international travel from 4 July.

  19. Added link to new guidance on safer air travel in the 'When you return to the UK' section

  20. Updated as the new rules for entering the UK (providing contact details and self-isolating) come into force

  21. Added link for how to get a test in the 'when you return to the UK' section

  22. Added information on new rules on entering or returning to the UK that will start on 8 June

  23. Updated to reflect coronavirus symptoms

  24. Updated to reflect new social distancing guidance

  25. New guidance link for wellbeing and mental health if you are abroad during the coronavirus pandemic

  26. New link to guidance on staying where you are if you cannot return to the UK

  27. New information on how government and airlines are helping bring British people travelling to return, including through special charter flights.

  28. Update for the latest travel advisory: return to the UK now if you’re travelling abroad

  29. Added link to new guidance on essential travel for international freight transport

  30. updated with latest advice against all non-essential travel worldwide

  31. Travel Checklist under "Before you go" sub-heading updated

  32. Addition of information about education trips overseas.

  33. Updated with latest guidance about planning for travel during the coronavirus outbreak

  34. Updated with latest advice for Italy and new guidance for people planning to travel abroad

  35. Updated to reflect new advice for the lockdown areas in northern Italy

  36. updated with latest travel advice for Cheongdo and Gyeongsan (South Korea), Public Health England advice on returning from Italy, and link to ABTA advice

  37. updated to reflect new advice against all travel to Daegu in South Korea

  38. Latest FCO travel advice on COVID-19.

  39. We have added additional travel advice on COVID-19

  40. First published.

Contents

Part of Travel abroad: step by step

  1. Step 1 Plan your trip during coronavirus (COVID-19)

    1. Check the latest coronavirus travel restrictions
    2. Complete the travel declaration form for international travel
    3. Check if you need a negative test result to enter your destination or if you need to quarantine upon arrival
    4. Get a coronavirus test through a private provider in the UK, if you need one
    5. Check what you need to do when travelling abroad if you are disabled

  2. Step 2 Get your passport ready

    You need to have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to many countries. Check entry requirements for the country you want to travel to.

    1. Check your passport has enough time left on it for the country you're visiting
    2. Renew or replace your passport
    3. Get a passport for your child

  3. and Check if you need a visa or permit

    1. Check if you need a visa or permit

  4. and Check if you need a permit to drive abroad

    1. Check if you need an international driving permit

  5. and Check how to take your pet abroad

    1. Check what you need to do to take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

  6. Step 3 Get travel insurance and check if you need vaccinations or inoculations

    1. Get travel insurance
    2. Check what vaccinations or inoculations you may need

  7. Step 4 Travel safely and check for travel disruption

    1. Find out how to travel safely in the UK during coronavirus
    2. Check guidance for safer air travel during coronavirus
    3. You are currently viewing: Check if there are travel disruptions because of coronavirus

  8. Step 5 Going through border control

    You may need to show paperwork such as your passport or visa, or a negative coronavirus test result at the point of entry.

    1. Check the entry requirements for the country you are travelling to or transiting through

  9. Step 6 When you are abroad

    1. Follow the local coronavirus restrictions
    2. Access healthcare in the EU

  10. and If you are unable to return to the UK

    1. If you are unable to return to the UK because of coronavirus

  11. Step 7 Return to the UK

    1. Check if the country you are travelling from is on the banned list due to coronavirus
    2. How to quarantine when you arrive in England
    3. Booking and staying in a quarantine hotel when you arrive in England
    4. Book a private test before you return to the UK
    5. Book a coronavirus test to reduce your quarantine period
    6. Complete a passenger locator form
    7. Follow the rules for entering the UK
    8. Check if you want to bring goods into the UK

  12. and When you arrive in the UK

    1. Follow the latest coronavirus restrictions
    2. Declare goods and pay tax and duty to UK customs