Travel rules for people arriving in the UK have been changed as a number of major changes have been announced.
It has been confirmed that testing measures for fully vaccinated arrivals will be axed.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Monday that border testing for vaccinated travellers 'has outlived its usefulness', so the government will be scrapping all travel tests for vaccinated people.
From 4am on Friday 11 February, 'eligible fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK will no longer have to take a post-arrival lateral flow test,' he said.
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To class as fully-vaccinated, a person must have received two doses of an approved jab or one dose of a Janssen vaccine.
Mr Shapps added that 'all fully vaccinated people will now have to do' is verify their status by a passenger locator form.
He says families will save about £100 on visits abroad and axing the rules will provide certainty to passengers, to carriers and the tourism sector.
The rules for those who aren't fully vaccinated haven't changed since last March - but now, people will no longer be required to take a day eight test after arrival, or to self isolate.
Returning holidaymakers who aren't fully vaccinated will still have to:
- fill out a passenger locator form
- demonstrate proof of a negative Covid test taken two days before travel to the UK
- take a post-arrival PCR test
“This is a proportionate system that moves us a step closer to normality while maintaining vital public health protections," Mr Shapps said.
Grant Shapps says Britain is now one of the most vaccinated countries in the world and Omicron is in retreat.
He went on to confirm that, from Thursday 3 February, 12 to 15-year-olds in England will be able to prove their vaccination status via the digital NHS pass for international outbound travel.
Speaking in the Commons, he said: “Under-18s will continue to be treated as eligible fully-vaccinated passengers, which means they will not face any tests at the UK border.
“Today, I am pleased to confirm that from February 3, 12 to 15-year-olds in England will be able to prove their vaccination status via the digital NHS pass for international outbound travel.”
Mr Shapps also told MPs the UK is also set to recognise vaccine certificates from 16 further nations, from Friday 11 February.
He said reconnecting to key markets will not only 'boost' the UK economy but also help the aviation industry to 'take back to the skies'.
The Transport Secretary added: “I can also confirm that from 4am on February 11, we’ll recognise at the UK border vaccines certificates from 16 further nations.
“That will include countries like China and Mexico, bringing the vaccine recognition total to over 180 countries and territories worldwide.”
Mr Shapps highlighted that Britain is now one of the most vaccinated countries in the world and Omicron is in retreat.
2022 'will be the year that restrictions on travel are firmly placed in the past,' he added.
The UK will continue to monitor Covid infections overseas but the government intends to move 'away from blanket border measures to a more sophisticated and targeted global surveillance system,' he said.
