5 August 2021

The government has announced an easing of travel restrictions for travellers coming to England who have been fully vaccinated in the US or certain European countries. The changes are set out in Section 2A of the The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021.

New travel rules for adults
As of 4am on 2 August 2021, adults travelling from an amber list country who have been fully vaccinated in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, the Vatican City or the US:

• must prove their vaccinated status either with an EU Digital COVID Certificate for Europe or a CDC card for the US;
• book a post-arrival COVID-19 test before departure to be taken on or before day two of arriving in England; and
• do not need to quarantine upon arrival or take a day eight COVID-19 test.

Fully vaccinated means at least 14 days after the second dose is given and with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency for Europe, the Swissmedic for Switzerland, or the Food and Drug Administration for the US.

Additionally, adults vaccinated in the US must also show proof of US residency (eg USA passport, visa or Green Card).

New travel rules for children
People under 18 who are residents of the European countries listed above or the US must follow the same rules as children from the UK:

• Children aged 11 to 17 must show a negative COVID-19 test to travel to England.
• Children aged 4 and under do not have to take post-arrival COVID-19 tests.
• Children aged 5 to 17 must take a post-arrival COVID-19 test on day two but do not have to quarantine.

Children aged 5 to 17 who are not ordinarily resident in the UK, US or the European countries listed above must take a post-arrival COVID-19 test on day two and eight and must quarantine for 10 full days.

New travel rules for adults vaccinated in France
The new exemptions originally excluded France from the list of EU countries. However, the government announced that as of 4am on Sunday 8 August 2021, the new exemptions also apply to adults who have been fully vaccinated in France.

Get in touch
For further information on forthcoming changes to UK immigration law, see our website, contact your assigned LDI lawyer or email enquiries@lauradevine.com.