UK travel update: UK government waives quarantine for fully vaccinated US travelers
The UK government has announced that starting on August 2, quarantine will be waived for fully vaccinated travelers from the US and other “amber list” countries.
Starting at 4am local time on August 2, 2021, arrival from the US who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine when entering the UK.
Some requirements still apply:
- Fully vaccinated travelers from the US will still be required to complete a pre-departure test before arriving in the UK, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival
- Travelers will need to provide their paper CDC card as proof of vaccination
- Those vaccinated in the US will also need to provide proof of US residency
- Passengers from all countries cannot travel to the UK unless they have completed a Passenger Locator Form
- Travelers will need to be ready to show their COVID-19 vaccine certification documents to their carrier on departure. Anyone not complying with health measures could face a fine, and carriers are required to ensure proper checks are carried out.
Travelers from the UK are still restricted from entering the United States.
Exceptions
- Children under 18 in the US and Europe will also be exempt from quarantine and the day 8 test. They will still need to complete a pre-departure and day 2 test. Children between the ages of 5 and 10 will only need to complete a day 2 test.
- Participants of approved US and EU clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines and adults who can prove they are unable to be fully vaccinated on medical grounds will also be exempt from any quarantine requirements on arrival.
European travelers
European travelers who are fully vaccinated in the EU with vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or Swiss travelers authorized by the Swiss vaccination program will also be able to enter the UK under the same regulations. These rules do not currently apply to France. Anyone arriving from France to England must continue to quarantine for 10 days, at home or in other accommodation, even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
UK travel will be different this summer
According to the UK government, all measures announced will be kept under review and be guided by the latest data. Travel continues to be different this summer, and while some restrictions remain in place passengers should expect their experience to be different and may face longer wait times than they are used to – although the UK government is making every effort to speed up queues safely. The UK will continue to roll out upgrades to e-gates over the summer to automate checks for health requirements, with many e-gates already in operation and more to be added over the coming months to increase automated checks on passengers at airports.
