On March 18, 2022, COVID travel restrictions were finally lifted in the United Kingdom. Though many restrictions were already lifted for travelers who could prove that they were fully vaccinated, some were still in place for unvaccinated travelers. This is very exciting news for those who haven’t been able to travel to the U.K. since the country first implemented COVID-related restrictions nearly two years ago.
If you are thinking about traveling to the United Kingdom but still have some questions about the news, read on for everything you need to know:
When Were Travel Restrictions Lifted in the U.K.?
On March 18, 2022, all travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted throughout the United Kingdom. This is a much-welcomed change for international travelers looking to visit the U.K. Many of these restrictions had been in place since March 2020 before finally being lifted this month.
What Travel Restrictions Have Been Lifted?
COVID travel restrictions were first put into place in the United Kingdom starting March 2020 due to rising concerns of COVID-19. These restrictions made it very difficult for international travelers to enter the U.K.
As of March 18, 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for all COVID-related travel restrictions to be lifted regardless of a traveler’s vaccination status or departure country. Thanks to the U.K. lifting these restrictions, international travelers looking to enter no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID test, can skip filling out a passenger locator form, and will not need to quarantine on arrival. If you have a trip to the United Kingdom planned in the near future, be sure to frequently check the rules and restrictions of the country you plan on visiting as they could change.
Why Were These Restrictions Lifted?
COVID-related travel restrictions were lifted due to increased vaccination rates throughout the U.K. and the fact that the number of COVID cases across the globe has been decreasing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently gave some more insight into why he decided to lift travel restrictions in the U.K., “The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others.”
It is important to note that COVID travel restrictions can be reimplemented at any time, especially if cases begin to rise.
Does This Apply to Both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Travelers?
Yes. Travel restrictions have been lifted for all international travelers, regardless if you are fully vaccinated or unvaccinated.
What is the Current Status of COVID in the United Kingdom?
As of March 23, 2022, there have been over 20 million cases of COVID in the United Kingdom, with nearly 120,000 new daily cases over the past week. When it comes to the U.K. vaccination rate, as of March 23, 2022, 73.4% of the population is fully vaccinated, with 141 million total vaccine doses given.
Do I Need a Passport to Visit the United Kingdom?
If you plan to travel to the United Kingdom, you will need to obtain a passport to enter. We recommend that you get your new passport or passport renewal as soon as possible to avoid any potential issues that may arise. To begin the process of getting a passport, visit the Swift website.
If you have any questions during the process, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’d be happy to help answer any questions that you may have! As always, no matter if you plan on traveling to the U.K. or somewhere else in the world, we’ll get you there!
