UK Travel Restrictions for Arriving Passengers

There are a number of restrictions on travel to the UK that passengers should be aware of before visiting the country. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic where incoming travelers may face additional restrictive measures.

Great Britain welcomes thousands of people within its borders every year. It is one of the most important travel centers in Western Europe and the world. In most cases, entering the country with a visa, visa waivers such as UK eTA, or simply a passport is a simple and secure process.

In order to help visitors prepare properly for their arrival in the UK, this article explains what restrictions passengers may encounter during their trip to the country. It details what rules must be followed by incoming travelers and the current COVID-19 restrictions in place.

COVID-19 UK entry restrictions

Like most countries around the world, the UK has introduced restrictions in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These are to ensure that public health in Britain is adequately protected and to ensure that local epidemics can be contained.

At the moment, arrivals to the UK from most countries around the world must self-isolate for 14 days after entering Britain. All visitors arriving in the country must also complete a passenger locator form no less than 48 hours before departure for the UK.

However, the self-isolation rules do not apply to all passengers arriving in the UK. Visitors from selected countries are exempt from the 14-day quarantine.

Which passengers are exempt from the UK’s COVID self-isolation restrictions?

The UK has organised travel corridors with numerous countries across Europe and the world to enable continued travel to and from the country during the pandemic.

This allows visitors from countries designated as “reduced risk”, thanks to the low number of COVID cases, to enter the country without undergoing 14 days of self-isolation. The full list of reduced-risk countries includes:

Travellers are reminded, however, that they may also be subject to any quarantine restrictions imposed by their home country when returning from the UK. This could include presenting a negative PCR test for COVID-19 or undergoing 14 days of self-isolation.

For this reason, passengers are advised to check the local COVID-19 measures that may be imposed on them when returning from the UK before travelling.

Countries removed and added from the UK travel corridor list

The list above is subject to change depending on the coronavirus information for each country. The pandemic is an ongoing situation, this means that the list of travel corridors will be updated based on the number of cases and other data reported by foreign nations.

Vacationers and travelers are advised to check the list often and especially before departure to avoid disruption to their plans.

Regarding the imposition of quarantine measures for the new countries, Prime Minister Borish Johnson commented:

“Everyone understands that in a pandemic we don’t want to allow our population to be reinfected or for the disease to return. That is why quarantine measures are very important and we must apply them very strictly.”

So far, these are the changes made to the original list:

• Countries removed from the corridor on July 31: Luxembourg
• Countries and territories removed from the corridor at 4 a.m., Saturday, August 15, 2020: Aruba, France, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Turks and Caicos Islands
• Countries and territories added to the list at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020: Brunei, Malaysia
• Countries and territories removed from the corridor at 4 am, Saturday, August 8, 2020: Andorra, Bahamas, Belgium
• Countries removed from the corridor on July 31: Luxembourg

Who can and cannot travel to the UK?

The security of the United Kingdom’s borders is a very important issue for national authorities. The country has strict measures in place to prevent illegal immigration and ensure the safety of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Foreign nationals from most countries around the world require a valid UK visa or visa waiver before they can enter Britain or transit through any of its airports. However, there are some exceptions to these rules.

Which nationalities can visit Britain without a visa?

At the moment, the UK has visa-free travel arrangements with several countries. Passengers classified as visa-free citizens can only enter the country with a valid passport with more than 6 months of validity remaining from the date of entry.

Citizens of the following countries are considered visa-free citizens:

On arrival, visa-free citizens can stay in the UK for up to 3 months with their passport only. However, to stay longer or to start a job, travelers will need an appropriate type of UK visa.

In addition, citizens of the European Union (EU) and nations of countries participating in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) can enter and stay in Great Britain without a visa. However, this is expected to change as of December 31, 2020.

Britain left the EU on March 1, 2020 and is currently in the process of organizing its transition out of the multinational body. This transition period ends in 2020 and from 2021 onwards the way EU citizens travel to the UK may be subject to change.

It is expected that EU and EFTA visitors will need to apply online for a UK eTA before travelling to Great Britain and Northern Ireland for short trips of up to 3 months. The application process should be short, taking only about 15 minutes to complete, and valid eTAs will last for a number of years before expiration.

Arrivals from the common travel area

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a free movement zone in the North Atlantic. Its participating members are as follows:

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a free movement area in the North Atlantic. Its participating members are as follows:

• The United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• The Channel Islands
• The Isle of Man

Citizens of the Common Travel Area can visit the territory of the countries that are part of it with a minimum amount of checks and necessary documents. They also receive the reciprocal right to study, work, vote in elections and access state welfare.

In some cases, CTA participating countries also recognize the validity of visas issued by other members that allow travelers to continue travel to other nations in the common travel area. This has been piloted and implemented with Chinese and Indian visitors since 2016.

Visa waiver for passengers in direct air transit

Many foreign nationals from all over the world transit through one of the UK’s major international airports to another destination. A large number of these passengers can fly to Great Britain without the need for a visa.

Visa waivers are generally provided for passengers in direct air transit. This means that they are landing in the UK for transfer to a later flight (to a destination other than Ireland) that generally departs on the same day and from the same airport.

Only in this case, the following citizens are exempt from holding a direct air transit visa:

Most people who arrive in Britain enjoy a safe and enjoyable experience during their stay. However, as always, it is important for passengers arriving in the country to ensure that they meet all the necessary requirements for foreign visitors.