United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Latest News: Authorities revise guidelines for international arrivals based on COVID-19 vaccination status and countries recently visited (India Today, 24.12.2021). Africa, U.K.: British authorities will remove all 11 countries from COVID-19 travel red list from 15 December (Reutrs, 14.12.2021).

International Restrictions:
*If you are fully vaccinated: This is what you need to do if you qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to England.
*Before you travel to England – fully vaccinated: Before you travel to England you must:
• take a COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England
• book and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test – to be taken after you arrive in England
• complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England
Read more about taking a COVID-19 test before you travel to England.
If you’re in England for less than 2 days, you still need to book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test. You must quarantine until you receive a negative test result, or until you leave England, whichever is sooner.
*When you arrive in England – fully vaccinated:
After you arrive in England you must take a COVID-19 PCR test. This is the test that you booked before travel.
You can take the test any time after you arrive and before the end of day 2 at the latest. The day you arrive is day 0.
You must quarantine in your home or the place you are staying while you await your test result.
Test results: If your PCR test result is negative, you can end your quarantine.
If your PCR test result is positive, you usually have to self-isolate for 10 full days. The day of the test is day 0.
You can stop self-isolating after 7 days if you do a rapid lateral flow test on days 6 and 7 of your self-isolation period and:
• both tests are negative
• you did both tests at least 24 hours apart
• you do not have a high temperature
If you do a rapid lateral flow test on day 6 and test positive, wait 24 hours before you do the next test.
Read the NHS guidance for further information on how long to self-isolate for.
If your PCR test result is unclear, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the test is day 0.
If your PCR test result is unclear, you can choose to take another private test. If the result of that test is negative, you can stop self-isolating.
If your PCR test result is delayed, you must quarantine until you receive a negative test result or until day 14 after arrival, whichever is sooner.
*Check if you qualify as fully vaccinated: To qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to England, you must have proof of full vaccination with a full course of an approved vaccine.
You must have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England. The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.
*The proof of vaccination must have been issued by either:
• the UK vaccination programme
• the United Nations vaccine programme for staff and volunteers
• an overseas vaccination programme with an approved proof of vaccination for travel to the UK
Check which vaccines are approved and the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination.
*Children and other groups that can follow fully vaccinated rules. Even if you are not fully vaccinated, the fully vaccinated rules apply if you are:
• under 18 – see Travelling with children in this guidance
• taking part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial in the UK or the USA (US residents only for USA trials), or a phase 2 or 3 vaccine trial that is regulated by the EMA or SRA
• unable to have a COVID-19 vaccination for a medical reason which has been approved by a clinician under the medical exemptions process, and you are resident in England
*Read about applying for a medical exemption from vaccination using the NHS COVID Pass if you live in England.
*Proving your vaccination status: If you are fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme, you can prove your vaccination status using either:
• NHS COVID Pass for England and Wales
• NHS Scotland COVID Status app
• COVIDCert NI in Northern Ireland
Paper certificates are also available.
There are different ways to prove your vaccination status if you were vaccinated outside of the UK.
Check what proof is required for the country or territory where you were vaccinated.
If you cannot prove that you qualify under the fully vaccinated rules, you must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated.
*Red list countries: There are different rules if you have been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Check which countries and territories are on the red list and read the red list rules .
*If you are not fully vaccinated: This is what you need to do if you do not qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to England. Check this section of this guidance to see if you qualify as fully vaccinated .
*Before you travel to England – not fully vaccinated: Before you travel to England you must:
• take a COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England
• book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 PCR tests – to be taken after arrival in England;
• complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England
Read more about taking a COVID-19 test before you travel to England.
*When you arrive in England – not fully vaccinated: After you arrive in England you must:
• quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 full days
• take your COVID-19 PCR tests – you must book these tests before you travel
You must take the first test on or before day 2 and the second test on or after day 8. The day you arrive is day 0.
If you are in England for less than 10 days, you need to quarantine for the time you are here. You need to book day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. You only need to take the tests if you are still in England on those days.
*If the test result is positive: If your day 2 test is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the test is day 0.
You do not need to take the day 8 test if your day 2 test is positive. If your day 2 test is negative, you must take your day 8 test.
If your day 8 test is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the day 8 test is day 0.
*If the test result is negative: If your day 2 test is negative, you must continue to quarantine. You must take your day 8 test on or after day 8. If your day 8 test is negative, you can stop quarantine on whichever is later:
• day 10 – day 0 is the day you arrived in England
• when you receive the day 8 test result
If you receive your day 8 negative test result back on day 12, you must quarantine until the end of day 12.
If the test result is unclear: If the result of your day 2 test is unclear, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the test is day 0.
If the result of your day 8 test is negative, you can stop self-isolating on whichever is later:
• day 10 – day 0 is the day you arrived in England
• the day you received the negative day 8 test result
If your day 8 test is unclear, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the day 8 test is day 0.
You can choose to take another private test. If that test result is a negative result, you can stop self-isolating on whichever is later:
• day 10 – day 0 is the day you arrive in England
• the day you received the negative replacement test result from the additional test
*Test to Release scheme: If you need to quarantine, you may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.
*Red list countries: There are different rules if you have been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Check which countries and territories are on the red list and read the red list rules.
*Travelling with children: Children aged 4 and under do not have to take any COVID-19 travel tests. On arrival in England, they must quarantine until their responsible adult receives their day 2 test result back. Children aged 12 to 17 must take a COVID-19 test in the 2 days before travel to England. Children aged 5 to 17 have to follow the testing and quarantine rules for people who qualify as fully vaccinated on arrival in England. This means that they have to quarantine on arrival and take a PCR test on or before day 2. Check the rules in this guidance for people who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England for more details. You should also check the rules in the country you are travelling from as they may require children to take a test at the start of your journey to England. There are different rules for children who have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before they arrive in England.
*Medical and work-related exemptions: Some people cannot be fully vaccinated for medical reasons. Read more about medical exemptions from vaccination. There are also medical exemptions from:
• testing before travel to England
• quarantine for people having medical treatment
Some people are exempt from some or all of the requirements because of the job they do.
*Transiting through England: Read separate guidance if you are transiting through England as part of an international journey.
*Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man: If you’re travelling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you do not need to:
• complete a passenger locator form
• take any COVID-19 tests
• quarantine on arrival in England
This only applies if you have not been outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in the 10 days before the day you arrive in England. If you have, you must follow the international travel rules in the place where you arrive. See separate guidance on travel within the Common Travel Area after international travel.
*Red list countries and territories: There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. If you need to follow red list rules, you must do so if you are fully vaccinated or not. Check which countries and territories are on the red list and read the red list rules.

Internal Restrictions:
Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency and in the light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director have recommended to ministers that the UK COVID-19 alert level should increase from Level 3 to Level 4.
From 14 December, fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case should take a daily lateral flow test for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.hose who test positive or develop symptoms will need to self-isolate. Unvaccinated adults must continue to self-isolate for 10 days if they are a contact of someone with COVID-19. It follows a significant rise in Omicron cases in the UK with the new variant expected to become the dominant strain by mid-December

Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask:You must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport. Face coverings should be worn in communal areas of universities, colleges and schools by staff, visitors and pupils or students in year 7 and above.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Travelers from 11 African countries were required to quarantine at specific hotels at a high cost. The government has now decided to end the RED list as of 4 AM on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

You can access UK’s page for Covid-19 and travel here.

This change doesn’t affect the pretravel lateral and day 2 or before PCR-RT test requirements. The government has indicated that these will be evaluated in early January.

RED countries (removed December 15, 2021):
Angola
Botswana
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Latest News: Africa, U.K.: British authorities will remove all 11 countries from COVID-19 travel red list from 15 December (Reutrs, 14.12.2021). UK coronavirus (COVID-19) alert level increased from Level 3 to Level 4 (UK GOV, 12.12.2021).

International Restrictions:
*New rules in response to Omicron variant, this guidance applies to ENGLAND:
You must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport. Face coverings should be worn in communal areas of universities, colleges and schools by staff, visitors and pupils or students in year 7 and above.
If you’re travelling to England from abroad you must take a PCR test before the end of day 2 following your arrival and self-isolate until you get a negative test result, even if you’re fully vaccinated.
If you’re a contact of someone who may have been infected with the Omicron variant, you must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of your age or vaccination status.
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England.
All UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days. All 11 countries will be removed from the UK’s travel red list from 4am on Wednesday 15 December. Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are on the list. Whilst temporary testing measures for international travel will be maintained, all 11 countries will be removed from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow morning.

General entry requirements for international travelers arriving in the UK will depend on the individual’s past 10-day travel history. Travel from countries designated as ‘Red’ is permitted only for British or Irish nationals and residents. The list of ‘Red’ list countries can be found here.
All arrivals from red list countries must pre-book hotel quarantine packages prior to travel. Further details can be found here.
Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Individuals are not permitted to enter with EU, EEA, or Swiss national ID cards. They are required to present a valid passport to enter the country. Details, including exemptions, can be found here.
*Mandatory Testing: If you’re travelling to England from abroad you must take a PCR test before the end of day 2 following your arrival and self-isolate until you get a negative test result, even if you’re fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated travelers from all other countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel. Further, travelers are subject to additional tests on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements. However, they must take a COVID-19 test on or before day two of arrival.
Children aged four and below are exempt from all testing requirements.
Children aged between 5-17 who are residents of the UK or are arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program do not have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to England. However, they must take a test on or before day two.
COVID-19 tests can be pre-booked
here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from testing requirements.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers arriving from Red list countries are required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine hotel. Details can be found here.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival in England. They can leave quarantine early using the Test to Release scheme by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day five and testing negative on both the day two and day five tests. All travellers are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test any time before end of day two after arrival in United Kingdom and isolate until a negative result is provided.

Children resident in the UK or arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program are not required to quarantine. Whereas, children coming from other countries are required to quarantine at home.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
*Red list update, Friday 26 November 2021: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests. Read about the latest changes to the red list.

Internal Restrictions:
Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency and in the light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director have recommended to ministers that the UK COVID-19 alert level should increase from Level 3 to Level 4.
From 14 December, fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case should take a daily lateral flow test for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.hose who test positive or develop symptoms will need to self-isolate. Unvaccinated adults must continue to self-isolate for 10 days if they are a contact of someone with COVID-19. It follows a significant rise in Omicron cases in the UK with the new variant expected to become the dominant strain by mid-December

Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask:You must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport. Face coverings should be worn in communal areas of universities, colleges and schools by staff, visitors and pupils or students in year 7 and above.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom LoyaltyLobby

England Requires Predeparture Covid-19 Test From December 7, 2021
John Ollila December 5, 2021 Reading Time: 5 mins read
2
England + regions started to require Covid-19 PCR-RT test administered within two days of arrival a week ago (read more here), and now also bring back the pre-departure test.

Those traveling to or returning to England must have a negative result from a PCR-RT of LFD (lateral flow) test within 48 hours from departure. I would assume that this also applies to transit passengers like previously.

You can access England’s page for travel restrictions here.

Here’s the announcement from the UK:
Nigeria to be added to the travel red list from 4am Monday 6 December following 21 cases of Omicron reported in England which are linked to travel from this country, with 134 UK cases now reported in total
In light of emerging evidence on the Omicron variant, from 4am on Tuesday 7 December anyone aged 12 and above wishing to travel to the UK will need to show a negative pre-departure test (LFD or PCR) as close as possible to departure and not more than 48 hours before to slow the importation of the new variant
Government working at pace to expand Managed Quarantine Service capacity, but passengers are advised that hotel bookings may be limited as new hotels are onboarded
These are temporary measures that have been introduced to prevent further Omicron cases from entering the UK, and will be examined at the three-week review point on 20 December
From 4am on Monday 6 December, UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests, as further precautionary action is taken against the Omicron variant.

Currently, the vast majority of cases in the UK have clear links to overseas travel from South Africa and Nigeria, and over the past week, 21 Omicron cases reported in England originate from Nigeria.

A temporary travel ban will therefore be introduced for all non-UK and non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days, meaning they will be refused entry into the UK. This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through Nigeria while changing flights.

Last weekend, 10 countries were added to the red list and it was announced that all vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK must take a day two PCR tests and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Since then, the geographical spread of Omicron has increased considerably, with 37 countries around the world now reporting Omicron cases and over 134 cases identified in the UK.

New analysis conducted by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that the window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter for the Omicron variant, which increases the efficacy of pre-departure testing as it is more likely to identify positive cases before travel.

In light of this emerging evidence and the changing global picture with regards to the spread of Omicron, from 4am on Tuesday, anyone wishing to travel to the UK from countries and territories not on the red list must also show proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow (LFD) pre-departure test, taken no earlier than 48 hours before departure. This applies to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above.

Airlines will be required to check for pre-departure tests alongside a completed passenger locator form, and passengers will not be allowed to board a flight without providing evidence of a negative test result. Given the reduced incubation period of the Omicron variant, passengers are advised to take the pre-departure test as close as possible to their scheduled departure to the UK and no earlier than 48 hours before travelling.

These additional measures are vital to delaying the import of additional cases and slow the rise in cases within the UK. However, as the Prime Minister set out on 27 November, all temporary measures will be reviewed after three weeks to ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate, and this will take place on 20 December.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, said:
We knew this winter would be challenging but the arrival of a new variant means we must further strengthen our defences.

As our world-leading scientists continue to understand more about the Omicron variant we are taking decisive action to protect public health and the progress of our COVID-19 vaccination programme.

I urge everyone to do their bit to slow the spread by following the new travel rules, wearing masks where mandatory and most importantly getting the booster jab when called.

Anyone arriving from Nigeria before 4am Monday [6 December] will be advised and strongly encouraged to isolate at home, and their household should also self-isolate for 10 days starting with their arrival in England.

Affected individuals will be contacted and offered free PCR tests to be taken on day 8 after their arrival.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom BA confirmed it has temporarily stopped flights to Hong Kong “while we review operational requirements for this route”.

The South China Morning Post reported that one BA worker had tested positive for Covid, leading to most crew members being sent to the quarantine camp.

It follows a similar incident the week before.

In that case, a BA crew member tested positive for the virus on 20 November. The employee and other crew, classed as “close contact”, were sent to Hong Kong’s Penny’s Bay quarantine centre.

A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Department of Health told the South China Morning Post that those crew members had since returned to the UK.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific airline has been forced to cancel some passenger flights in December due to staff shortages. The airline operates a “closed loop” system which means airline crew, working on three week shifts, must stay in their hotel rooms between flights before going into a 14-day quarantine when they return home.

Hong Kong is pursuing a zero-Covid cases policy in order to open the border with mainland China.

BA said: “We apologise to our customers who have had their travel plans disrupted and will be in touch to give them options.” …

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Latest News: Flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa will resume from 30 November; COVID-19-related travel restrictions in place for U.K. arrivals (Capetown Etc News 29/11/2021).
British government tightens quarantine rules for visitors from Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe (AP, 27.11.2021). British authorities will place South Africa under red list travel restrictions because of new COVID-19 variant (Reuters, 25.11.2021)

International Restrictions:
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England.
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
Entry requirements for international travelers arriving in the UK will depend on the individual’s past 10-day travel history. Travel from countries designated as ‘Red’ is permitted only for British or Irish nationals and residents. The list of ‘Red’ list countries can be found here.
All arrivals from red list countries must pre-book hotel quarantine packages prior to travel. Further details can be found here.
Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Individuals are not permitted to enter with EU, EEA, or Swiss national ID cards. They are required to present a valid passport to enter the country. Details, including exemptions, can be found here.
*Mandatory Testing: Travelers arriving from Red list countries, irrespective of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report obtained within three days prior to travel. Such travelers are also subject to additional tests after arrival, on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Unvaccinated travelers from all other countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel. Further, travelers are subject to additional tests on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements. However, they must take a COVID-19 test on or before day two of arrival.
Children aged four and below are exempt from all testing requirements.
Children aged between 5-17 who are residents of the UK or are arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program do not have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to England. However, they must take a test on or before day two.
COVID-19 tests can be pre-booked
here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from testing requirements.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers arriving from Red list countries are required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine hotel. Details can be found here.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival in England. They can leave quarantine early using the Test to Release scheme by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day five and testing negative on both the day two and day five tests.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from quarantine requirements on arrival.
Children resident in the UK or arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program are not required to quarantine. Whereas, children coming from other countries are required to quarantine at home.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
*Red list update, Friday 26 November 2021: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests. Read about the latest changes to the red list.

Internal Restrictions:
Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask: In England, it is recommended to wear masks in crowded places such as public transports. Scotland introduced new rules tightening the mandatory use of facemasks. Face masks are required in shops, public transport, and workplace settings, including locations such as canteens. In Wales, masks are required on public transports and in all public indoor areas, except pubs and restaurants. In Northern Ireland, masks are required in shops, hospitality venues and on public transports.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom The Prime Minister has today confirmed new temporary and precautionary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK.

The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. Urgent work is ongoing internationally to fully understand how these mutations may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility.

Vaccines remain our best line of defence. Experts remain confident that our current vaccines will provide protection against the new variant, but the extent of this continues to be investigated.

Over 16 million people have already come forward for their booster jabs, and we have seen a fall in hospitalisations and deaths. All adults who have not yet received their first or second dose of the vaccine, or those who are eligible for their booster are encouraged to come forward to help protect themselves and others.

Targeted measures will be introduced from next week as a precaution to slow down the spread of the variant while we gather more information. These are:

All international arrivals must take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from next week. All hospitality settings will be exempt.
Six million booster jabs will be available in England alone over the next three weeks, and the Health Secretary has today asked the JCVI to consider rapidly extending boosters, as well as reducing the gap between the second dose and booster.

Two cases of the Omicron variant were today identified in Essex and Nottingham. Targeted testing and contact tracing is now underway.

Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it. A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.

International efforts are now underway to gather as much data and information as possible about this new variant, with more detailed information expected over the next three weeks. It is due to South Africa’s extensive surveillance system and transparency that the UK has been able to have early warning of this new variant and begin collecting data.

Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant and protect our borders. From 04:00 Sunday 28 November South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola will be added to the UK’s travel red list.

The vaccination programme and test, trace and isolate system continue to be the most effective way of reducing transmission, along with practicing good hygiene, keeping spaces well ventilated, and wearing a face covering in enclosed or crowded spaces.

The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world. The UK government thanks the government of South Africa for its surveillance of this variant and its transparency.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Britain announced new measures on Saturday to try to slow the spread of the newly identified Omicron coronavirus variant and a top health official said there was a “reasonable chance” that vaccines could be less effective against it.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said arrivals from all countries would have to self-isolate until receiving a negative result from a PCR test, that face masks must be worn in retail settings and it was time to step up booster jabs.

“We need to buy time for our scientists to understand exactly what we are dealing with,” he told a news conference.

Johnson said those who had come into contact with people testing positive for a suspected case of Omicron would have to self-isolate for 10 days and that face masks must be worn in shops and on public transport but not restaurants and pubs in England.

England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty told the same news conference there was a reasonable chance that the newly identified variant could be less easy to tackle with vaccines.

United Kingdom Latest News: British authorities will place South Africa under red list travel restrictions because of new COVID-19 variant (Reuters, 25.11.2021)

International Restrictions:
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England.
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
Entry requirements for international travelers arriving in the UK will depend on the individual’s past 10-day travel history. Travel from countries designated as ‘Red’ is permitted only for British or Irish nationals and residents. The list of ‘Red’ list countries can be found here.
All arrivals from red list countries must pre-book hotel quarantine packages prior to travel. Further details can be found here.
Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Individuals are not permitted to enter with EU, EEA, or Swiss national ID cards. They are required to present a valid passport to enter the country. Details, including exemptions, can be found here.
*Mandatory Testing: Travelers arriving from Red list countries, irrespective of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report obtained within three days prior to travel. Such travelers are also subject to additional tests after arrival, on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Unvaccinated travelers from all other countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel. Further, travelers are subject to additional tests on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements. However, they must take a COVID-19 test on or before day two of arrival.
Children aged four and below are exempt from all testing requirements.
Children aged between 5-17 who are residents of the UK or are arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program do not have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to England. However, they must take a test on or before day two.
COVID-19 tests can be pre-booked
here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from testing requirements.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers arriving from Red list countries are required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine hotel. Details can be found here.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival in England. They can leave quarantine early using the Test to Release scheme by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day five and testing negative on both the day two and day five tests.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from quarantine requirements on arrival.
Children resident in the UK or arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program are not required to quarantine. Whereas, children coming from other countries are required to quarantine at home.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
*Red list update, Friday 26 November 2021: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests. Read about the latest changes to the red list.

Internal Restrictions:
Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask: In England, it is recommended to wear masks in crowded places such as public transports. Scotland introduced new rules tightening the mandatory use of facemasks. Face masks are required in shops, public transport, and workplace settings, including locations such as canteens. In Wales, masks are required on public transports and in all public indoor areas, except pubs and restaurants. In Northern Ireland, masks are required in shops, hospitality venues and on public transports.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Latest News:

International Restrictions:
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England.
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
Entry requirements for international travelers arriving in the UK will depend on the individual’s past 10-day travel history. Travel from countries designated as ‘Red’ is permitted only for British or Irish nationals and residents. The list of ‘Red’ list countries can be found here.
All arrivals from red list countries must pre-book hotel quarantine packages prior to travel. Further details can be found here.
Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Individuals are not permitted to enter with EU, EEA, or Swiss national ID cards. They are required to present a valid passport to enter the country. Details, including exemptions, can be found here.
*Mandatory Testing: Travelers arriving from Red list countries, irrespective of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report obtained within three days prior to travel. Such travelers are also subject to additional tests after arrival, on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Unvaccinated travelers from all other countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel. Further, travelers are subject to additional tests on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements. However, they must take a COVID-19 test on or before day two of arrival.
Children aged four and below are exempt from all testing requirements.
Children aged between 5-17 who are residents of the UK or are arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program do not have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to England. However, they must take a test on or before day two.
COVID-19 tests can be pre-booked
here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from testing requirements.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers arriving from Red list countries are required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine hotel. Details can be found here.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival in England. They can leave quarantine early using the Test to Release scheme by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day five and testing negative on both the day two and day five tests.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from quarantine requirements on arrival.
Children resident in the UK or arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program are not required to quarantine. Whereas, children coming from other countries are required to quarantine at home.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland
, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Internal Restrictions:
Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask: In England, it is recommended to wear masks in crowded places such as public transports. Scotland introduced new rules tightening the mandatory use of facemasks. Face masks are required in shops, public transport, and workplace settings, including locations such as canteens. In Wales, masks are required on public transports and in all public indoor areas, except pubs and restaurants. In Northern Ireland, masks are required in shops, hospitality venues and on public transports.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom The British authorities have revealed that fully vaccinated minors and adult Europeans will be able to take a less expensive COVID-19 test instead of a PCR test upon arrival, starting this Sunday, October 24.

However, instead of a PCR test, they can take a lateral flow test or an antigen test before or on the second day of their arrival. Appointments to book such tests will open from October 22, and this change is expected to cut test expenses right in time for travellers returning from half-term breaks, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

In general, passengers need to upload a picture of the test result and the reference booking and send it to the private provider to verify the result. If the test is positive, the traveller must self-isolate and confirm the symptoms by taking a PCR test, which the government will cover.

“Today’s rule changes will make testing on arrival simpler and cheaper for people across the country who are looking forward to well-earned breaks for this October half term. Taking away expensive mandatory PCR testing will boost the travel industry and is a major step forward in normalising international travel and encouraging people to book holidays with confidence,” State Secretary for Transport Grant Shapps said.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom England has today updated the RED LIST countries from which the travelers need to quarantine upon returning home. The list will be in effect from 4 AM on October 11, 2021.

Fully vaccinated travelers from non-RED list countries still need to have a Covid test paid and booked before arriving in England. The test is taken on or before day two of their arrival.

Red List Countries (Only 7 Left):
Colombia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Haiti
Panama
Peru
Venezuela
Countries Removed From The Red List:
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Costa Rica
Cuba
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Georgia
Guyana
Indonesia
Lesotho
Malawi
Mayotte
Mexico
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Paraguay
Philippines
Réunion
Rwanda
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Suriname
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Uganda
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Latest News:

International Restrictions:
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England.
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
Entry requirements for international travelers arriving in the UK will depend on the individual’s past 10-day travel history. Travel from countries designated as ‘Red’ is permitted only for British or Irish nationals and residents. The list of ‘Red’ list countries can be found here.
All arrivals from red list countries must pre-book hotel quarantine packages prior to travel. Further details can be found here.
Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Individuals are not permitted to enter with EU, EEA, or Swiss national ID cards. They are required to present a valid passport to enter the country. Details, including exemptions, can be found here.
*Mandatory Testing: Travelers arriving from Red list countries, irrespective of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report obtained within three days prior to travel. Such travelers are also subject to additional tests after arrival, on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Unvaccinated travelers from all other countries are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel. Further, travelers are subject to additional tests on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements. However, they must take a COVID-19 test on or before day two of arrival.
Children aged four and below are exempt from all testing requirements.
Children aged between 5-17 who are residents of the UK or are arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program do not have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to England. However, they must take a test on or before day two.
COVID-19 tests can be pre-booked
here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from testing requirements.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers arriving from Red list countries are required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine hotel. Details can be found here.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival in England. They can leave quarantine early using the Test to Release scheme by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day five and testing negative on both the day two and day five tests.
Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries are exempt from quarantine requirements on arrival.
Children resident in the UK or arriving from a country with an approved vaccination program are not required to quarantine. Whereas, children coming from other countries are required to quarantine at home.
Individuals traveling to England from within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland
, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Internal Restrictions:
Travel abroad from England: Read guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Face Mask: In England, it is recommended to wear masks in crowded places such as public transports. Scotland introduced new rules tightening the mandatory use of facemasks. Face masks are required in shops, public transport, and workplace settings, including locations such as canteens. In Wales, masks are required on public transports and in all public indoor areas, except pubs and restaurants. In Northern Ireland, masks are required in shops, hospitality venues and on public transports.

*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
London: London has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths in the UK. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here. London Underground and other public transportation continue to offer altered services; updates can be found here.
Glasgow: Although Glasgow has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is currently recording a relatively moderate positivity rate compared to other regions. Details on local advisories and updates can be found here.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh continues to record a high number of COVID-19 cases. Given the increased pressure on the healthcare system, limited non-critical medical procedures are likely to be postponed. However, most business restrictions in Edinburgh have been lifted. Details can be found here.
Birmingham: Pubs, bars, and restaurants have reopened indoor dining areas. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play are permitted in accordance with the COVID-19 measures.Local guidance for COVID-19 can be found here.
Manchester: Manchester is currently categorised as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA). However, most business and gathering restrictions have been lifted. City-specific COVID-19 updates can be found here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has advised all citizens of the country to purchase travel insurance that covers them for healthcare as travel to Europe is different now.

Even though the UK is no longer part of the European Union, the Office revealed that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) still is valid when travelling in the EU as long as it remains in date.

However, when the document expires, Britons will need to replace it with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“Travel to Europe is different. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU, replace it with a GHIC when it expires. You should still get travel insurance that covers you for healthcare,” Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office wrote on its official Twitter account on September 15.

For Britons whose EHIC has expired, they can apply for a GHIC on the National Health Service (NHS) website. The application is free of charge, and applicants should provide the following information in order to be eligible to obtain a GHIC:

Full name
Date of birth
Address
National Insurance or NHS number (England and Wales)
CHI number (Scotland)
Health and Care number (Northern Ireland)
Britons can use the EHIC or the GHIC when travelling to an EU country, but such documents can’t be used when travelling to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. This means that most people can’t get medical treatment, and for that reason, everyone is advised to get appropriate travel insurance based on their needs.

Nonetheless, residents of the UK can use their passports to access medical treatment offered by Norway.

“Remember that the EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or costs, such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, being flown back to the UK, or lost or stolen property. It is not valid on cruises,” the Government highlighted.

– Advertisement –
For those who plan to take out travel insurance, the authorities recommend that everyone checks the following:

The level of healthcare cover the insurance includes
The travel disruption covers the insurance includes
The terms and conditions
According to the UK’s authorities, travel insurance policies are intended to cover many situations such as medical expenses, loss or theft of possessions, and trip cancellations.

Consequently, it is recommended that everyone gets an insurance policy as soon as they book a trip in order to make sure that they are covered if any changes occur before their departure.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom The British media have reported that the United Kingdom’s Government is planning to remove the system that the country currently uses for incoming travellers, known as the traffic light system.

Consequently, if the traffic light system gets abolished by the end of September, travellers who have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease will be able to enter the UK without being subject to the self-isolation rules.

There’s a possibility that the pre-departure test requirement might also be dropped for those who have been fully jabbed, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

The UK’s traffic light system was established by the country’s authorities in order to protect public health as well as prevent the spread of the virus and its variants within the territory.

Just like its name suggests, the traffic light system consists of three main categories – green, amber, and red – in which countries are placed based on their epidemiological rate.

Still, even though the data regarding other countries’ COVID-19 situation gets updated regularly, most of the arrivals from the EU countries continue to remain subject to the pre-departure test requirement.

Addressing the topic, the CEO of PC Agency, Paul Charles, said that the British government wants to move towards a travel system that is based on the individual risk of a person rather than a “blanket country” type of risk.

This means that if a new system starts applying, travellers will be subject to entry restrictions depending on their vaccination status and not the COVID-19 risk that the country they are travelling from has.

“The UK has a great opportunity to set a global standard. That’s what the Prime Minister should be doing so that other countries follow. That actually should be as simple as go or no go. Yes, you might have some red countries where there are signs of variants or which have higher infection levels than the UK, but if you’re fully jabbed, and you’ve chosen to be fully jabbed, you want to return to some sort of normality,” Charles said in an interview for BBC.

In addition, he said that countries need to fall into line and set a standard where travellers are allowed to go virtually anywhere at their own individual risk and where the testing rules are looser for those who have been fully vaccinated.

United Kingdom

UK Travel Restrictions: What You Need TO Know Before Going

The UK – four countries in one bottle: monarchical England with a lot of attractions, mountains, and blue lakes of Scotland, the land of medieval castles in Wales, and cozy villages of Northern Ireland.

A land of rains, pipes, and fox hunting, the UK is constantly gaining global attention. Either Lord of the Dance will come on tour, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery will shine in another Hollywood fairy tale. And even though it is still difficult to obtain a British visa, and travel to foggy Albion promises to result in a tidy sum, the tourist flow to the country does not dry up – we all want to stand at the threshold of the English monarchy, delve into the rules of pub etiquette, pick up a kilt for the cold autumn and recite “To be or not to be?” directly in the homeland of Shakespeare.

In addition, the UK has medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the tranquil beauty and serenity of rural landscapes, the recklessness and frenzy of evening London, granite of science in the best language schools, shopping in expensive prestigious boutiques and rummaging through the junk at flea markets. In short, a great variety.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to properly enter the United Kingdom.

General rules for entering the UK

Upon arrival at the UK airport, you will have your passport or other identification checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country. Your documents must be valid throughout your visit to England. Before leaving for the UK, check the documents you will need to enter the UK.

You may be asked at the border to confirm your relationship with the children you are traveling with if border control doubts that you are the parent of the child. For example, you have a different last name with your child.

You can present:

• a certificate of birth or adoption,
• a marriage or divorce certificate (if your child has a different surname),
• a consent from the parent of the child, giving him the right to travel with you. The letter must contain the contacts of the parents.

Your carrier (for example, an airline) will check your passport and other travel documents and then send information about you to customs. You can ask to take a look at this information.

Your passport is subject to verification, so keep it ready. Remove the cover of your passport before showing it. If you are wearing dark glasses, take them off. If you go through control with your family, then stick together.

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, your carrier will give you a “landing page”. Please fill it out before going through border control. This will save you time. Passport, as well as the “landing page” will be checked at the control.

Passing through British customs

UK entry regulations require you to cooperate if you are stopped at customs and asked about your baggage. If you broke the rules, then any of your things, as well as what you are transporting it in, can be confiscated.

It is prohibited to import weapons, ammunition, drugs, pornography, and poisons into the UK. Special permits are required for items of cultural or historical value, drugs containing drugs, plants, wild birds, and animals.

Products made from meat and milk are a travel ban: even a box of chocolates is confiscated. As an exception, you can import baby food or dietary food for people with various diseases, but its weight should not exceed 2 kg.

Those who travel to the UK with pets will have to prepare an international veterinary certificate and a special license, as well as tune in to a long quarantine. Pets that meet the PETS program are admitted to the country without delay. Export restrictions and prohibitions are the same as for import.

Tax free

Non-EU tourists staying in the UK for less than 3 months a year can take advantage of the Tax free system. When making retail purchases in participating stores, you can get up to 20% VAT refund. Global Blue prepares a refund for amounts from 30 GBP, Tax Free Worldwide – from amounts of 50 GBP per check. In the store, you will need to fill out a special form, keep the receipt and the integrity of the packaging, present the goods and documents at customs (the employee will put a stamp), and then at the Cash Refund point. VAT can be returned in cash at Heathrow Airport or by wire transfer to a bank card.

What questions are asked at the UK border?

If you have already received a UK visa and packed your suitcases, then it’s time to think about the following topic: the rules for entering the UK. Before travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on entering the United Kingdom, at least in general terms, in order to feel more confident. As a rule, a tourist thinks about what questions he may be asked when crossing the English border, how to behave, how long the process takes, whether medical insurance is required, and what can and cannot be brought into the country.

So, according to the rules of entry into England, upon arrival, all tourists are given a small migration card in English (UK Border Agency Landing Card). There you need to indicate some of your personal information, including the address where you plan to stay in the UK. You will have to fill them right on the spot; the questions are simple, so there will be no difficulties at this stage. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand in a rather big queue since airports are often very busy.

UK Border Crossing Documents

Some documents are required when entering the UK, but there are not many of them. The most important are papers confirming the purpose of your visit to the country. This can be an invitation from relatives you are going to visit, or from a company where you are traveling on business. If the purpose of the travel is for tourism purposes only, you should bring your hotel booking confirmation. You can show it if the officer asks where you plan to stay.

In each individual situation, it is worth taking additional documents with you to cross the English border. If, for example, you got married and changed your last name, and the old one is indicated on your visa, take a marriage registration certificate to prevent unnecessary questions. If you are traveling with a child and you have different surnames, you should take your birth certificate with you; if you are not his parent, then you must have documents confirming your right to accompany him during his travel to Britain; these papers will definitely be asked. All of them must be provided in English, translation is not required.

UK and Covid-19

Traveling to the UK may be a dream of many people, but the current situation in the world can greatly prevent from visiting the country.

The situation with the spread of the new coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the UK remains tense. The country is among the states with an unfavorable course of the disease. The success of the British healthcare system looks especially weak in comparison with some other European countries. On the first day of autumn, more than 334 thousand cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK. At the same time, more than 41 thousand people have already died. The daily increase in cases is also not encouraging – 1715 people as of August 31.

Against this background, the country‘s cabinet of ministers has repeatedly come under serious public criticism. Many experts have accused the government of being unprepared for the pandemic and delaying the adoption of restrictive measures. Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the head of the British government Boris Johnson himself fell ill with the coronavirus Covid-19, temporarily moving away from the government.

A nationwide quarantine was announced, when local hospitals were already unable to cope with the large flow of sick citizens. At the same time, the British authorities, unlike other European countries, did not close their borders and introduce a mandatory 14 days quarantine requirement for arriving guests with need to self isolate. However, it was difficult to obtain a visa for travel. The fact is that almost all British visa centers abroad were not working.

And yet, the restrictive measures introduced inside the country gave the first positive results, the number of cases decreased. Since May 13, the UK has begun to ease domestic quarantine and return to normal life. However, repeated outbreaks of the disease are forcing the British government to return to separate prohibitive measures.

Rules for entering the UK under quarantine restrictions

The difficult epidemiological situation forced the British Cabinet to impose restrictions on entry into the country. Obviously, they were belated, given that the state did not close its external borders.

From 8 June, all foreigners entering the UK must:

• fill out a special form, where you need to indicate contact information and place of residence, and email address;
• self isolate for 14 days.

You can get to the place of quarantine by public transport, but subject to the mask regime and social distancing. For violation of these rules, you could face a fine, in extreme cases – expulsion from the country.

Exceptions to the rules

The actions of the British authorities are well suited to the Soviet slogan during the New Economic Policy: “One step forward, two steps back”. By adopting travel restrictions, Boris Johnson’s cabinet also adopted an extensive list of exceptions to them. In particular, the 14 days self isolate period is not required to go among:

• diplomats and state representatives of the EU countries;
• transiting passengers;
• train carriages, ships, and aircraft;
• medical tourists;
• scientists;
• specialists of the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

A complete list of all exceptions can be found on the British Embassy Information Portal.

UK and EU

Having made a decision to withdraw from the common European space, Great Britain is forced to build new political relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that individual European countries were in no hurry to let English tourists into their territory without self isolating for 14 days, on July 10 the British government decided not to extend this rule to guests from European countries.

UK and the world

Since mid-July, the British authorities have also begun to exempt visitors from countries belonging to the so-called “green zone” from the mandatory 14-day self-isolation. Today this list, in addition to European countries, includes about 30 more states. A complete list of it is published on a special website.

Charter flights

Due to the closure of external borders by most countries in the world, the UK has provided its citizens with the opportunity to return home by charters. Persons who have a residence permit were also able to use them.

When can quarantine be violated?

The British authorities admit cases of violation of the mandatory quarantine. It can be done:

• during the travel from the airport to the place of self isolate;
• in an emergency when something threatens your life;
• if you need to go to the store if the other way to deliver the goods failed;
• to travel to hospitals by ambulance.

Covid-19 and political decisions

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said that the new travel restrictions that the government is introducing due to the increase in the incidence of Covid-19 may be in effect for another six months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Parliament about the introduction of new quarantine restrictions in England. In the evening he repeated the main points of his speech in a television address to the nation.

New measures in England:

• Pubs and restaurants will close at ten o’clock sharp;
• Mandatory service by waiters, ordering from the bar is prohibited everywhere;
• If possible, citizens should work from home.

Other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – determine their own quarantine measures.

“I am sorry that this will affect a large part of the business, but we must act,” the prime minister said. Thus, in England, where it is no longer possible to gather in groups of more than six people, the restrictions will increase, however, amid complaints from small businesses about serious losses due to quarantine, the government will not take more stringent measures.

Johnson noted that these measures could remain in effect for about six months. “This virus has become a phenomenon in our lives. And I must tell the members of parliament and the whole country that our fight against it will continue,” the Prime Minister said.

In recent weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 in Britain has risen sharply. Scientific and medical advisers to the government warned that if the disease spreads at the same rate as now, the country could become sick up to 50 thousand people a day.

An infectious disease professor at the University of Liverpool said these measures would not be enough. He speaks of a “serious concern” in the scientific community as the infection rate among people under 50 is growing.

Tough measures in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily claim travel ban.

The measure of self isolation has already been introduced for more than 1.7 million people in Glasgow and some of its suburbs. Now, according to Sturgeon, this will apply to the entire country.

In addition, Scotland, following England, will ban pubs and restaurants after 10 pm.

Thus, Scotland has stricter quarantine measures than England, where it is still allowed to visit, albeit with greater restrictions.

Since Monday, the “rule of six” has been in effect in England: people who do not live under one roof can gather (even at home) in an amount of no more than six people.

“The reason we took these steps is because we know these restrictions are holding back the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland.”

Do the restrictions work?

Restrictions are introduced, but as it turned out, not everyone understands them. And it’s not even the folly of people, but the system itself with different levels and exceptions.

Liverpool people have no time for fun. There are already more COVID patients in hospitals in the city than at the peak of the first wave. Restrictions of the third, that is, the highest level of self isolating were introduced here recently.

Even by introducing seemingly tough restrictions, the government is trying to inflict minimal damage on business. As a result, the quarantine is very special, with numerous exceptions.

The three-tier system of restrictions is so complex that even police chiefs do not understand the rules, writes the Daily Mail. The confusion did not stop officers from fining four students a record £ 40,000 for hosting an illegal party.

But hardly anyone can punish the inhabitants of the village of States. The river divides the village into two parts. Each belongs to different municipalities. And they have different rules.

London is one of the regions where quarantine may be tightened in the near future. In the meantime, there are second-level restrictions: residents are forbidden to gather in groups of more than six people and need to self isolate.

Conclusion

Due to the coronavirus, the United Kingdom has become disunited. The British government controls the situation only in England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland decide for themselves, what to do. If you are going to travel to the UK, you need to know the basic rules for entering the country so as not to waste extra time when going through airport security. These rules differ depending on the type of visa and also the country from which you are coming. As for Covid-19, further plans for the 14-day self isolate and the establishment of “air bridges” are expected to be announced within the nearest time. You should see for yourself, whether a self isolation requirement applies to you, definitely see more information on how this requirement will affect your plans to visit the UK.

United Kingdom Seven countries will move from Amber to Green, including Canada and Finland, while Montenegro and Thailand will become Red requiring 10-night hotel quarantine upon return.

You can access England’s page for Green, Amber, and Red lists here.

Green, Amber & Red Entry Requirements
Green

Fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated can visit without quarantine. However, Pre-departure PCR-RT and day two PCR tests are required.
Amber

Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated can visit. Pre-departure PCR-RT and PCR tests upon return on day two required. Unvaccinated need to self isolate for 10 days.
Red

Quarantine is required in specific hotels at £2,285 per adult for 10 days. Pre-departure and two PCRT-RT tests after arrival required.
Here’s the update:
Countries affected moving to the green list (currently amber)
The Azores (Portugal)
Canada
Denmark
Finland
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Switzerland
Countries affected moving to the red list (currently amber)
Montenegro
Thailand
Green Watchlist
The following countries are in danger of moving from Green to Amber

Anguilla
Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Bermuda
British Indian Ocean Territory
Cayman Islands
Croatia
Dominica
Grenada
Israel and Jerusalem
Madeira
Montserrat
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
Taiwan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Conclusion

The most significant news time this is the moving of Thailand from Amber to Red and not removing Turkey from the Red list.

United Kingdom Latest News:

International Restrictions:
Authorities in the UK issued the new nation’s COVID-19-related international entry restrictions for several countries effective 04:00 July 19. In accordance with the government’s so-called “traffic light” system for foreign travel, various countries and territories are categorized as “green,” “amber,” or “red” in order of increasing COVID-19 transmission risk based on local disease activity and immunization rates.
Passengers transiting through the UK will not be subject to immigration checks and will be cleared for their onward flight as long as it is on the same calendar date as the arriving flight. However, those transiting within the Common Travel Area (CTA) will be required to undergo quarantine if they have visited a ‘Red list’ country in the previous ten days.
Authorities have extended COVID-19 emergency measures until September. People who have symptoms or test positive are required to self-isolate for 10 days. Those who live with someone who either has symptoms or tests positive must self-isolate for 14 days.
COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving in England from ‘green list and ‘amber list’ countries can be booked here.
Pre-arrival booking for hotel quarantine packages is available here.
International cruises are operating. UK travelers can fly to Gibraltar and Malta without quarantine as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s green light program.
*Mandatory Testing: All travelers entering the UK are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test report from no more than three days prior to travel.
Additional tests are required for individuals arriving from ‘Green list’ countries as well as vaccinated individuals arriving from ‘Amber list’ countries on the second day of arrival. Non-vaccinated individuals arriving from the ‘Amber list’ and all those arriving from the ‘Red’ list are required to get tested on the second and eighth day of arrival.
Travelers who have been fully immunized in the UK, US, or most of Europe are exempt from quarantine and the eighth day test when returning from ‘Amber list’ countries.
The cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international passengers varies with the destination and vaccination status of travelers. Details can be found here.
Authorities started a new lateral flow testing procedure for individuals working in essential services. These would include haulers, seafarers, transport crew, seasonal agricultural workers, and some travelers. Required tests would begin after the second day of stay in the country. Arrivals staying in the UK for less than two days will not need to be tested.
Individuals traveling to England from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Ascension, Falkland Islands, and St Helena are exempt from testing requirements. The full list of exemptions can be found here.
*Quarantine Upon Entry: Travelers returning to the UK from ‘Green list’ countries are not required to quarantine: Fully-vaccinated travelers from the USA and the EU ‘Amber list’ countries, including France, are allowed to travel to the UK without undergoing quarantine restrictions.
Non-vaccinated individuals arriving from countries on the ‘Amber list’ are required to quarantine at home for ten days upon arrival.
All travelers arriving from a country placed on the ‘Red list’ are required to be quarantined in a hotel for ten days and get tested on or before the second day and on or after the eighth day. They are required to pay 1,750 GBP for their hotel quarantine, COVID-19 testing, and transportation. Quarantine hotel packages must be booked before arrival here.
Different regulations may apply if traveling to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Individuals traveling to the UK must provide their journey and contact details 48 hours before their arrival in the UK by completing an online passenger locator form.
Travelers are exempt from filling out the aforementioned form if they’re travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and they were there for 10 days or more. Individuals traveling for purposes of jobs listed here are exempt.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) requires travelers to Gibraltar to complete an online passenger locator and ‘Relevant area’ form.
For the latest updates on Red, amber, green lists: check the rules for travel to England from abroad.

Internal Restrictions:

*Travel within the U.K.: Region-specific restrictions or exemptions on entry are available for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or is notified of having been in contact with someone infectious and fails to self-isolate could face fines up to 10,000 GBP.
Health authorities have advised individuals not to travel in and out of areas most impacted by the Indian COVID-19 variant. These areas include Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow, and North Tyneside.
*Face Mask: The use of face masks is mandatory in several public locations, including banks, supermarkets, train stations, airports, bus stations, universities, and on public transportation across the UK. Scotland introduced new rules tightening the mandatory use of facemasks. Face masks are required in workplace settings, including locations such as canteens.
*Curfew: There are no nationwide curfews in place.
*Region Specific Regulations:
The full list of restrictions in England can be found here. The full list of restrictions effective in London can be found here.
The full list of restrictions currently applicable in Northern Ireland can be found here.
Scotland has introduced a five-tier system under which COVID-19 regulations are determined in accordance with an area’s ‘Protection Level’. Area-wise categorization and further details on the system can be found here.
Welsh Government Coronavirus Updates are available here.
*Overseas Territories Regulations:
Anguilla-specific regulations can be found here.
Bermuda-specific regulations can be found here.
British Virgin Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Falkland Islands-specific regulations can be found here.
Gibraltar-specific regulations can be found here.
Turks and Caicos-specific regulations can be found here.

United Kingdom 25/08/2021 The second-largest United Kingdom-based carrier, British Airways, started operating flights from London Heathrow to Ljubljana, Slovenia, after almost two years of no air traffic, which was imposed to halt the further spread of Coronavirus.

Moreover, each Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, passengers can travel between the two cities for the next four weeks.

The Head of Airline Management at Fraport Slovenija airport, Janez Krašnja, welcomed the decision and wished for more robust travel and other business relations with the UK.

“We are happy that one of the most popular routes among Slovenian passengers is returning to Ljubljana. We welcome stronger travel and business ties between Slovenia and Great Britain,” Krašnja said, EX-YU Aviation reports.

Published on 18.01.2021
Ryanair and British Airways continue to refuse refunds for customers who can’t legally travel.
British Airways Secures £2 billion Government Loan.
EasyJet secures new five-year $1.87 billion loan with UK guarantee
Ryanair cancels its flights between Belfast and London Stansted until end of March following COVID-19 restrictions.

Published on 14.12.2020
British Airways parent to outline path toward climate neutrality.
British Airways Buenos Aires/London flight will have a stopover in Sao Paulo
Virgin Atlantic cancels its planned Manchester to India flights
Virgin Atlantic resumes flights to and from Cape Town

Published on 27.11.2020
Virgin Atlantic launches pre-departure COVID-19 testing trial on London Heathrow-Barbados flights.

Published on 20.11.2020
Virgin Atlantic ready to partner flybe. after restart.

Published on 13.11.2020
Morocco : Resumption of TUI fly flights to Belgium and France

Published on 09.11.2020
British Airways suspends flights between Inverness, London Heathrow because of COVID-19 lockdown in England

Published on 08.11.2020
British Airways, easyJet halt Tel Aviv-London flights until 3 December
British Airways to suspend Gatwick operations during lockdown

Published on 06.11.2020
British Airways to cut back on flights in November
British Airways cancels flights to Sydney via Singapore until 2021
EasyJet cuts more flights and sells planes after new Covid controls

Published on 04.11.2020
Jet2 cancels all flights from England from 5 November to 2 December

Published on 03.11.2020
Jet2 will suspend flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Crete, Rhodes, Larnaca, Paphos until 2021

Published on 02.11.2020
EasyJet plans to cancel hundreds of flights from London Gatwick Airport amid second lockdown announcement
TUI Airways suspends flights departing from England and Wales from 5 November to 2 December because of lockdowns
Wizz Air expands its London Luton route network

Published on 30.10.2020
Jet2 confirms dates when flights to several destinations will resume

Published on 28.10.2020
Jet2 suspends flights to some Spanish airports until 10 February 2021

Published on 27.10.2020
Jet2 will suspend flights from U.K. to Malta from 31 October to 14 February 2021
Wizz Air increases flights from London Luton Airport and Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Canary Islands

Published on 26.10.2020
Jet2 cancels Zadar and Pula routes for 2021 summer season

26.10.2020 Virgin Atlantic in last week’s schedule update filed additional adjustment to its planned operation for the month of November 2020. As of 23OCT20, planned operation as follows. Additional changes remain highly possible.

London Heathrow – Atlanta 3 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Boston eff 21NOV20 3 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Bridgetown – Antigua 2 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Bridgetown – Grenada 2 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Delhi 4 weekly 787-9 (5 weekly from 16NOV20)
London Heathrow – Hong Kong 4 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Johannesburg 4 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Lagos 1 daily A350-1000XWB
London Heathrow – Los Angeles 1 daily 787-9/A350-1000XWB
London Heathrow – Miami 3 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Montego Bay 2 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Mumbai 5 weekly 787-9 (4 weekly from 16NOV20)
London Heathrow – New York JFK 2 daily 787-9/A350-1000XWB
London Heathrow – Shanghai Pu Dong 2 weekly 787-9
London Heathrow – Tel Aviv 4 weekly 787-9 (1 daily from 17NOV20)

Planned 1 daily A350-1000XWB service to Atlanta and Johannesburg from 16NOV20, has been postponed to 01DEC20 at the earliest.

Published on 25.10.2020
Ryanair announces a travel corridor between the UK and the Canary Islands

22.10.2020 Virgin Atlantic in recent schedule update delayed planned Airbus A350-1000XWB service introduction on Atlanta and Johannesburg. Previously scheduled from 25OCT20, planned A350 service has been tentatively scheduled to 16NOV20. Additional changes remain highly possible.

London Heathrow – Atlanta
25OCT20 – 15NOV20 3 weekly 787-9
eff 16NOV20 1 daily A350-1000XWB

London Heathrow – Johannesburg
25OCT20 – 15NOV20 4 weekly 787-9
eff 16NOV20 1 daily A350-1000XWB

Published on 21.10.2020
Virgin Atlantic delays Atlanta / Johannesburg A350 service until mid-Nov 2020

Published on 20.10.2020
TUI Airways Dec 2020/Jan 2021 Manchester – Toulouse aircraft changes

18.10.2020 Wizz Air in the last few weeks continue to adjust planned operation for Wizz Air UK, due various travel restrictions and market demand. As of 17OCT20, Wizz Air UK’s planned operation, under “W9” flight numbers, for the month of November 2020 as follows.

Additional changes remain likely.

Doncaster/Sheffield – Larnaca 2 weekly
Doncaster/Sheffield – Lublin 1 weekly
Doncaster/Sheffield – Malaga 1 weekly
Doncaster/Sheffield – Tenerife South 1 weekly
London Gatwick – Athens 4 weekly
London Gatwick – Lanzarote 3 weekly
London Gatwick – Malta 3 weekly
London Gatwick – Naples 4 weekly
London Luton – Athens 3 weekly
London Luton – Belgrade 2 weekly
London Luton – Bourgas 2 weekly
London Luton – Bratislava 2 weekly
London Luton – Catania 2 weekly
London Luton – Constanta 2 weekly
London Luton – Debrecen 2 weekly
London Luton – Kaunas 4 weekly
London Luton – Kosice 2 weekly
London Luton – Kyiv Zhulyany 2 weekly
London Luton – Larnaca 2 weekly
London Luton – Lisbon 1 weekly until 06NOV20
London Luton – Lublin 2 weekly
London Luton – Lviv 2 weekly (1 weekly from 09NOV20)
London Luton – Malaga 1 weekly
London Luton – Moscow Vnukovo 2 weekly
London Luton – Olsztyn-Mazury eff 16NOV20 2 weekly
London Luton – Poznan 2 weekly (5 weekly from 16NOV20)
London Luton – Prishtina 2 weekly
London Luton – St. Petersburg 1 weekly
London Luton – Satu Mare 2 weekly
London Luton – Suceava 5 weekly
London Luton – Thessaloniki 2 weekly
London Luton – Thira 2 weekly until 08NOV20
London Luton – Zakynthos 2 weekly until 07NOV20