Amidst growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus and its variants, the UK continues to uphold strict restrictions on travel to and from the UK in an effort to protect the health and safety of the population. These restrictions do not apply to those travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, provided travellers have spent the past 10 days in one of these places or in the UK.
As the guidance currently stands, those who enter the UK must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test when they travel, complete a passenger locator form and quarantine for 10 days. You must also show proof of your COVID-19 test bookings for the 2nd and 8th day of your quarantine, and take these tests accordingly. If you have been to a country on the travel ban red list in the 10 days before your arrival to the UK, you must quarantine at a government-approved hotel.
Certain job occupations can exempt individuals from some of the above stated rules. For example, aircraft pilots and its crew, seamen, masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships do not need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel even if they have travelled to a travel ban red list country in the previous 10 days. These individuals are also not required to take a COVID-19 test on the 2nd and 8th day after their arrival in the UK. However, there are specific conditions and requirements for each exempted job occupation which need to be satisfied and these are outlined in the government guidance.
Crown servants or government contractors, and representatives of a foreign country, territory or British overseas territory may not need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel even if they have travelled to a travel ban red list country in the previous 10 days, if they meet certain conditions. Even if people in these occupations are exempted from staying at a government-approved hotel, they may still be required to quarantine at an accommodation of their choice if they do not meet certain conditions, and may still be required to take a COVID-19 test on the 2nd and 8th day of their trip.
Additionally, those transiting through the UK do not need to quarantine in the UK.
Please note that the information in this blog is current at the date and time of posting. The situation regarding policy and guidance based on the COVID-19 pandemic is subject to change at short notice. We shall be monitoring all aspects of UK immigration which may be impacted by the coronavirus closely, so please do keep updated with further blogs and articles which we will be posted on this site.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2021
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