With temperatures approaching -17°C, local travel is hardly enticing but what if you need to fly further. As the video points out, new requirements are in place on return to the UK, possibly in your destination country.
Regulations vary across the globe for UK residents, they may mean you can not enter another country at all. Together with the EU Schengen zone, Brazil, South Africa and other places, the UK is considered a high risk point of departure.
Where you are able to travel, a clear and recent Covid-19 test result is likely to be required, along with a period in isolation on arrival.
The situation in most countries is changeable, so keeping up to date matters. Check with your airline and at the government travel advice page, this is currently being well maintained and offers an index of countries.
Preparing For Your Journey
Rules for flying with electronic devices, liquids, food and powdered goods have not changed, nor have those for controlled items at either end. Although transmitting coronavirus via packaging, or goods is possible, the focus is on people.
The ATA carnet system also remains in place for temporary exports, across all member states. Apart from a few changes in procedure to help maintain social distancing, this has not been affected by the pandemic.
Professional effects and equipment, samples, or exhibition goods can all be covered by ATA carnets used with hand luggage. Duties, taxes, or other documentation are avoided, as are delays, or unwanted contact at customs.
Along with your carnet, you need to carry normal travel documents, a copy of your Covid test and evidence of the reason for your journey. Planning for everything you require during any isolation period will also help.
When You Return To The UK
Overseas experiences on your trip will vary, from detailed checking and isolation on arrival, to a less strict approach. On return, the situation is fairly clear, with all the rules below applying from 15th February 2021.
On arrival, you must hold evidence of a negative Covid test taken within 3 days of departure. Details of your journey and contact details are obligatory, via a passenger locator form, with heavy penalties for trying to disguise a journey.
If you are a UK citizen and have come from, or been through a red list country, you are obliged to quarantine in a hotel approved by the government. This lasts 10 nights and, along with testing, carries a cost of £1750.
This facility needs to be booked in advance, an online option will be live soon. Once in the hotel room, you can’t leave without a security guard and will be Covid tested at day 2, along with day 8 of your stay.
When coming from non red list countries, foreign nationals are allowed entry but whatever their points of origin, they will be subject to hotel quarantine. UK residents are allowed to isolate in their home.
For journeys from less infected countries, the test to release option remains. You need to book a Covid-19 PCR test in advance, enter details on the passenger locator form and wait 5 full days before having the test.
Essential Journeys Only
If you have been put off from travelling, that’s part of the plan. Overseas journeys should only be for essential work, medical, or educational needs and encouraging people to look at alternatives is the current trend.
The position is a long way from ideas on regional travel zones, or vaccine passports. A change of heart mainly led by the prevalence of new coronavirus variants, along with the ongoing situation in the UK.
If you need to travel and are taking items with you that require an ATA carnet, we will make sure this is accurate to avoid any airport hassle. We understand anyone choosing not to travel but if you are, better to avoid interaction.