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From architecture that spans back thousands of years such as the famous Roman baths to the cultures, landscapes and traditions, the UK is without a doubt is one of the most beautiful places to be on earth. 

Traveling to the UK is now possible for tourists from many countries to help cure that wanderlust that is still burning bright is so many of us. 

Here are all the most recent UK COVID-19 entry requirements and everything you need to know before you go.  

Bridge in london with tourist at sunrise

Public Health Passenger Locator Form

All visitors are required to fill out the Public Health Passenger Locator Form before they arrive in the United Kingdom. 

Failure to do so could result in being denied entry into the UK or fined £100 if you refuse to provide your contact details.

Fill out the Public Health Passenger Locator Form

Note* You do not need to complete the form or self-isolate if you’re travelling from Ireland, The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man and you were there for 14 days or more:

Belfast Northen Ireland city hall with tourists shopping

COVID-19 Testing Entry Requirements

Visitors will NOT need to present test results from a PCR or Rapid COVID-19 when entering the UK. Self quarantine measures are in effect. (See below)

Tourist wearing face mask in front of Big ben in london (1)

Quarantine Entry Requirements 

Tourists and Non Essential Travelers

All travelers coming from the below countries/territories DO NOT have to self-quarantine for 14 days when arriving in the UK. 
 
(accurate as of October 22, 2020)
 
  • Akrotiri and Dhekelia
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Bonaire, St Eustatius & Saba
  • British Antarctic Territory
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Canary Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Channel Islands
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Estonia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • Gibraltar
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland
  • The Isle of Man
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Macao (Macau)
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie & Oeno Islands
  • Portugal (ONLY Azores and Madeira) 
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • St Barthélemy
  • St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Pierre and Miquelon
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Important Note: If you have been to a country NOT on the above list in the previous 14 days before arriving in the UK, you must self isolate. 

Tourism and Non Essential Travel For Countries NOT Listed Above

If your country is not on the list above, you are still permitted to visit the U.K. but you will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Important Note: Quarantine requirements may vary in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

uk

COVID-19 Travel Insurance Entry Requirements 

Travel insurance is not mandatory but all incoming travelers should have travel insurance the covers COVID-19 for the duration of their trip to the UK.

COVID-19 Health Requirements While in the UK

All visitors must abide by the following COVID-19 health requirements while in United Kingdom

Face coverings must be worn in enclosed public spaces in England including subways, railways, bus stations and airports. Follow all social distancing signs.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have varying rules for face coverings.

Traveler wearing face mask in london subway

COVID-19 Vaccine Entry Requirements 

A COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available. The United Kingdom has not made any announcements regarding if a proof of vaccination record (POVR) will be required for entry in the future. 

Visa Entry Requirements For the United Kingdom During COVID-19

All travelers will still need to follow U.K. visa requirements. United Kingdom embassies around the world have reopened for visa applications.

Many countries are able to visit the UK for up to 90 days without a visa.

Check if you need a visa to enter the United Kingdom with this easy government tool.

Castle in Wales

UK Covid-19 Entry Requirements:

  1.  Fill out the Public Health Passenger Locator Form
  2. Check if your country requires a visa to visit the United Kingdom
  3. Check the latest countries exempt from quarantine.
  4. Follow all UK health protocols

Read More: 

COVID-19 Entry Requirements By Country: Travelers Guide

All Countries Reopening For Tourism

Countries in Europe That Have Reopened For Tourism

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19

For Breaking Travel Reopening News & Questions, Join Our: Facebook Community

Travel-off-Path-group

Sources: UK Government/UK Visa and Immigration/

Disclaimer: Current UK travel rules are changing without notice and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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19 Responses

  1. hiking nomad Reply

    How about if you are trying to get to another country soon after arriving but your ticket out of London is just a few days after landing? So we have to pick up our luggage but will not be staying in the UK long. Trying to find a connecting flight on the same day was not possible. Thanks

  3. Andreas katsanevakis Reply

    Do you need any of this papers if you are in transit for a few hours?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hi Ashley – Most UK transits are happening for Canadians very smoothly and without issue. If you have any doubts, you can always contact your airline or the airport to confirm

  5. sharon young Reply

    Hi! I am looking for US citizens experiences through London and onto Scotland – I am planning to go to Scotland in October to see my fiancé. I am able to quarantine the full 14 days as well as the fill out the passenger locator forms – and am hoping to not have any issues.

    Thanks so much!

    Sharon

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hi Sharon, throughout many threads (not on this page, but other articles/pages on this site) there have been lots of comments about this, and also in our FB group? Are you in it?? You can search in there and find lots of people who have done this trip already

  6. Ina Reply

    Would it be possible to travel to UK for 3 days to visit my children who are boarding in the UK and have Leave out next weekend? Even if I self-isolate for 3 days, I will have to travel to the airport to return to my country which is in the 14-days self isolation list?! Is it possible to travel this way?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      This would be a good question for UK border police or the UK consulate, as I don’t want to advise wrong information.
      In practice, I have seen/heard of our readers doing similar things in the UK, but that doesn’t mean it is the official regulations. It would be best to double-check with local authorities

  7. leon Reply

    Hello everyone, i will be travelling back to Spain in 3 weeks, transit in the UK (I’m a Canadian citizen) , it seems its ok to transit in the UK for a few hours and all i need to do is fill a locator form, can someone please confirm ? i appreciate all the information on this site

  8. Alexis Abfayer Reply

    This has kind of been asked and answered but my specifics are that I arrive from the US at Heathrow, where I will take a taxi from there to St Pancras international and immediately board the Eurostar for a ride to France, where I will quarantine. I know about the passenger locator forms, both before 48 hours prior to departure and within 48 hours of departure and am fine with doing those. What I’m concerned about is having to quarantine in London (do I have to since I’m immediately going to Paris?) and having a recent PCR test (within 72 hours of departing the US) upon entry, which is kind of tricky to get the test back where I am that quickly. Will an antigen test work?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Unless you a French national and you have not mentioned it, you are not permitted to travel to France after immediately arriving in the UK.
      France MAY permit you entry if you first quarantine for 14-days in the UK, but even that is not for sure.

      France requires all citizens returning home, and all essential/approved travelers from the USA to carry a 72 hour PCR test, antigen tests will not be accepted.

  9. Alexis Abfayer Reply

    Thanks for your answer. I’m actually going to France to be with my fiancée, get married within 2 months and live there. We were supposed to get married in April so this is long overdue.

    I’d read on another blog that people in my similar situation have flown to London then taken the Eurostar over with no issues as early as mid September. Have you heard of this? My fiancée says that what she has read in France, they care where you are coming from, in this case London/the UK, and not necessarily the passport. Given that I have a private place to quarantine in Paris, should I need to, so is that a plus?

    Thanks again for your reply.

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      I have heard of people doing this, but its technically against border rules.
      Some people have made it through, while others have not. It’s risky and technically not permitted.

      Yes, they care where you are coming from… for the last 14 days. Otherwise everyone would just catch a flight to the UK to get around the ban, see what I’m saying?

      Again, it might work, but it also might not, so you have to be prepared for the worst, or first spend 14 days in a safe nation before entering

      You should also ask the French consulate about couples reuniting, as they have made exceptions for that, but will advise you on how that works

  10. Alexis Abfayer Reply

    Thank you again! I appreciate your insight.
    So if I quarantined in London for 14 days, would that work?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Again, it’s not a for sure thing, (because France states on their entry requirements that US residents are not permitted for non-essential reasons) but it will increase your chances exponentially.
      I would still call French border police and ask them straight up “If I am coming from the UK, been in the UK for at least 14 days, and I am a resident of the USA, can I enter” – that way you will have something to go on.
      If they ONLY care about your location for the past 14 days, then you should be fine to enter

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