Good news for double-jabbed travellers; being fully vaccinated will mean avoiding quarantine in the near future. But how will it work, and what are the most up-to-date rules? Here’s the government advice to follow if you’re planning to travel soon.
Do I need to isolate after having both vaccines?
Currently, yes. If you have travelled to an amber-list country, you must quarantine at home for 10 days (reduced to five days if you take part in the Test To Release system, although this option is not available in Northern Ireland) – this applies whether or not you’re fully vaccinated. You should also isolate if you have received a Test and Trace notification that you’ve been in close contact with someone with Covid; in this case, people will be told the length of time to stay at home.
However, these rules will soon be lifted for those who have had both jabs. On Thursday 24 June, the government announced plans to allow fully vaccinated people to travel to an amber-list country without having to quarantine ‘later this summer’. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said more details will be set out in July as the government explores options.
Vineyards in La Rioja at sunrise, Spain
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What has the government said about removing quarantine for vaccinated people?
On Thursday 24 June, Grant Shapps said: ‘Thanks to our successful vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries. There are a number of questions that still need to be answered, but what we did want to do is let people know that this is something that we are actively looking at – but it won’t be until later in the summer.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has emphasised that the government’s key focus is making sure that the situation domestically is safe. He said: ‘I want to stress that this is going to be – whatever happens – a difficult year for travel. There will be hassle, there will be delays I am afraid, because the priority has got to be to keep the country safe and stop the virus coming back in.’
Can I travel to an amber-list country?
Legally, UK residents are allowed to travel for leisure as long as they follow all the rules. These include taking tests and quarantining at home for 10 days upon their return. However, it’s important to note that the British government has said that people should not be travelling to amber-list countries for leisure – although this guidance is set to lift when the rules change. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also currently advises against all but essential travel to amber-list countries, so those that do should make sure to purchase travel insurance that is appropriate for the destination they’re visiting.
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