Please note: Our website no longer fully supports IE11, as such you may encounter issues using our website, please try an alternative browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge (Windows) or Safari (Mac).
If you’re planning to travel overseas, make sure you check and follow the Government’s requirements for international travel from the UK and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for the country you’d like to visit.
Updated 22 May 2021
If you are looking to go on a holiday abroad, visit family or friends overseas or go on a foreign business trip, there are two things you need to check and follow:
There is a traffic light system in place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for international travel, which categorises countries as green, amber or red. There are different requirements on your return to the UK depending on which country category you have visited, including arranging and paying for a series of tests from Government-approved private testing providers. You’ll need to check which category your travel destination is in before you go away so you know what you need to do for your journey back.
Regardless of the country category, all travellers will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form before they return to the UK.
Full details of the traffic light system - including which countries are currently categorised as green, amber, or red, and information on which private test providers can be used - can be found on the Government websites for the UK nation you are returning to: gov.uk (England), gov.scot (Scotland), gov.wales (Wales) and nidirect.gov.uk (Northern Ireland). Requirements may vary between nations, so check the details on the page that is most appropriate to you.
You will also need to check the FCDO travel advice for the country you’d like to visit to see if there are any entry restrictions in place, which we explain in more detail below.
In addition to reviewing the government rules for international travel, you will also need to check the Government’s latest advice for the country, or countries, you would like to visit at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before you go away.
This advice is provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and includes important information about the country you’ll be travelling to, such as:
You’ll need to check this information regularly before your trip and it’s a good idea to sign up to country specific email alerts so you’re kept up to speed with any important updates.
You can also read guidance from the Government about travelling overseas during the pandemic at their Coronavirus travel guidance page and find more information about staying safe abroad at the FCDO’s Travel Aware page.
If you have any further questions about travelling abroad during the pandemic, or how to prepare for a forthcoming trip, please visit our webpage: Get ready for travel: your essential guide or speak with your ABTA Member travel provider.
