Throughout the pandemic, we have taken a precautionary approach towards international travel because of the risks of contracting coronavirus while abroad and importing new forms of the virus into the UK.
We have advised people to only travel overseas if their journey is essential and have urged people to consider a holiday in the UK.
As we move beyond the Omicron wave of Covid-19 we will also see a greater opportunity for individuals to return to making decisions based on their own circumstances. On that basis, and because of the vaccination success set out above, we will no longer advise people to only travel overseas if their journey is essential.
Instead, we are asking everyone considering booking trips abroad to think of their own personal and family circumstances and how best they can keep themselves safe if they decide to travel abroad this year. We urge all those who are vulnerable to take extra precautions to stay safe.
If you are planning on travelling overseas:
- Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website for the specific entry requirements for the country you are travelling to – these include Covid-19 vaccines and testing requirements.
- Check the specific requirements for children and young people under 18 in the country you are travelling to.
- Check the coronavirus situation in the country you are travelling to before you travel.
- Stay safe while you are away by following the same measures which help keep you safe while you are at home.
- Check and follow the entry requirements for returning home to the UK – these are available on the Welsh Government website.
- Once you return home, consider taking some extra precautions to keep you, your friends and family safe, including taking a lateral flow test before visiting vulnerable family members; space out visits and social events and if you experience coronavirus symptoms, isolate and take a test.
However, in view of the significant practical difficulties associated with diverging from the arrangements in England in this area – a significant number of Welsh travellers use English airports and ports – we are reluctantly retaining alignment with the decisions made by the UK government and agreed by the other devolved governments.
Following these changes, fully-vaccinated arriving travellers will not be required to take a test on or before day 2 and unvaccinated arriving travellers will not be required to take a day 8 test or self-isolate for 10 days following arrival.
From 4am on Friday 11 February 2022:
- Fully vaccinated passengers (who have had their full primary courses) will no longer need a pre-departure test 2 days before travelling to the UK. The only requirement will be for them to complete a Passenger Locator Form.
- Unvaccinated travellers or ineligible travellers should complete a Passenger Location Form, a pre-departure test within 2 days of their scheduled departure, and a PCR arrival test taken on or before day 2.
- All under-18s, regardless of their vaccination status, can now enter the UK without a pre-departure test. However, if you are travelling abroad with children we would urge you to check the different requirements for children, including if they need to be fully vaccinated.
Read the full statement on GOV.Wales