As we ease back into normality after the Covid-19 pandemic, you may have started looking into booking holidays again. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided 8 Important Travel Actions that you need to follow when travelling abroad. Please bear these points in mind when organising your next trip:
- For your destination’s entry and quarantine requirements prior to travel, please check the FCDO Travel Advice
- Be aware of and follow the local Covid-19 rules and restrictions for your destination. For example, there might be limitations on group numbers and curfews
- Your destination might ask you to prove you have been fully vaccinated – check FCDO Travel Advice for how you can show your Covid-19 vaccination status
- Check what new actions you need to take before visiting Europe. There are new rules for UK travellers including passport validity, access to healthcare, taking a vehicle or pet, and travelling with food and drink products
- Coronavirus has not disappeared and is still a threat and so you should be prepared for sudden changes. To protect public health in the UK, countries can be added to the red list so travel disruption is still a possibility. Foreign countries can also close borders or change their entry rules with short notice
- Sign up for travel advice email alerts, so you automatically receive the latest travel advice and updates for the relevant destinations
- Make sure you know what the exemptions are on your travel insurance policy. If you are visiting the EU, make sure you also have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or replace it with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
- Check what proof of vaccination status your destination accepts. In England and Wales remember to download the NHS app and follow instructions to validate and obtain your NHS Covid-19 pass. In Scotland you can get a record of your vaccination status and in Northern Ireland you can apply for a vaccine certificate
