BBC News

Coronavirus: What are the UK travel quarantine rules?

Published
Related Topics
  • Coronavirus pandemic
image copyrightGetty Images
Travel quarantine rules now differ around the UK.
People travelling to Scotland and Wales from some places will have self-isolate, but not if they go only to England and Northern Ireland.
What happens if you are told to quarantine?

Which countries do quarantine rules apply to?

Anyone entering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from somewhere not on that nation's list of exempt ''travel corridors'' must go in to self-isolation for two weeks.
Several countries have lost their travel corridor, meaning travellers must quarantine:
  • 5 September - Portugal and French Polynesia (travellers to Scotland)
  • 4 September - Portugal, Gibraltar, French Polynesia and six Greek islands (travellers to Wales)
  • 3 September - Greece (travellers to Scotland)
  • 2 September -Zakynthos (Zante) (travellers to Wales)
  • 29 August - Czech Republic, Jamaica, Switzerland
  • 22 August - Croatia, Austria, Trinidad and Tobago (plus Switzerland, for travellers to Scotland)
  • 15 August - France, Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, Turks & Caicos, Aruba
  • 8 August - Belgium, Andorra, Bahamas
  • 31 July - Luxembourg
  • 27 July - Spain
image copyrightGetty Images
image captionTravellers to the any part of the UK from France now have to self-isolate

What are the quarantine rules?

Almost everyone entering the UK - including British nationals - must fill in a ''passenger locator'' form, regardless of whether or not they need to quarantine.
The form asks travellers to provide their contact details and UK address.
If someone who is required to self-isolate does not provide an address, the government will arrange accommodation at the traveller's expense.
For 14 days, starting from the day after arrival, people who are quarantining should not:
  • Use taxis or public transport to reach their destination on arrival in the UK, if possible
  • Use public transport or taxis once at their destination
  • Go to work, school, or public areas
  • Have visitors except for essential support
  • Go out to buy food, or other essentials, if they can rely on others
People returning from overseas will not be automatically eligible for statutory sick pay during this period, unless they meet the required conditions - such as displaying coronavirus symptoms.

What if I travel to a part of the UK with different restrictions?

The rules are complicated if you enter a UK nation which doesn't require you to quarantine, but then travel to another part of the UK that does within 14 days.
The measures apply to visitors to Scotland ''irrespective of their point of entry into the UK,'' the government says.
If you travel to Wales, you will need to isolate for up to 14 days, minus the number of days you have already spent in the UK.
You don't have to fill in a new passenger locator form but must update any relevant information, including the address you will be staying at.
media captionQuarantine: How do I self-isolate coming back from abroad?

Can you be fined for breaking the rules?

The government has warned travellers that breaking quarantine rules is a criminal offence, and that they face a fine and potentially a criminal record.
Those not self-isolating when they are supposed to can be fined £1,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or £480 in Scotland. There are fines up to £5,000 for persistent offenders.
They can be fined up to £3,200 in England if they do not provide accurate contact details, or £1,920 in Wales.
There is also a fine of £100 for not filling in the passenger locator form.
One in five eligible passengers will be called or texted to check they are following the rules.

Where can I go without quarantining?

Travellers from more than 50 countries deemed ''low risk'' do not have to quarantine, although some of these countries impose restrictions on travellers entering from the UK.
An updated list of these ''travel corridor'' countries is published by the administrations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Anyone arriving from the Common Travel Area (CTA) - the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man - does not have to enter quarantine if they have been in the CTA for at least 14 days.
image copyrightReuters
image captionTravellers entering the UK from Spain have to self-isolate
You don't need to self-isolate if you drive through a non-exempt country, as long as you don't stop in the country to get out of the car and no-one else gets in.
If you are on public transport, you are exempt from quarantine if no new passengers get on while in the non-exempt country and no passenger mixes with people outside or enters a public space at a stop.

Which workers are exempt from quarantine?

There are a number of people who are exempt, regardless of where they are flying from, including:
  • Road haulage and freight workers
  • Seasonal agricultural workers if they self-isolate where they are working
  • UK residents who ordinarily travel overseas at least once a week for work
Are you planning to travel to or from the UK? How will the quarantine regulations affect you? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.

Related Topics

More on this story

  • Coronavirus holidays: You're finally abroad, but was it worth it?