All remaining Covid travel restrictions including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for non-vaccinated arrivals will be “stood down” for UK arrivals from Friday.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the move in a tweet on Monday afternoon, saying it would mean “greater freedom” ahead of the Easter school holidays.
Shapps said: “All remaining Covid travel measures, including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for all arrivals, will be stood down for travel to the UK from 4am on 18 March.
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“These changes are possible due to our vaccine rollout and mean greater freedom in time for Easter.”
The wording of Shapps’ tweet suggests the measures could be reintroduced in future if deemed necessary.
TRAVEL UPDATE
All remaining Covid travel measures, including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for all arrivals, will be stood down for travel to the UK from 4am on 18 March.
These changes are possible due to our vaccine rollout and mean greater freedom in time for Easter.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 14, 2022
The government has previously said it would be prepared to take necessary measures if another variant of concern emerges.
Health secretary Sajid Javid also tweeted about the scrapping of tests and forms, commenting: “This is thanks to our incredible vaccine programme which has seen over 8 in 10 adults across the UK boosted.”
Agents, operators, airlines and trade bodies hailed the announcement, saying it will boost bookings for Easter and summer.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Two years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, today’s announcement marks international travel finally returning to normal.
“With Easter just around the corner and summer fast approaching, this announcement comes at the perfect time.”
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