Transport secretary Grant Shapps has hailed the easing of UK travel restrictions, which comes into force at 4am on Friday (February 11), as “a landmark moment for international travel”.
He announced last month that Covid tests for fully vaccinated arrivals will be scrapped from 4am on Friday – in time for the half-term holiday – and said the government would “simplify” the Passenger Locator Form.
On Twitter today he said: “A landmark moment for international travel. From 4am tomorrow, eligible fully vaccinated arrivals no longer need to test when arriving into the UK, and just need to fill out a simplified Passenger Locator Form.
“As we become one of the most open countries in the world, again from 4am tomorrow, arrivals who do not qualify as fully vaccinated will only need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after they arrive in the UK.
“After nearly two years of necessary but complex travel arrangements these changes will make it cheaper & easier for families to travel, taking advantage of the UK’s high levels of vaccination, and keeping us all safe.”
Industry sources engaged with the Department of Transport on the requirements for international travel suggest the simplification of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) referred to by Shapps involves the removal of questions relating to Covid-19 tests for fully vaccinated passengers.
An aviation source said: “There will be some changes to the PLF from February 11 without the testing requirement for fully vaccinated travellers. Other changes will take longer.”
A second aviation told Travel Weekly: “The PLF should be less confusing from Friday. They’re trying to do something more with it by March.”
A landmark moment for international travel
From 4am tomorrow, eligible fully vaccinated arrivals no longer need to test when arriving into the UK, and just need to fill out a simplified Passenger Locator Form. (1/3)
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 10, 2022
More: Simplified Passenger Locator Forms ‘not ready for February 11’
Day two tests for travel to be scrapped for vaccinated from February 11