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Travellers from Europe to England face fewer Covid tests as UK eases border rules

Vaccinated travellers from Europe will no longer have to take pre-departure Covid-19 tests when heading to England, after the UK announced a shake up of border rules.

Published: 17 September 2021 19:30 CEST
(Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

The shake up of the much-maligned Covid travel rules for entering UK countries comes into force on Monday, October 4th.

The new measures are initially only applicable for travel to England but the devolved nations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are likely to follow suit.

Travellers heading from European countries to the England should take note of the following changes:

  • The UK has scrapped its “amber” list which contained most European countries. It now has just a reduced red list and then the “rest of the world” which currently contains European countries.
  • Vaccinated travellers from green list countries do not need to undertake pre-departure tests for travel to England (previously those travelling from European countries needed a PCR or antigen/lateral flow test within 72 hours of travel). This measure will be applicable from October 4th a 4am.
  • Those arriving in England from a non-red country will still need a test on day two of arrival, but it can be the cheaper lateral flow tests rather than the expensive PCR tests which previously needed to be reserved and paid for in advance of travel. This measure will come into force “later in October” and would only be for those who have been injected against Covid-19 with an “approved vaccine”. It was not clear whether these would have to be paid for and reserved in advance.
  • Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which “would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants”.  
    • For unvaccinated travellers, strict rules still apply including the need to quarantine for 10 days after arrival . “Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. and test to release remains an option to reduce self-isolation period,” the government said.
  • All passengers will still need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form ahead of travel. 

Member comments

  1. I wonder what the situation will be under the new guidelines for people travelling to England who had a second vaccine jab that was different from their first one.

    1. That’s what I’m trying to find out. The new announcement on the UK website would seem to indicate that a mix of two different approved vaccines will be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ from October 4th. However if you click the link provided it takes you to the current definition which says a mixed jab is not considered ‘fully vaccinate‘. We need some clarity!

  2. If you read the UK Government website it states that to prove you are fully vaccinated your certificate has to show the date of both vaccinations – our Green Passes only show the date of the last vaccination. It states that if your certificate doesn’t show this information you have to follow the rules for unvaccinated.
    “You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated (plus 14 days) with a document (digital or paper-based) from a national or state-level public health body that includes, as a minimum:

    forename and surname(s)
    date of birth
    vaccine brand and manufacturer
    date of vaccination for every dose
    country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer
    If your document from a public health body does not include all of these, you must follow the non-vaccinated rules. If not, you may be denied boarding.”

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#green-list-rules

  3. I’m not 100% certain that the last paragraph of this article correct. At the moment the UK Government website does say this but! The most recent announcement says the following:
    ‘ Travel from the rest of the world if you are fully vaccinated
    From 4am Monday 4 October, if you have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days:

    under an approved vaccination program in the UK, Europe, US or UK vaccine programme overseas
    with a full course of the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen vaccines from a relevant public health body in Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea or Taiwan – mixing between two-dose vaccines (Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna) in this list is also recognised
    under a formally approved COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial in the US, Canada and Australia and have a proof of participation (digital or paper-based) from a public health body

    Note the line: ‘mixing between two-dose vaccines (Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna) in this list is also recognised’. Also recognised as the ‘UK, Europe, US or UK vaccine programme overseas’? Otherwise this announcement is saying the mixing between two-dose vaccinations is fine from that list of countries but not Europe!

    I would be grateful if The Local would check please

    1. Hey Simon and all others with the same question. We have been looking into this today and you might have seen the recent articles. We are also very confused by all the government websites and links. We asked the department of health to clarify it and they insisted (or at least a spokesperson did) that there’s been no change regarding mixed vaccines in Europe – in other words they are not classed as fully vaccinated. However this info was contradicted by a post on the British embassy’s Facebook page in Germany. So I’ve asked the DEpt of Health in UK to once again clarify. The confusing part of the info for the public is around the words “in this list” – what list exactly? The list of those countries? Or does it include Europe, the US and UK? Hopefully will get to the bottom of it…

      1. Hi Ben, Sorry about my recent posts. Just read this after I posted! Yes lots of contradictory information being given by people in Government positions that should know better! Personally, and this is just my opinion, I think the jobs worth ‘spokesperson(s)’ are just sticking to what is current. We’ll soon find out though as I’m driving from Frankfurt to England via Belgium, France (Dunkirk-Dover) on the 10 O’clock ferry on Monday 4th Oct!

        1. I think you are right. The spokesperson is promising me an answer soon. We’ll post an update ASAP. THanks for your posts.

      3. I have searched and searched for the so called list of countries and it is nowhere to be found! Such conflicting information it’s ridiculous.

      4. Just posted on the Embassy FB page

        Brits in Germany could you please confirm that as from 4.10.21 people with mixed vaccinations , as advised by the German government , WILL be accepted as fully vaccinated when traveling to the uk.

        Dear Stevie,
        From 4 October 2021 the UK will recognise certificates showing vaccination with doses of two different vaccines, as long as both vaccines are amongst the four vaccines approved in the UK (Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson). The official guidance will be updated in due course.

      5. Clear now Ben.

        https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=8202c94b-1ec4-4d76-9e62-cee446d9736e&utm_content=immediately

        Plus an interesting new addition “Until 4 October, mixed vaccines are only permitted if you are vaccinated under the UK, Europe, USA or UK overseas vaccination programme.” (no doubt you’ll now get questions asking if those with 2 of the same can enter – ha ha!)

  4. Simon I absolutely agree that the information regarding mixed vaccines is very confusing and really needs clarification. It seems to be indicating that mixed vaccines will be accepted from the list of the 17 countries that the UK has added, but for those of us in the EU that have had a mix of AZ and Pfizer these will not be recognized as fully vaccinated. How can this be? And if this does prove to be the case who will fight for equality on this?
    I would also be very grateful if The Local could look into this.
    Carole

    1. I’ve been checking radio, the press and Twitter today. Found this from Simon Calder this evening on Twitter after listening to Travel Radio this morning.

      https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-rule-changes-red-list-update-b1922293.html

      My take is that the last paragraph in this article is only correct if it refers to the current rules. It is clear to me now that the UK (well England to be precise) will be recognising us mixed jabbed in the EU as being fully vaccinated from 4pm Oct 8th

      Note this is just my opinion!

  5. Two mRNA vaxxes should at least be accepted. But does it matter if the jabs are really far apart? like 4 months.. can they deny access then?

  6. With all of the changing information I am quite lost.
    I am a double vaccinated, British Citizen, Swedish Resident. I intend to fly to the UK on the 11th of October. It is my understanding that all I need prior to arriving at the airport is my Covid Bevis. It is also my understanding that I will not need to do a Covid test at any point before my departure. Right?
    Now my return to Sweden 2 weeks later is where I am most uncertain. I assume I need to do a Covid test at some point before returning. How does one acquire an acceptable test in the UK and when and whom do I submit it to? I have never done a test before and I’m unsure how it works. Do I also need to do one when I have returned to Sweden?

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thank you.

    Several unrelated bonus questions:
    Should I bring my own fresh fruit with me?
    Will my luggage be weighed in grams or ounces?
    Do they still accept your passport if it is burgundy?
    Upon my arrival, will I be arrested for not paying my student loan?

  7. I suggest that anyone that is still confused should read the post about the new rules as from Oct 4 on Germany Embassy Facebook page

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TRAVEL NEWS

Reader question: What will EES mean for foreigners living in Europe?

The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls is due to come into force later this year, but among many questions that remain is the situation for non-EU nationals who live in the EU or Schengen zone.

Published: 27 April 2024 07:59 CEST
Reader question: What will EES mean for foreigners living in Europe?

Currently scheduled to start in autumn 2024 (unless it’s delayed again, which is not unlikely) the EU’s new Entry & Exit System is basically an enhanced passport check at external EU borders, including a facial scan and fingerprinting.

You can find a full explanation of the new system HERE.

Travellers crossing an external EU or Schengen border for the first time will be required to complete EES ‘pre-registration’ formalities including that facial scan and fingerprinting.

There are, however, several groups exempt from EES and one of them is non-EU nationals who have a residency permit or long-stay visa for an EU country.

So if you’re a foreigner living in the EU or Schengen zone, here’s what you need to know.

Exempt

One of the stated aims of EES is to tighten up enforcement of over-staying – IE, people who stay longer than 90 days in every 180 without a visa, or those who overstay the limits of their visa.

Obviously these limits do not apply to non-EU nationals who are resident in the EU or Schengen zone, which is why this group is exempt from EES checks. They will instead be required to show their passport and residency permit/visa when crossing a border, just as they do now.

In its explanations of how EES will work, the European Commission is clear – exempt groups include non-EU residents of the Bloc.

A Commission spokesman told The Local: “Non-EU citizens residing in the EU are not in the scope of the EES and will not be subject to pre-enrollment of data in the EES via self-service systems. The use of automation remains under the responsibility of the Member States and its availability in border crossing points is not mandatory.

“When crossing the borders, holders of EU residence permits should be able to present to the border authorities their valid travel documents and residence permits.”

How this will work

How this will work on the ground, however, is a lot less clear.

Most ports/airports/terminals have two passport queues – EU and non-EU. It remains unclear whether the non-EU queue will have a separate section for those who are exempt from EES.

It does seem clear that exempt groups will not be able to use the automated passport scanners – since those cannot scan additional documents like residency permits – but should instead use manned passport booths. However it is not clear whether these will be available at all airports/ports/terminals or how non-EU residents of the EU will be directed to those services.

There’s also the issue that individual border guards are not always clear on the processes and rules for non-EU residents of the EU – even under the current system it’s relatively commonly for EU residents to have their passports incorrectly stamped or be given incorrect information about passport stamping by border guards.

Brits in particular will remember the immediate post-Brexit period when the processes as described by the EU and national authorities frequently did not match what was happening on the ground.

The Local will continue to try and get answers on these questions. 

READ ALSO What will EES mean for dual nationals

What if I live in the EU but I don’t have a visa/residency permit?

For most non-EU citizens, having either a visa or a residency permit is obligatory in order to be legally resident.

However, there is one exception: UK citizens who were legally resident in the EU prior to the end of the Brexit transition period and who live in one of the “declaratory” countries where getting a post-Brexit residency card was optional, rather than compulsory. Declaratory countries include Germany and Italy.

Although it is legal for people in this situation to live in those countries without a residency permit, authorities already advise people to get one in order to avoid confusion/hassle/delays at the border. Although EES does not change any rules relating to residency or travel, it seems likely that it will be more hassle to travel without a residency card than it is now.

Our advice? Things are going to be chaotic enough, getting a residency permit seems likely to save you a considerable amount of hassle.

Delays 

Although residents of the EU do not need to complete EES formalities, they will be affected if the new system causes long queues or delays at the border.

Several countries have expressed worries about this, with the UK-France border a particular cause for concern.

READ ALSO Travellers could face ’14 hours queues’ at UK-France border

Where does it apply?

EES is about external EU/Schengen borders, so does not apply if you are travelling within the Schengen zone – eg taking the train from France to Germany or flying from Spain to Sweden.

Ireland and Cyprus, despite being in the EU, are not in the Schengen zone so will not be using EES, they will continue to stamp passports manually.

Norway, Switzerland and Iceland – countries that are in the Schengen zone but not in the EU – will be using EES.

The full list of countries using EES is: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Therefore a journey between any of the countries listed above will not be covered by EES.

However a journey in or out of any of those countries from a country not listed above will be covered by EES.

You can find our full Q&A on EES HERE.

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