Fully vaccinated travellers – from more than 30 countries including the UK – can visit for the first time since the start of the pandemic. UK visitors are now able to travel to the US for the first time in nearly two years, reports BBC.
Reopening of borders
The border reopened at 05:01 GMT and the first flights took off from Heathrow at 08:51.
In addition to the UK, the travel ban is being lifted for people from Brazil, China, India, Ireland, South Africa, Iran and the Schengen countries – a group of 26 European nations.
Until Monday, only US citizens, residents and a small selection of other exempt groups have been allowed entry to the US from the UK.
Travelling to US from UK
All UK visitors over 18 have to provide proof of vaccination to enter the US.
American travellers have been able to travel to the UK since 28 July.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has called this a “significant moment” for UK-US travel. Transatlantic flights, he added, are “at the heart of UK aviation”.
The new rules apply to all individuals that have received vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and vaccines Listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health Organization.
The White House’s assistant press secretary, Kevin Munoz, confirmed on 15 October that double vaccinated foreign nationals would be able to visit the US from 8 November.
About vaccination
The UK has been on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s highest risk category for Covid, level 4 or “very high” since 19 July.
The CDC said that vaccines approved by the US FDA and WHO’s EUL vaccines will be accepted. Therefore, travellers that have received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the following vaccines will be allowed to enter the US:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Sinovac
Travellers must provide proof of vaccination via their vaccine passport. Certificates including the NHS Covid Pass are accepted.
As well as being double vaccinated, travellers will have to provide proof of either a negative Covid test result – taken no more than three days before travelling – or show that they have recovered from the virus in the previous three months.
Children are exempt from the vaccination requirement, but all those aged between two and 17 will have to take a Covid-19 test three to five days after arrival.
Fully jabbed American visitors travelling to the UK need to take a test on or before the second day of their arrival.
The end of travel ban
After a difficult 21 months, airlines have increased UK-US flight schedules to meet the higher demand.
To celebrate the end of the travel ban, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic had a synchronised departure at 08:51 GMT from London Heathrow.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, BA chief executive, Sean Doyle said: “We must now look forward with optimism, get trade and tourism back on track and allow friends and families to connect once again.”
According to travel data firm Cirium, 3,688 flights are scheduled to operate between the US and the UK in November. This is an increase in 21% on October. But it remains 49% down on the pre-pandemic levels of November 2019.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, told BBC World News that ensuring everyone has the correct documentation will make the upcoming months “a little choppy”. He said that “there may be some long lines” at airports and he has asked travellers to “have some patience”.
What are the new US rules?
Below mentioned rules are to be followed:
- Vaccinated people who have had a negative test taken no more than three days before travelling can enter without quarantining.
- Another test three to five days after arriving in the US is recommended.
- Vaccine certificates including the NHS Covid Pass are accepted.
- Children under 18 do not need to be vaccinated, but should also take a test after arriving.
- Masks are mandatory on planes and in airports and travellers must follow state and local rules at their destination.
Is there still a red list?
The last of the nations on the UK’s red list have been removed.
Under red-list rules, travellers were only allowed to enter the country if they were a UK or Irish national, or a UK resident. They had to quarantine for 10 days, at their own expense, in a government-approved hotel.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said countries could be added to the red list again if needed.
In a separate change, travellers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can now take a lateral flow test two days after arriving – instead of a more expensive PCR test. This follows a similar move by England last month.
What are the new rules for travelling to the UK?
Before travelling
Fully vaccinated passengers travelling to the UK no longer have to take a Covid test before setting off.
This applies to people vaccinated in the UK, the EU, the US and dozens of other recognised countries – including Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey.
You must be able to prove you are fully vaccinated before travelling.
The changes also apply to under-18s resident in one of these countries, whether or not they are vaccinated.
Upon arrival
Fully vaccinated people coming to the UK need to take a lateral flow test two days after arrival.
Passengers need to book tests before travelling to the UK. They must send a picture to verify the result. The lateral flow tests for travel must be bought from private providers – NHS kits cannot be used.
Passenger locator forms remain compulsory.
What if I’m unvaccinated?
If you aren’t fully vaccinated – and you’re over 18 – you must self-isolate at home for 10 days after arrival in the UK.
You also need to
- take a PCR or lateral flow/antigen test (not a free NHS test) in the three days before you travel to the UK
- take a test on or before day two and on or after day eight after your return.
Test to Release will remain an option for unvaccinated passengers to England who want to shorten their quarantine.
What else do I need to do before I travel?
You need to keep checking the rules for your destination country as these can change at short notice.
The UK Foreign Office provides country-by-country travel advice.
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Source: BBC
