It remains a requirement for all passengers, no matter which country they have travelled from, to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 3 days before departure and to self-isolate on arrival. A passenger locator form (PLF) must also be completed and passengers arriving without a completed form and negative test face a £500 fine.
Carriers are obliged to ensure passengers have these documents before they arrive in England and can face fines of £2,000 for each passenger they carry who does not have a valid Pre-Departure Test Certificate, and £2,000 for each passenger who does not have a completed PLF (including with the correct test booking reference number for managed quarantine or mandatory testing).
This is in addition to fines of £4,000 for failing to provide the correct information to passengers before departure and during the journey informing them of their requirements, and a £2,000 fine for conveying passengers who have been in a red list country in the previous 10 days to a non-designated port.
The Civil Aviation Authority has issued 630 fines since 11 February 2021 to airlines carrying passengers without the right documents. These measures form part of the UK's tough border measures to protect the UK as the vaccine rollout continues to make progress with more than 42 million vaccinations delivered so far.
Border Force is currently checking every individual coming into the country, no matter where they have come from, and will continue to carry out thorough checks at the border to keep the public safe. While the stay in UK requirement is in place, you are only allowed to leave the UK from England if you have a reasonable excuse.
Following the publication of the Global Travel Taskforce report, we are working to restart international travel in a safe and sustainable way. This will allow families and friends to reunite, and businesses to start thriving again, while ensuring we protect public health.
