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In a recent travel rules update it has been announced that the government will relax restrictions for under 18s entering the UK and add more approved vaccines for arrivals at 4 am on Monday the 22nd of November.
Simplifying the restrictions for under 18s is a great development that many have been waiting for ardently, with the current restrictions for under 18s not entirely clear for many consumers. This change, and the extended list of approved vaccines for travellers entering the UK, is a great improvement for the current travel restrictions and opens travel to the UK up for more visitors.
Relaxed Restrictions for Under 18s
It’s great to see that the government will relax restrictions for under 18s arriving in England from 4 am, Monday the 22nd of November. This means that instead of having all children 5 and above following certain entry restrictions, with children under 5 following others, all under 18s will be viewed as fully vaccinated adults are.
Put simply, this means:
- All under 18s are exempt from self-isolation, day-8 test, and pre-departure test requirements; and
- All under 18s must take a post-arrival, day-2 test (this can be lateral flow), plus a free PCR test if their day-2 test is positive.
This applies to all under 18s entering England after the 22nd of November, unvaccinated and vaccinated alike. Making restrictions for under 18s this simple will be a boost for consumer confidence, and we welcome the change.
As always, we highly recommend all consumers keep an eye on the Foreign Travel Advice page for destination restrictions, as these changes only apply to travellers entering England, not travellers entering other countries. The trusted travel business and PTS member you book with can also help ensure you are prepared for any and all destination requirements.
Additional Approved Vaccination Programmes
The government have also announced the addition of more vaccination programmes to the approved list for entry to England. These additions will become valid at 4 am on Monday, the 22nd of November.
In the announcement, the government stated that they would now recognise vaccines on the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL).
Subsequently, this meant that the following vaccination programmes will be approved for inbound travellers to England:
- Sinovac;
- Sinopharm Beijing; and
- Covaxin.
The approval of these vaccines is a great addition, benefitting travellers from places like the UAE, Malaysia, and India. Adding these vaccines to the list allows us to be open to many more travellers, allowing even better travel.
The WHO EUL approved vaccines are also approved for entry to the US, expanding our pathways and allowing better travel for more travellers around the world.
On this announcement, Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said, “As we continue to recover from the pandemic and expand our recognition of international vaccines, today’s announcements mark the next step in our restart of international travel.
“By also simplifying the rules for international travel for all under-18s coming to England, we’re bringing further good news for families looking to unite with loved ones, and another great boost for the travel sector.”
Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, expanded and said, “Today’s announcement is another step forward for the travel industry, businesses and for family and friends wanting to reunite or go abroad.
“The red list and quarantine system remain vital in protecting our borders and as we’ve said we will not hesitate to take action by adding countries to the red list if necessary.”
So, if you’re ready to book a fabulous holiday, don’t forget to get in contact with a travel business registered with PTS, offering 100% financial protection through trust. Or, if you’d like assistance choosing a PTS member to book with, you can contact PTS directly at 0207 190 9988.
And if you’d like to learn more about your consumer protection with PTS, or how the Package Travel Regulations protect your holiday booking, check out our pages.
