New UK travel rule in place from TODAY that will make family holidays easier – here’s everything you need to know
NEW travel rules are in place from today which will make holidays much easier this half term.
Brits travelling abroad with teenagers will now be able to get Covid passes for countries which require proof of vaccination.
Previously, children aged 12 to 15 who had two doses of the jab were not able to use the NHS app - meaning they could not get the Covid-19 pass for travel digitally.
Instead, parents had to call the NHS 119 helpline or go online to request an under-16 NHS Covid Pass letter, with families forced to cancel their hoidays because of the restrictive rules.
However, from today, teenagers will be able to download their pass either through the NHS app or website.
The government website states: "Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to prove their vaccination status or proof of prior infection via a digital NHS COVID Pass from 3 February for outbound travel, making it easier for children and families to travel to countries which require proof of vaccination or prior infection to gain entry, avoid isolation, or access venues or services.
"It will also enable families to plan holidays for February half term with greater confidence, as parents can be reassured they will quickly be able to evidence their child’s vaccination status or proof of prior infection for outbound travel and meet the requirements of different countries more easily."
More travel rules are being scrapped later this month too - from February 11, all Covid tests for vaccinated holidaymakers will be scrapped.
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps previously said that arrivals will only need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form when entering the UK, as long as they have had both jabs.
He said: "From 4am on February 11, and in time for the half-term break, eligible, fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK will no longer have to take a post-arrival lateral flow test.
"That means after months of pre-departure testing, post-arrival testing, self-isolation and additional expense, all that fully vaccinaated people will have to do when they travel to the UK is to verify their status via Passenger Locator Form.
"We are therefore scrapping all travel tests for vaccinated people, not only making travel much easier, but also saving about £100 per family on visits abroad."
Unvaccinated Brits will have to take pre-departure tests and a post-arrival PCR test, but will no longer have to isolate or take another test on day eight.
Holidaymakers will still have to check the travel rules for other countries, with many having restrictions for arrivals.
Spain has introduced new rules this week which means all arrivals over 12 must be vaccinated, with proof of recoveries no longer accepted.
Arrivals must have also had their booster, or their second jab less than nine months ago to be accepted.
And New York introduced new restrictions last week which means anyone over the age of five must be fully vaccinated to visit restaurants and tourist attractions.
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