Starting March 8, all UK travelers must complete and present a mandatory outbound Travel Declaration form that legally justify their need to travel out of the terrority. Britons trying to leave the country without such a document will be “committing a criminal offense”, denied boarding and facing a fine of £200.
Going on a holiday is by no means considered essential. work, education and health seem to be the most acceptable reasons for UK travelers to be allowed to exit the country.
Permitted reasons for UK international travel
Work
UK travelers can travel for business or work purposes only when the type of job they are performing out of the country is not possible to complete online. Most of these activities are those related to “critical national infrastructure,such as the national rail network, national security or diplomatic purposes” elite sport competitors are included in this category.
Such travelers must present an employer’s letter, a professional ID card, evidence of participation in a competition, or a diplomatic mission letter, among others.
Medical or compassionate reasons
It comprises visiting critically ill patients or for maternity services when these cannot be “reasonably received in the UK.” Helping someone escape from domestic abuse is also considered a ground reason to leave the UK.
Valid evidence in these cases could be medical evidence describing the medical situation.
Education
When the academic purposes require Britons to be physically out of the country, they will be allowed to leave. This includes researchers conducting or participating on projects overseas or international non-UK students returning home.
A letter that demonstrates that the person actually belongs to the academic institution will be required.
Volunteering
Again, volunteering outside the UK is only allowed when it is not possible to do as a form of remote work.
In this case, UK travelers must present an invitation letter from the organization they will be working for.
Weddings, funerals, fulfilling legal obligations or related events
Britons can attend funerals, weddings, and related events of family members being celebrated out of the country. Letters of invitation or legal documents must be present in order to be granted exit.
When will Britons be allowed to freely travel again?
Uncertain. Back in February Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a four-step plan to ease restrictions on international travel by May 17.
But since the evolution of the new highly contagious strains of the coronavirus, specially the one first detected in Brazil which seems to have some resistance to vaccination, the government now appears to be more cautious about giving a confirmed reopening date. This may affect the optimistic plans of countries open for vaccinated travelers.
Travelers from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales must check their own official sources for regulations since other rules may apply to them.