The UK government is reportedly planning to remove testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers entering, or re-entering, from overseas. UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to be in favor of lifting the mandatory COVID pre-departure test. A source close to him said: “We are looking at removing all COVID tests for vaccinated travelers by
United Kingdom Travel Health Certificate
Passenger Locator Form for the United Kingdom
COVID-19 entry requirement for the UK: all international travelers arriving in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland must have a completed Passenger Locator Form (PFL)
Like many countries, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) has introduced a travel health form during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Passenger Locator Form (PFL) is now a requirement for anyone entering England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
The UK PLF form is a measure to help authorities with contact tracing to protect public health and combat COVID-19.
The information below explains who needs a PLF for the UK and how to complete the form online.
What Is the Passenger Locator Form for the UK?
The Passenger Locator Form for the UK is the country’s COVID-19 travel health certificate.
It is an online form that must be completed before traveling to the United Kingdom. It involves submitting information about the individual’s health and travel plans.
The information provided by applicants is used for contact tracing purposes. For example, if another passenger is found to be infected with coronavirus, British authorities will contact all other passengers on the same flight who may have had contact with them. These individuals will then be instructed to self-isolate and take a COVID-19 test.
In this way, the PLF form for the UK helps to counter the spread of the virus.
Health authorities will also use the contact details provided to check on new arrivals to make sure they are following the correct quarantine and testing procedures. This may be done by phone call or by house visit.
Who Needs a Health Declaration Form to Travel to the United Kingdom?
All passengers must complete a United Kingdom health declaration form to enter any part of the UK. This includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Foreign visitors, British nationals, residents of the UK, and all other travelers must be able to produce a completed form when asked upon boarding and/or upon arrival.
Airlines will not allow passengers to board a flight to the UK without a PLF.
Any individual who manages to arrive in the country without a completed Passenger Locator Form will likely receive a fine. The PLF is considered a serious public safety measure and a requirement for entry to the UK.
Exceptions to this requirement include travelers arriving from the following locations (providing they have been there for the previous 10 days or more):
- Ireland
- Channel Islands
- Isle of Man (Mann)
Those performing certain jobs may be exempt if traveling to the UK as part of that job. One example is military personnel with an exemption letter from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Passengers in transit must also complete a PLF.
Do children need a Passenger Locator Form?
Yes, children must have a Passenger Locator Form to enter the UK.
Children can be included on their parent’s form. This includes any traveler under 18 for England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
For Scotland, only those under 16 years of age can be included on their parent’s form. Teenagers aged 16-17 years old must complete their own PLF.
Can people traveling together fill in the same Passenger Locator Form?
Each adult must complete their own separate PLF, regardless of whether or not they are traveling or staying together in the United Kingdom.
Children can be included on the form of an adult traveling with them.
UK Health Declaration Form Requirements
The United Kingdom travel health form must be completed within 48 hours before arriving in the country. It is usually required during check-in and boarding for a flight, train, or ferry.
Passengers will need the following items to complete the British Passenger Locator Form:
- Booking reference for COVID-19 tests after arriving in the UK
- Passport
- Travel details
- Address in the UK
- Invoice number for quarantine hotel reservation (if applicable)
How to Complete the PFL Form UK Online Registration?
To complete the PLF form UK online registration, travelers must enter all the required information into the online health declaration application form.
Passengers must provide the following:
- Basic personal information
- Passport details
- Travel plans, including flight details
- Accommodation in the UK
- COVID-19 vaccination status
Applicants must declare that all the information provided is true and accurate to submit the form.
Traveling to the UK with the Passenger Locator Form
Once the form has been filled in and submitted, a copy of the completed Passenger Locator Form is then generated. This can be downloaded as a PDF. It includes a QR code.
Travelers may need to upload the digital copy of the form if checking in online for their flight.
They will also need to bring either a printed or digital copy of the document to present before boarding their flight to the UK.
Application Steps
STEP 1
Complete online applicationSTEP 2
Confirm PaymentSTEP 3
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Travel Health Certificate FAQS
Is the United Kingdom PLF mandatory?
Yes, the UK Passenger Locator Form is mandatory for everyone traveling to the United Kingdom. This includes foreign visitors, UK residents, and British citizens.
What do you need to get the Passenger Locator Form for the UK?
Passengers must have a valid passport and the booking reference number for their COVID-19 tests to successfully fill out the Passenger Locator Form.
Travelers must complete the PLF online. They will need to book any necessary COVID-19 tests (such as the Day 2 and Day 8 tests) before filling in the declaration, as they must enter the reference number(s) on the PLF.
They must also have booked their flights and must provide their travel and accommodation details.
Do you need to take a COVID-19 test to complete the UK PLF?
Technically, it is not necessary to take a test to complete the PLF, but the vast majority of travelers must take a test to enter the UK.
To submit the PLF, the individual must declare that they understand that must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test result prior to departure.
Travelers arriving from almost all locations around the world must take a test within the 3 days prior to arriving in the United Kingdom.
Exceptions include:
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- Falkland Islands
- St Helena
- Ascension
Other travelers who are exempt from needing a test include:
- Children under 10
- Passengers with a medical exemption
- Passengers with a special exemption due to their job
How many times can you apply for a UK Passenger Locator Form?
Travelers can apply for a United Kingdom Passenger Locator Form multiple times — in fact, they must complete a new form for each trip to the UK (unless the second entry is less than 48 hours after the first).
It may also be necessary to fill out a new form if mistakes were made on the original.
Do you have to quarantine when you arrive in the United Kingdom?
Fully vaccinated individuals (who received their final dose 14+ days before traveling) arriving from green and amber list countries do not have to quarantine.
However, anyone arriving from a red list region must quarantine.
In some cases, there is an option to take a test on day 5 to release from quarantine early.
The exact rules vary between the constituent countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
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