A ban on anyone leaving the UK without a reasonable excuse is included in new coronavirus laws coming into force next week.
Britons could land a £5,000 fine for travelling abroad on holiday under the new legislation, set to be approved by MPs on Thursday.
While foreign holidays are not currently permitted under the 'stay at home' rule, the ban on leaving the UK will then become specified law when this message is dropped on Monday, March 29.
According to the legal document: “The Regulations also impose restrictions on leaving the United Kingdom without a reasonable excuse (regulation 8).”
The law says no-one may “leave England to travel to a destination outside the United Kingdom, or travel to, or be present at, an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there to a destination outside the United Kingdom” without a reasonable excuse.
It suggests anyone who breaks such rules could face a £5,000 fine.
There is also a £200 fixed penalty notice for failing to fill in a travel declaration form – giving personal details and reason for travel – for those planning to leave the UK.
The travel ban does not apply to those going to the common travel area of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland, unless that is not the final destination.
Exemptions also apply including for those needing to travel for work, study, for legal obligations or to vote, if they are moving, selling or renting property, for some childcare reasons or to be present at a birth, to visit a dying relative or close friend, to attend a funeral, for those getting married or to attend the wedding of a close relative, for medical appointments or to escape a risk of harm.
Human rights barrister Adam Wagner, who deciphers the lockdown rules, said: “Previously, the ‘holiday ban’ which the government had advertised was assumed rather than explicit – because going on holiday wasn’t a reasonable excuse, it was assumed you couldn’t be outside of your home to do so. But now it is explicit.”
Under Boris Johnson's four-step roadmap, international travel without reasonable excuse is set to be permitted in Step 3, no earlier than May 17.
However on Monday, one day before the lockdown anniversary, the Prime Minister warned of a third wave of coronavirus cases being seen in France and Italy could “wash up on our shores as well”.
“I expect that we will feel those effects in due course,” Mr Johnson told broadcasters, stressing the need to swiftly administer vaccines with international cooperation.
As a month-long lockdown returned to several French regions including Paris, health minister Lord Bethell raised the prospect of all Europe being put on the UK’s travel “red list”.
It comes part of an extension to the Coronavirus Act, which is set to expire at the end of March.
On Thursday, MPs will vote on an extension to October - despite the government aiming to have all restrictions lifted by June 21.
Health minister Helen Whately said on Monday that plans to lift lockdown by June are on track - and that the extension will allow the government to continue with measures such as the furlough scheme beyond the end of lockdown.
