Over recent months, a range of coronavirus-related rules for international travel have been put in place.
On Sunday, the UK Government announced new Covid travel rules and updated its travel red list in an attempt to slow the importation of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
From Tuesday, December 7, people travelling to the UK from any country will need to take a Covid test before departure and prove that it is negative.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been added to the travel red list from 4am today (Monday, December 6) - meaning that travellers from there will need to isolate in a quarantine hotel for 10 days upon arrival in the UK. The new rules will also come into effect in Wales, the Welsh Government has said.
Your vaccination status and the rules in place in the country you wish to travel to will have an impact on the steps you will need to take.
Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming new rules that are coming into force and what they mean to people travelling back or from Wales.
Read more: You can find more of our coronavirus coverage here.
What should I check before I travel out of Wales?
There are numerous things that you'll need to check before you travel. Firstly, it would be worth checking if the country you are travelling to is on the red list or not.
Then, check the entry requirements to enter the country you are travelling to - you may need to prove your vaccination status, provide a negative coronavirus test, fill out forms before entering, be tested while in the country or face mandatory quarantine.
It would also be worth checking how you will prove your vaccination status or a negative Covid-19 test.
What should I check before I travel back to Wales?
From Tuesday December 7, people travelling to the UK from any country will need to take a Covid test before departure and prove that it is negative.
It would also be worth checking further requirements you will have to follow when arriving in Wales. This may include the requirements for children and young people, your completed passenger locator form for when you return to Wales, and ensuring that you have booked the correct or necessary tests upon your return.
What if I'm travelling within the UK or the Republic of Ireland?
Travelling within the UK, such as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, as well as the Republic of Ireland is known as a Common Travel Area (CTA).
Travelling within these place is not counted as international travel. This means that you do not need to test, isolate or fill in a passenger locator form if you're travelling to Wales from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey, or if you have not travelled anywhere other than these areas in the 10 days before you arrive in Wales.
You can use a boarding pass or itinerary to help confirm the details of your recent travel into the CTA, such as when you entered the CTA and how long you have spent in the CTA in total.
Which countries are on the red list?
From 4am on Monday, Nigeria has been added to the red list. This means that all UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from the country must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests - including vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above.
It also means that all non-UK, non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days will be temporarily banned from entering the UK. However, this does not apply to those who have only transited through Nigeria while changing flights.
Meanwhile, anyone who has arrived from Nigeria before 4am on Monday will be "advised and strongly encouraged" to isolate at home, and their household should also self-isolate for 10 days starting with their arrival in England.
The addition of Nigeria will bring the total number of red list countries and territories to 11.
The other places currently on the red list are:
Angola
Botswana
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe
The red list is updated on a regular basis and so you are advised to check before making travel arrangements.
What do I do if I'm travelling from a country that's not on the red list and I'm fully vaccinated?
From 4am, Tuesday, December 7 all people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or LFD Covid-19 test before they travel to the UK, including Wales, from abroad.
You must take the test in the two days before your service departs. If your journey is a multi-leg journey, you must take the test in the two days before the start of the first leg.
This will apply whether you qualify as fully vaccinated or not, however, some people, including children aged 11 and under are exempt from taking the test.
People that are arriving into Wales from a country not on the red list and are fully vaccinated must also:
- complete a passenger locator form
- take a post arrival PCR test (this is not required for children under 5 years old)
- should self-isolate until a negative result is received
If you are fully vaccinated and have travelled from a country not on the red list, you must take a PCR test on or before day two following your arrival into Wales. The day you arrive is day 0. You must self-isolate until you receive a negative PCR test result, after which you can leave isolation.
If you test positive you must remain in isolation for 10 days from the date of your test. It should be noted that your post-arrival PCR tests must be booked before your arrival into Wales. These tests cannot be free NHS tests and must be booked through one of the providers listed on GOV.UK. For further information on these tests click here.
NHS PCR tests can be booked via the international arrivals NHS test ordering service, while private sector tests can be booked via a private provider listed on GOV.UK.
However, there are some exemptions from certain travelling requirements for specific categories of people, such as diplomats or aircraft crew members. For further information on this, click here.
What do I do if I'm travelling from a country that's not on the red list but I'm not fully vaccinated?
People who are arriving into Wales who are not fully vaccinated and have not been in a red list country in the previous 10 days must:
- complete a passenger locator form
- have a proof of a negative coronavirus test - taken no more than 72 hours before departure (this is not required for children under 11 years old)
- take coronavirus tests at day two and day eight, as well as isolate for up to 10 days (this is not required for under 18s)
Private sector tests can be booked from private provider listed on the GOV.UK website.
If you choose a private test provider from GOV.UK, you should only buy 'self-swab at home' tests. It should be noted that any reference to your arrival in England on the GOV.UK pages for day two and day eight test providers includes arrival in Wales.
As it is for travellers that are fully vaccinated, there are some exemptions from certain travelling requirements for specific categories of people, as listed here.
I'm travelling with my children - should they follow the same rules as me?
The requirements for children and young people arriving in Wales can be different to the adults travelling with them.
Children and young people arriving from red list countries:
Children and young people under 18 years old must follow the same rules as for adult red list arrivals. All children and young people under 18yrs must be accompanied by an adult when entering and staying at a managed quarantine facility.
Children and young people arriving from countries not on the red list:
The requirements for children and young people depend on age at the time of arrival. Children and young people under 18 are considered fully vaccinated regardless of their residency or vaccination status.
The requirements on arrival are:
- Those aged four and under do not have to take any travel tests
- Pre-departure testing: Five to 17-year-olds do not have to take a pre-departure test to enter Wales
- Post-arrival testing: Five to 17-year-olds must have pre-booked a post-arrival PCR test to be taken on or before day two following their arrival into Wales
- Self-isolation: all children over the age of five must self-isolate until a negative result is received.
Children must self-isolate until they receive a negative PCR test result, after which they can leave isolation. If they test positive they must remain in isolation for 10 days from the date of their test.
These tests can be booked via the same websites as tests for adults, which are the NHS test ordering service and the private provider listed on GOV.UK.
What should I do if I'm an international student and travelling to or from Wales?
Students who are legally required to self-isolate should do so as a single person household. The only exception to this is if students are from the same household in their usual non-UK residence, for example couples and relatives, or those who have travelled together.
If a person arrives in Wales from a country or territory not on the red list, and has not been in a red list country or territory at any time in the 10 days prior to arrival in Wales, and the fully vaccinated exemption does not apply, they must:
- Provide journey and contact details by completing a passenger locator form
- Provide proof of a negative coronavirus test for all arrivals aged 11 or above - taken no more than 72 hours before departure
- Pre-book a testing package (quarantine hotel bookings) for all arrivals aged five and above for Covid-19 testing at day two and day eight following arrival
- Isolate for at least 10 days on arrival in Wales
These rules apply to both visitors and UK residents.
If arriving in Wales from elsewhere in the UK, after arriving from an international country (excluding red-list countries)in the last 10 days, arrivals are not required to submit another passenger locator form when arriving in Wales as this will have already been submitted before arrival in the UK.
Should address or contact details change whilst in Wales then arrivals must update this as and when required by submitting a new passenger locator form (on GOV.UK).
To get the latest email updates from WalesOnline click here
