Covid-19
Covid-19
Whilst domestic restrictions in the UK have lifted there are still rules customers may have to follow when travelling abroad. These will vary depending on their destination. According to the UK Government website there are four key steps any person should take before travelling from
the UK:
- Check foreign travel advice for the countries they want to go to
- Arrange any Covid-19 tests needed to enter said countries
- Find out how to use the NHS Covid-19 Pass to prove vaccination status abroad
- Check information on passports, travel rights and driving abroad.
If travelling with children, customers should also be advised to check any child-specific rules in the countries they are travelling to or from. Children aged 12-17 have the same travel requirements as adults aged 18 and over and will need to have either one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine that’s recognised in the UK or a positive NHS PCR test within the last six months.
Different travel providers may also have Covid-19 rules in place – for example many airlines still ask travellers to wear a face covering – so customers should make sure they are aware of these requirements before setting off.
Keep in mind
The NHS Covid-19 pass is a means for UK citizens to show their Covid-19 vaccination status or test results when travelling abroad. The pass can be shown on a smartphone or tablet via the NHS app and can also be downloaded as a PDF or saved to Apple Wallet or Google Pay on mobiles.
To have access to their digital passes, customers will need to set up their NHS login at least two weeks before travelling. The pass can also be made available in other formats such as big print and Braille. To be able to obtain this, you need to have had at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. If customers would prefer a hard copy, they should keep in mind that it could take up to seven working days to arrive by post and plan accordingly.
As well as adults, Covid-19 passes are available for children aged five to 17 years old. Children under five cannot get a pass but may need to show proof of a negative test when travelling. For those aged five to 11, parents or guardians have to use the “Get your NHS COVID Pass” letter service, whereas those aged 12 and over can obtain their pass online.
At the time of writing, there are 148 countries that have travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thirty two have their borders closed to non-citizens and 46 have no restrictions at all. Most restrictions usually dictate that a tourist must have two vaccinations or be able to present a negative Covid-19 test before entering the country.
Although the UK has no mask mandates, other European countries, such as Germany and Austria, still require masks in some public settings. Whilst most restrictions are set to be lifted in Summer 2022, customers should still be reminded to check the Government’s foreign travel advice web page for up to date information on each country’s individual safety measures.
EHIC cards
As the UK officially left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020, six weeks before the country entered its first lockdown, many people will not have travelled abroad as a non-EU citizen. Whilst this shouldn’t affect holidays too much, it’s important to remind customers they need a valid UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
These can be used to access state-provided healthcare in an EU country or Switzerland which is medically necessary and cannot wait until the individual has returned to the UK. This includes:
- Emergency treatment and visits to A&E
- Routine maternity care
- Oxygen therapy and kidney dialysis.
Under the withdrawal agreement, UK citizens are allowed to use their EHIC cards until it expires. At which point, they can only apply for a GHIC card unless they are:
- Living in the EU and have been since 1 January 2021
- An EU national who has legally resided in the UK before 1 January 2021.
Customers should also be reminded, that EHIC and GHIC cards have only ever covered emergency and necessary healthcare costs, so it’s advised that they also take out travel insurance – including health cover – when travelling abroad.