Key travel actions when travelling abroad

As we ease back into normality after the Covid-19 pandemic, you may have started looking into booking holidays again. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided 8 Important Travel Actions that you need to follow when travelling abroad. Please bear these points in mind when organising your next trip:

  1. For your destination’s entry and quarantine requirements prior to travel, please check the FCDO Travel Advice
  2. Be aware of and follow the local Covid-19 rules and restrictions for your destination. For example, there might be limitations on group numbers and curfews
  3. Your destination might ask you to prove you have been fully vaccinated – check FCDO Travel Advice for how you can show your Covid-19 vaccination status
  4. Check what new actions you need to take before visiting Europe. There are new rules for UK travellers including passport validity, access to healthcare, taking a vehicle or pet, and travelling with food and drink products
  5. Coronavirus has not disappeared and is still a threat and so you should be prepared for sudden changes. To protect public health in the UK, countries can be added to the red list so travel disruption is still a possibility. Foreign countries can also close borders or change their entry rules with short notice
  6. Sign up for travel advice email alerts, so you automatically receive the latest travel advice and updates for the relevant destinations
  7. Make sure you know what the exemptions are on your travel insurance policy. If you are visiting the EU, make sure you also have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or replace it with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
  8. Check what proof of vaccination status your destination accepts. In England and Wales remember to download the NHS app and follow instructions to validate and obtain your NHS Covid-19 pass. In Scotland you can get a record of your vaccination status and in Northern Ireland you can apply for a vaccine certificate