As of Friday 11 February, COVID testing requirements for fully vaccinated people arriving in Scotland and England are to be dropped, while further work will be done on a new surveillance system to monitor the UK border.
Testing will no longer be a requirement for all adults who have completed a full course of an approved vaccine, usually at least two doses.
Children under the age of 18 continue to be treated as fully vaccinated.
Travellers will still need to fill in passenger locator forms and face coverings will still be required at Scottish airports in line with wider health advice.
Non-vaccinated travellers will still be required to take pre-departure tests and a PCR test on or before day two – but the requirement for isolation will end – and they will no longer have to take a day eight test.
The measures were agreed by the SNP Government following engagement with all four nations and will protect the travel and tourism sectors in North Ayrshire and beyond.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“I am really pleased that these measures will make it significantly easier, and more affordable, for people to go on a long-awaited holidays and receive friends and family.
“This will also be extremely welcome for the Scottish tourism and aviation sectors, encouraging travel to and from our airports. It furthermore coincides with the beginning of the biggest tourism drive in Ayrshire and Arran.
“However, further surveillance measures will be necessary across all nations as intelligence will help in terms of variants of concern. Further work to take this forward will be carried out over the coming weeks.”
The new measures come into effect at 04:00 on 11 February.
Further information on other countries’ requirements is available in UK Government international travel guidance.
ENDS
