Foreign Travel Guidance

(COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We’ve been in detailed discussions about the position with foreign travel and quarantine requirements for the last couple of weeks – and we can now share the agreed guidance which takes into account advice from NHS Employers and valuable feedback from our staff partnership colleagues. We’re very grateful to leaders who have been supporting their teams in the absence of any real clarity until now.

Until now it hasn’t been appropriate for the Trust to ask where an employee’s leave will be taken. But as a result of the new and changeable quarantine requirements, it remains imperative that when an employee submits a request for leave that involves travelling abroad, they are reminded of the government’s advice.

Also when travelling from England across the different parts of the Common Travel Area (the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), there may be rules in place that restrict travel from England. You do not need a reasonable excuse to leave England to travel to other parts of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You should check the restrictions in place where you intend to travel to before making arrangements to travel.

Staying away from home overnight From Monday 12 April Self-contained holiday accommodation has reopened in the UK and this should be considered in the first instance.

You can stay overnight in a campsite, caravan, boat, second home, or other self- contained accommodation. This should only be with your household or support bubble.

Travelling to or from Scotland From 26 April 2021 there are no restrictions on entering or leaving Scotland as long as you are travelling within the UK or Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

There are no restrictions on travel within Scotland, but other rules and guidance are in place that may affect your travel plans. For example, you can stay overnight away from home, for example in self-catered accommodation, in a hotel or a B&B, but only with members of your own household or extended household. You cannot stay overnight with family or friends in a private house unless they are part of your extended household.

You can leave England to travel to Scotland and there are no restrictions on entering England from Scotland. The different parts of the Common Travel Area (Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man) may also have rules in place that restrict travel to or from Scotland. You should check the restrictions in place before making arrangements to travel.

Guidance last Updated April 2021 v2.0

Non-essential travel between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland remains restricted under Scottish law, but the restriction will be kept under review. Under the restrictions it is illegal to travel between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland unless you have a reasonable excuse. Travelling for a holiday is not a reasonable excuse.

Before travelling to Scotland you should check the latest Scottish Government guidance as rules may change depending on the state of the pandemic.

Travelling to or from Wales There are no restrictions in place for travel into or out of Wales as long as you are travelling within the UK or wider Common Travel Area (the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). Across the different parts of the Common Travel Area, there may be rules in place that restrict travel from Wales. You do not need a reasonable excuse to leave Wales to travel to other parts of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You should check the restrictions in place where you intend to travel to before making arrangements to travel. The guidance provides advice on travelling to and from Wales.

From 24 April, 6 people from 6 households will be able to meet outdoors (not including children under 11 years of age or carers from those households).

Travelling to or from Northern Ireland Currently in Northern Ireland it is against the law to leave home without a reasonable excuse. From 30 April, you can stay overnight in self-contained accommodation with your household or bubble. You must not stay overnight with anyone not in your household or bubble, unless a legal exemption applies.

Those arriving into Northern Ireland from another part of the Common Travel Area are asked to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival. There are a number of exemptions to this request.

Northern Ireland relaxed some measures on 1 April, with up to 6 people from two households able to meet outdoors and from 30 April, up to 10 people (including children of all ages) from a maximum of two households can meet outdoors, and up to 6 people from a maximum of two households can meet in non-domestic indoor settings, for a permitted reason. The next review of its current regulations will be on 13 May 2021, but its current roadmap does not include dates for travel, either domestic or international.

Can I Travel on Holiday Right Now? Short answer: No, unless your travel is essential. The UK has been under its third national lockdown since early January 2021, and holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed (from Monday 29 March, anyone even going to an airport without good reason will be fined £5,000). Since Monday 8 March, the UK has gradually been relaxing lockdown restrictions – though different rules and dates apply for each of the four nations. It was confirmed on Monday 5 April that holidays in England will be possible from Monday 12 April in self-catering properties, as all the required Covid- related data tests have been met. Holidays in England's hotels and B&Bs should be possible from Monday 17 May, as long as these tests are met once again before then too. International travel from the UK won't resume before that May date either, but a

Guidance last Updated April 2021 v2.0

Global Travel Taskforce report has been looking at ‘how to facilitate more inbound and outbound travel’, the results of which will be confirmed on Monday 12 April. On Friday 9 April, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that international travel will go ahead, no earlier than Monday 17 May, using a traffic light system; with countries categorised as red, amber or green. Each colour will have different rules around testing and quarantining, and the list is likely to change throughout the summer as more countries vaccinate their populations.

International travel

Travelling internationally from England You can only travel internationally from England where you have a reasonable excuse to leave the UK, such as work. International holidays are not permitted.

If you do need to travel overseas (and have a reasonable excuse to do so), you are required to complete a mandatory outbound ‘Declaration to Travel’ form unless an exemption applies to you. You must state your reasons for travel on the form before leaving the UK.

You should also consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting. You should look at the rules in place at your destination and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice. You should do this even if you are returning to a place you’ve visited before.

Travelling to England from outside the UK All visitors to England are subject to the coronavirus restriction rules. People planning to travel to England should follow the guidance on entering the UK. Before travelling to the UK, you must complete a passenger locator form and have proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, unless you are exempt.

All arrivals will need to take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test on day 2 and day 8 of quarantining. Arrivals must book a travel test package. See the guidance on how to quarantine when you arrive in England.

You cannot travel to the UK if you’ve visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK has been banned in the last 10 days, unless you’re:  a British national  an Irish national  anyone with residence rights in the UK

Find out more about the red list travel ban countries Everyone allowed to enter England who has visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK has been banned in the last 10 days must:  quarantine for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel  take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of quarantining, the tests are included in the hotel package  follow the guidance on this page

See the guidance on booking and staying in a quarantine hotel when you arrive in England

Guidance last Updated April 2021 v2.0

Employee Holiday Guidance once travelling internationally from England is permitted:

Scenario one: Guidance:

Planned holiday where isolation is not Working from home, or support an required when booked and not alternative team (still working from required at the time of the outbound home), complete mandatory journey - but quarantine requirement is training/CPD. imposed while you are in that country.

On your return from holiday – inform the employee relations helpline on 07785 414129 who can ensure your ESR record reflects that you are in an isolation period.

Scenario two: Guidance:

Planned holiday to a country where If you decided to travel you must quarantine on return as at date of discuss and agree your work plans with departure. your line manager before you travel.

Options available to be considered for isolation period: 1) Annual leave 2) Unpaid leave

If travel is essential due to personal reasons, such as a funeral abroad, you should discuss with your manager beforehand and can agree to work from home (as above).

If passed through a country where travel to the UK has been banned in the last 10 days must:  quarantine for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel  take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of quarantining, the tests are included in the hotel package

Guidance last Updated April 2021 v2.0