UK relaxes travel restrictions for vaccinated Bruneians

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): The United Kingdom (UK) announced a simplified system for international travel in light of its domestic vaccine rollout success with Bruneians also set to benefit.

GOV.UK reported that the traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories with simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world starting Oct 4 at 4am.

Brunei Darussalam is included in an expanded list of 17 countries with vaccines that are recognised in England.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, “Today’s changes mean a simpler, more straightforward system. One with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry.

“Public health has always been at the heart of our international travel policy and with more than eight in 10 adults vaccinated in the UK, we are now able to introduce a proportionate updated structure that reflects the new landscape.”

Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a pre-departure test (PDT) when travelling to England from Oct 4.

Eligible passengers and those with an approved vaccine from non-red countries will be able to replace their day two test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England.

The UK government wants to introduce this by the end of October, aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.

Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.

Passengers who aren’t recognised as fully vaccinated with authorised vaccines and certificates under England’s international travel rules will still have to take a pre-departure test, a day two and day eight PCR test and self-isolate for 10 days upon their return from a non-red list country under the new two-tiered travel programme.

All passengers will still need to fill in a passenger locator form ahead of travel.

Passengers should continue to check GOV.UK travel guidance including Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice before, during and after travel to keep up to date in entry requirements and ensure compliance with the latest Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 regulations for the country being visited.