Travelling to the UK: January 2022 Update

Wow! What a whirlwind it has been since our last update. Whilst Australia’s vaccination roll-out continued its strong pace through to the end of 2021, we have now been faced with the new challenges of the Omicron variant.

As a result, there have been ever-changing international travel requirements & Covid-19 testing shortages across the country.

Within this blog we will provide current updates from the Australian & UK Governments, look at the steps you can take to start planning your journey over to the United Kingdom & discuss each of the following points:

Vaccination, Testing & Leaving Australia
United Kingdom: Current situation
Entering the UK
Returning to Australia
anzuk and you

Vaccination, Testing & Leaving Australia

If you are fully vaccinated you no longer require a travel exemption. Once fully vaccinated we recommend obtaining an International COVID-19 vaccination certificate, which provides proof of your full vaccination in the UK & many other countries.

anzuk recommends that you are fully vaccinated prior to travelling overseas.

Due to testing shortages across the country, we recommended that you contact your airline to understand the appropriate testing requirements of your flight. Major airports across Australia are offering PCR tests on site where you can be tested 4 to 5 hours before your flight.

Melbourne Airport – Covid-19 Testing

Sydney Airport – Covid-19 Testing

Brisbane Airport – Covid-19 Testing

United Kingdom: Current situation

The UK Government has recently introduced “Plan B” restrictions for this winter & is providing regular updates on changing social distancing & testing requirements.

All school staff and secondary school pupils should take two lateral flow tests (LFTs) a week, and secondary school pupils must wear face coverings in class until 26 January at the earliest.

Nearly 90% of the 12+ population have received two Covid-19 vaccine jabs & there is a booster vaccine roll-out currently underway, with over 60% of the 12+ population receiving a 3rd dose.

The NHS Covid Pass is currently in place across England allowing for travel abroad, attending local events & venues.

Entering the UK

It is possible to enter the UK given the UK government does not currently have its borders closed and Commonwealth citizens can still apply for visas.

If you are fully vaccinated & traveling to England , or travelling to Wales you will need to:

Book & pay for an approved Covid-19 test, to be taken before the end of your 2nd day in the country. This can be a Rapid Test or a PCR test.
Complete a passenger locator form 48 hours before you arrive in England.
It is no longer a UK Government requirement to be tested prior to your departure to the UK. Though as mentioned, please ensure you have contacted your airline regarding their testing requirements.

It is important that you research what further requirements may be specific to your journey when entering the UK, if you are planning to travel through a red list country in the previous 10 days:

UK Border Control.

Returning to Australia

If you decide to or need to return to Australia within the coming months, it may still be challenging to do so as there is a large amount Australian residents currently seeking to return to Australia.

For the latest updates please ensure you read through our detailed blog, International Educators – Arriving in Australia.

The states & territories across Australia may have different requirements for re-entry into Australia, so we recommend staying updated via:

Smart Traveller: COVID-19: Re-entry and quarantine measures

anzuk and you

Please also reach out if you would like support from any of our UK teams. We have offices that cover the following locations:

London
Surrey
Bristol & Southwest England
Wales
Regional United Kingdom

Want to learn more about moving to the United Kingdom? Or maybe you’d like to hear about local opportunities across Australia or other international geographies we support such as NZ and the USA?

Check out the following link. We can’t wait to speak with you: https://anzuk.education/uk/contact-us/

Do you also need support with your visa?

As international travel requirements can easily & readily change, we highly recommend following the government links provided within this blog for future updates.

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