Available Applications

Type	Delivery	Validity	Stay	Entries
Passenger Locator Form	Email		Up to 90 Days	Single	Apply Now
Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)	Email	-	Up to 180 Days	Single	Apply now

Overview

The United Kingdom Passenger Locator Form allows health officials in the UK to track who is entering the country, what their COVID-19 status is, and whether they are following the required COVID-19 protocols.

The form also allows the government to contact people already in the UK if someone they traveled with develops COVID-19 or if they get exposed while they are in the UK. The health form is easy to fill out and makes travel during COVID times safer for everyone.

The United Kingdom has a visa waiver for travelers from Bahrain Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

Processing Steps

Online Application

Form is received and reviewed for approval.

Receive Document

Receive the approved document via e-mail.

Arrive in United Kingdom

Present the document upon arrival.

Passenger Locator Details

What Do Travelers Need to Enter the UK?

Travelers may need several pieces of documentation in order to enter the United Kingdom. What exactly is required of each traveler will depend both on their country of origin and the country they are coming from/countries they have recently traveled through.

Some travelers will need other documentation to enter the country. They may be able to apply for this online or get it upon arrival. Each traveler is required to know what he or she needs to have before they leave home.

All travelers, except those from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland, will need to have both the UK Passenger Locator Form and a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival in the UK.

UK Visa

Other people will be required to have a visa in order to enter the UK. These travelers must apply for and receive their visas before they board a flight to the country, as these are not usually granted upon arrival.

Red Listed Travelers

Travelers entering the UK from "red list" countries will also need to book a stay in a quarantined hotel before they will be allowed to enter the UK. These stays include lodging, transportation to the hotel, and all meals and drinks that they will need during the entire length of their quarantine.

They will also need to book 2 additional COVID-19 tests. These results must come back negative if they do not want to extend their quarantine. Note that only UK nationals or those with residence rights in the country will be allowed to enter when coming from a "red list" country.

Amber Listed Travelers

Travelers entering the UK from "amber list" countries (this is most of the world) will need to show that they have a place to quarantine. For people from these countries, a quarantine can take place at their private residence or at the place they are staying, and it will need to last 10 days.

They will also need to show that they have booked 2 additional COVID-19 tests. One will need to be taken on or after their second-day post-arrival and the other will need to be taken on or after day 8 post-arrival. Only when both of these tests come back negative will they be released from quarantine.

Alternatively, travelers from "amber list" countries can pay for a private COVID-19 test under the Test to Release plan. This plan requires travelers to quarantine for 5 days, then take the planned COVID-19 test. If it is negative, they can be released from quarantine early. This plan only pertains to travelers visiting England, not the rest of the UK.

Green Listed Travelers

Travelers arriving from "green list" countries only need to show that they have scheduled a day 2 COVID-19 test. They do not need to quarantine or show proof of quarantine, though they may be required to do so if their test comes back positive or if someone they traveled with tests positive.

Visitors entering the UK from Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands will not need to fill out a locator form or take any tests.

Who Can Enter the UK?

Right now, anyone can enter the UK as long as they have not been in a "red list" country over the last 10 days. The red list is updated regularly, so travelers should check it to make sure it does not change over the course of their time away from home.

Only people who are citizens of the UK or have proof that they reside there and permission to do so may enter from a "red list" country. They will need to bring proof of their citizenship along with the documentation outlined above if they want to enter the country and they must fulfill the COVID-19 requirements as stated at the time of their entry.

How to Fill Out and Use the UK Passenger Locator Form

The UK Passenger Locator Form is easy to fill out. Travelers will need to access the form online since it must be submitted within 48 hours of arrival in the UK. Book Your Quarantine/Testing Packages In Advance

Before they fill out the form online, travelers will need to book any quarantine packages or testing that will be required of them after they are in the country. They will need to add these bookings or reference numbers to the form.

Up-to-Date Passport

They will also need to make sure that they have an updated passport. Their passport should reflect all of their personal data accurately, as well as have validity for at least 6 months after they enter the country.

Follow Guidelines in the UK

Travelers will also need to make sure they are meeting the COVID-19 requirements for the part of the UK that they plan to visit. Scotland and Wales/Northern Ireland have slightly different regulations than England does.

Visitors will need to take a COVID-19 test and receive negative results before they can travel to the UK. These tests must be taken within 72 hours of their arrival.

Submit Form Online

Finally, travelers need to take 5-10 minutes to fill out the form. Then, they need to submit it online. They should receive a QR code. They can save this code to their mobile phone or other electronic device or they can choose to print it off.

Sometimes, having a printed copy makes everything go faster at the airport since phones can have trouble establishing a connection when traveling internationally.

Immigration or health officials will scan the QR code. This code will tell them where the traveler has been and what they need to do to enter the UK safely under COVID-19 procedures. Officials will then make sure that each traveler gets where they need to go and meets the requirements specific to them.

In the end, the UK Passenger Locator Form makes travel in the United Kingdom safer for everyone. Both citizens and travelers can rest assured that they have the protection they need because the relevant authorities have the data they require to keep COVID-19 under control.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is travel regulated in the UK after COVID-19?

The UK has a system where countries are listed as "red", "amber", or "green". Different travel rules apply based on the category of country you are coming from.

What do travelers need to fill out the Passenger Locator Form?

Travelers need their valid passport or identification card, information about their stay in the UK, and reference numbers for any required quarantines or COVID-19 tests.

Where can travelers arrive in the UK?

Travelers can enter anywhere there is a port or an airport. Flights from red countries are not currently landing in Wales or Northern Ireland, so passage to these locations will need to go through the rest of the UK first.

Why is the locator form required?

The locator form allows UK health officials to contact travelers if they were exposed to COVID-19 during their travel. It also allows them to make sure people quarantine properly.

Who needs a UK Passenger Locator Form?

Everyone needs a locator form unless they are coming from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Travelers under 18 (16 in Scotland) do not need a form if they are traveling with a parent or guardian.

Who does not need to fill out the locator form?

People coming from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland do not need to fill out the UK Passenger Locator Form.

How can a passenger update the details on their locator form?

Details cannot be updated on the form. Instead, travelers who need to change those details should fill out a new form and submit it again.

Are the rules the same for the whole UK?

Travel rules vary slightly for England, Scotland, and Wales/Northern Ireland. Travelers will need to get updated information about travel requirements before they leave home.

Are vaccine passports necessary to enter the UK?

At the time of this writing, vaccine passports are not required to enter the United Kingdom. This could change at any time.

How much does the UK Passenger Locator Form cost?

The UK Passenger Locator Form is free of cost. There is no charge to get the form, fill it out, submit it, or use it to enter the country.

More on UK Entry Policies

United Kingdom Embassies