UK government introduces international travel form
English travellers going abroad now have to fill in a new ‘Declaration for International Travel’ form
The new Declaration for International Travel form will have to be filled in from 8 March and travellers will have to declare their reason for travelling overseas.
UK residents are currently banned from going on holiday until at least 17 May, however, they can still travel abroad for work, volunteering, education, medical or compassionate grounds, and to attend weddings and funerals. The form applies to people travelling outside the UK from England, there are different rules for international travel from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Travelling without the form is a criminal offence
“You should print a copy of the completed form or save it to a mobile phone or other device,” the government said in its advice on the travel declaration form. “You may be asked to show this declaration form at the port of departure. You may carry evidence to support your reason for travel. Entering a port of departure to travel internationally without a completed form is a criminal offence, for which you could be fined. If you try to travel abroad without a legally permitted reason, you may also be fined for breaching the stay-at-home requirements.”
The government added that police officers would be conducting ‘spot checks’ at departure points asking for travellers to produce the form with fines of £200 for those who fail to produce a completed form.