NEWS: U.K. Updates COVID-19 Testing Requirements for International Travel

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to change and develop, AllEars will be bringing you the latest relevant news that could affect a theme park visit.

The travel industry has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic since it began in 2020.

Orlando International Airport

Both domestic and international travel has been on the rise worldwide as travel demand returns, however, new COVID-19 variants have caused policies to continuously change. And, as the Omicron strain and inclement weather cause significant travel interruptions in the U.S., the U.K. has announced that they will be relaxing their travel restrictions in an effort to restore airline profits.

According to Bloomberg, the U.K. will not require travelers to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight into the country if they are vaccinated beginning Friday, January 7th, 2022.

Flying to MCO

This comes after airlines advocated for the testing requirements to be relaxed as many travelers canceled their holiday travel due to “fear of being trapped overseas and incurring significant extra expense” with the growing number of COVID-19 cases related to the Omicron variant.

©Orlando International Airport

The U.K. will still require that travelers take a lateral-flow COVID-19 test two days before returning to England, however, the PCR assessment will no longer be needed. Additionally, travelers will not need to take an additional PCR test to confirm they are COVID-19 positive if they use a rapid antigen kit and will only need to self-isolate when they return if they test positive.

Holiday crowds at the Orlando International Airport

This marks a significant reduction in travel requirements for those in the U.K., however, it is important to keep in mind other restrictions if you’re planning to travel into the U.S. for an upcoming Disney World trip.

In November of 2021, the U.S. reopened its borders to international travelers who are fully vaccinated, though they are still required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test when entering regardless of vaccination status. This test must be taken no more than one day before traveling.

Mask Rules Sign in Disney World

Of course, we’ll continue to keep an eye out for additional updates on travel restrictions that may impact your Disney World vacation, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest!