Travel Advice

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The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) now advises British people against all non-essential travel worldwide. This advice took effect immediately on 17 March and applies initially for a period of 30 days.

If you now need to change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:

  1. contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers

  2. get in touch with your insurance provider

  3. continue to follow the NHS coronavirus guidance

If you’re abroad

Travel Advice pages are regularly updated with relevant information if you are currently abroad. Check our travel advice for your location regularly and sign-up to email alerts.

If you wish to leave the country you are in, contact your airline or travel company and your insurance provider as soon as you are able, and keep up to date with the latest developments.

If your travel is essential

Prepare for your travel

If your travel is essential, follow our checklist before you travel:

  • contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers to make sure you can still travel

  • read the details of your travel insurance carefully, and check that you are covered, and contact your insurer if you are uncertain. You may need to consider a specialist policy

  • make sure you can access money to cover emergencies and unexpected delays. Take more than one means of payment with you

  • be prepared to follow the advice of local authorities abroad. Be ready to comply with local isolation or quarantine requirements, and to rely on the local health system

  • make sure you have enough medication with you in case you are abroad longer than planned

  • be prepared for logistical and financial disruption to your travel

  • arrange extra support for family members, dependants or pets who may need care if you are abroad longer than planned

  • check travel advice for your destination regularly and sign-up to email alerts

  • visit this page regularly as it is constantly updated given the evolving situation overseas

Visas extended for those currently unable to return home due to COVID-19

Visa nationals who cannot return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to extend their visa.

The extension, announced today (24 March) by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to anyone whose leave expired after the 24 January and who cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation.

This will last until 31 May but will be kept under regular review in case further extensions are needed.

 

See Also

Closing Schools

 So far the advice has been that that we should keep schools open to reduce the pressure on the NHS and on other public services. But this has always been a balanced judgement and kept under constant review.  

Government Hotlines

Below are a list of contact details for a number of Government departments and hotlines you may find useful:

HMRC - 0300 200 3300

NHS - if you cannot get help via 111.nhs.uk then call 111 if you need medical attention quickly but it isn't an emergency.

Self-Isolation

If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.

Support for Business

• A £330 billion package of loans and guarantees is being provided to support small and medium businesses – that’s worth 15 per cent of our GDP.

• All businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will nothave to pay business rates – meaning that none of these.