In the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Shapps said: “Today I can confirm to the house, Mr Speaker, that our international travel regime will also now be liberalised as part of our efforts to ensure that 2022 is the year in which restrictions on travel, lockdowns and limits placed on people’s lives are firmly placed in the past.”
He added: “Mr Speaker, we promised we wouldn’t keep these measures in place a day longer than was necessary, and it’s obvious to me now that border testing for vaccinated travellers has outlived its usefulness.”
Mr Shapps said children under the age of 18 will be under the same restrictions as fully vaccinated travellers, only having to show a Passenger Locator Form, which will also be simplified.
He added the easing of restrictions are: “Not only making travel much easier, but also saving around £100 per family on visits abroad.”
From February 11, the UK will also recognise vaccine certificates from 16 more nations, including China and Mexico, meaning vaccines from over 180 nations and territories will now be recognised.
Mr Shapps said the possibility of a red list will remain in place, in case of new variants, but the quarantine system will be under review.
