The UK government has dropped its blanket guidance that advises
British nationals against all but essential international travel. The country’s
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will instead now start issuing
country-by-country advice. People intending to travel must now make sure they follow all the rules that apply to them.
The change coincides with the start of a national lockdown in England
that runs from today until at least 2 December.
The FCDO advice now says “that travelling away from home,
including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited
circumstances such as for work or for education” and that different rules apply
for those living in Scotland,
Wales
and Northern
Ireland.
The change will mean little practical difference in the short term
as the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to many individual
countries and territories on the basis of Covid risks. The government uses Public Health England’s methodology as
the basis for this advice, so the destinations where it advises against all but
essential travel will remain the same for now.
However, the change does leave open the possibility of a more
nuanced approach to opening up travel to other countries.