I seem to remember a 2021 Holidays thread and this may be better suited to there but I can’t find it:
We are just on our way back from Malta which was very good, would not have thought of there but for the green list.
We are both double vaccinated.
On the way out we had to take a PCR test within 72 hours of departure which was quite expensive £130, this is a UK requirement: No one checked this test in the UK before flying.
Malta checked we were double vaccinated before letting us in, we had our certificates and knew this would be required.
On the way back, the UK requires you to have a PCR or lateral flow test but you have to ha e it done in the country and get a local certificate we took our own and registered them on the NHS app. This is not sufficient to bird the plane abs we nearly missed our flight running to the in airport test centre and fortunately getting a result in 15 minutes.
Also a UK requirement is to fill in an online passenger locator form and to get this to work you need to have booked either day 2 or day 2 abs day 8 PCR tests in the UK. We had but I could not find the reference number I needed. I had to buy another one in the airport from Expert Medical whip were recommended by the Maltese and provided me a test reference abs will send a test kit for my 2 day test for £28. My reference I needed looked like this.
EXMED0422138
The Maltese wouldn’t let anyone on the plane without both the test result and the passenger locator form. We finally checked in 2 minutes before the deadline.
There were lots of other folks in the same boat. Worth filling out the forms and getting the tests done the day before you leave.
Still it was good to get away and I’d definitely recommend Malta and Gozo.
Comments
But in pubs and restaurants we had to show proof of jabs.
On way back no checks at all either end.
We had registered on the Irish passenger locator.
Why did you need a PCR to fly from the UK to a green country, which is a UK requirement? I don't think the UK decide what you need to fly from the UK elsewhere. Where did you see that this was required?
And no, you can't take your own tests to take before you return to the UK, they should be independently verified otherwise anyone (i.e. someone else) could take the test!
Unless it is a requirement just specific to BA? It is not a UK one
She has just said 'A few weeks ago malta required you to have a test to enter even if double jabbed. Portugal still require a test now. Even if jabbed.' so if you went then, it was a requirement by Malta but NOT the UK
And take paper copies. You never know.
It is NOT a UK requirement on leaving
It no longer states that this is required for IK fully vaccinated arrivals.
Everyone we spoke to about this in Malta had been tested but their documents not checked. I can only therefore assume that either the Maltese requirements have changes or the website was originally wrong.
in any event it now appear as it is not necessary to have the expensive £130 a pop PCR test if you are fully vaccinated and flying to Malta. Children accompanying fully vaccinated adults do need ta negative test result.
Greek Locator Form and proof of vaccination required going out (have hard copies and electronic) - Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours of returning to the UK and a PCR test with 48 hours of arriving in UK. Testing pack from TUI (LFT and PCR) - £20
Just need to consult this both for the country you are going to and what you need to do when you travel back to the UK.
Official advice from the UK Government says that adult and child passports should have at least 6 months' validity remaining from your date of travel. Extra months on an adult passport due to early renewal will not count, so some passport holders will need more than 6 months remaining to travel.10 Aug 2021
EDIT, back then you could renew 9 months early and any remaining months would be carried over.
Passport validity
We recommend that on the day you travel you have at least 6 months left on your passport. This allows for:
Your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day after you leave. If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the minimum period needed.
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.