Travelling to the United Kingdom – passenger locator form how-to guide

This guidance is also available in Welsh.

Watch video guidance on completing the PLF.

Overview

If you are planning to travel to the UK you must complete a passenger locator form.

You must complete the form online before you arrive in the UK. You can submit the form up to 3 days before you arrive. The only exception is arrival to the UK on a cruise that lasts 19 days or less, then you can submit the form in the 3 days before boarding.

It is free to submit the form.

Fill in your passenger locator form.

If you are transiting through the UK check the current guidance.

You can also use the passenger locator form service to set up an account for quicker and easier travel in future. The passenger locator form account stores your personal details (name, contact details, passport details, home address) for up to 6 months so that when you complete the form again, these fields are pre-populated with your information.

You can also complete the form without setting up an account.

You’ll need to show your passenger locator form when you check in to travel or board your plane, train, or ferry to the UK.

When you do not need to complete the form

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you arrive in the UK from 4am on 18 March.

You do not need to complete the passenger locator form or book COVID-19 tests if you’re travelling from one of the following places, and you were there for 10 days or more:

• UK (internal flights between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Republic of Ireland
• the Channel Islands
• the Isle of Man

You do not have to complete the form if your job means you’re exempt.

Rules within the UK

The UK is made up of 4 nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They may have different border health rules and it is essential that you check the rules for the specific country you are travelling to.

There are also different rules for children travelling and test requirements. Please check the latest guidance.

• travelling to England

• travelling to Scotland

• travelling to Wales

• travelling to Northern Ireland

What you’ll need to complete your form

To complete the form, you’ll need:

• your email – you’ll need it to be able to log back into your form and to receive your QR code
• your phone number – we should be able to contact you on this number in the UK
• your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border – this must be the same document that has been listed in the PLF
• your travel details, including times and dates
• the address where you will stay in the UK (if applicable)
• booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK
• the invoice number for your managed quarantine service – if you need one

It is a criminal offence to provide false or deliberately misleading information when filling out your passenger locator form. You could be fined, imprisoned or both if you do not provide accurate details about the countries you have visited in the 10 days before you arrived in the UK.

Entering the UK – vaccination rules

On your passenger locator form, you will be asked whether you meet the vaccine eligibility criteria. Check the guidance to find out if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to the UK.

If you meet the criteria, you must bring proof of your eligibility with you during travel.

If you don’t meet the criteria, or select not to say, you will be required to follow the current rules.

Where to find a test provider.

There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

You might also need to provide a negative coronavirus test before you travel to the UK. Please check the current guidance.

Proving your vaccination status

If you are a fully vaccinated passenger you should provide proof of vaccination in the passenger locator form if you can.

You can prove your vaccination status within the passenger locator form by scanning your COVID-19 vaccination QR code from your:

• NHS COVID pass
• NHS Scotland vaccination status
• NI COVID certificate
• EU Digital COVID certificate

Validating your QR code will speed up your journey and reduce the likelihood of checks and delays when boarding.

When you get to the vaccination verification stage you will be asked to scan or upload your vaccination status, using your QR code.

An example of a QR code:

Scanning the QR code

1. Select the option to scan a QR code.

2. Hold your QR code in front of your phone camera and move it closer until the code is recognised.

3. Once you have successfully scanned your QR code, the camera view will close, and you can click on the ‘save and continue’ button to progress.

Attaching the QR code

You can also upload a screenshot or image of the QR code. This should only contain one QR code which is for your final dose or booster dose.

1. Select the option to attach a file or screenshot containing a QR code.

2. Select the correct file and then click on ‘open’ to continue.

3. Click on the ‘save and continue’ button to attach the QR code

If there is a problem with the QR code, an error message will be displayed. You will have the option to try again.

After you complete the form

Download the form or select to receive it by email as a PDF. The form will include a QR code. You can print this out or keep it on your phone.

You will be asked to show your QR code to your airline, ferry or cruise, or rail operator before you board. You may also be asked to show it when you arrive in the UK, although many checks are now completed automatically.

What we do with the information you provide

The information you give will be used to check your vaccination status. It will also be used to check that you have booked any necessary tests you may need to take after you arrive in the UK.

Your information will be kept for 42 days then deleted unless it’s needed for related work.

If you create an account, the information you’ve saved will be kept for up to 6 months from the date you last signed in.

Your account and all the information stored in it will then be deleted.

Your information will be used in line with the privacy policy.

If you need to update your details

If any of your information changes after you have submitted your form, for example your travel details or contact information, you must complete a new form.

If you need help completing the form

You can call the passenger locator form helpline. Help is available in English only.

Calling from the UK

Calling from outside the UK