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What are the permitted reasons for traveling abroad from the UK during COVID-19 restrictions?

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions UK Travel Guidelines Visa Regulations Travel Declaration Family Travel Work Travel Educational Travel Thailand Visa Help

Mar 6, 2021

4 years ago

Jonathan ********

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion explores permitted reasons for international travel from the UK during COVID-19, highlighting that travel for family, work, education, and other specific purposes is allowed. Several comments discuss the importance of having appropriate paperwork, such as marriage certificates or invitation letters, to justify travel. Participants express skepticism about the enforcement of these guidelines and share personal experiences related to their travel plans.

Roland ****

Is this for English travellers only? 😂😂😂

The Scots, Irish and Welsh are excused..... 😂

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Philip ******

quoting UK Gov ' You must not travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. It is ILLEGAL to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes.'

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Lynnette *******

people travel for many reasons besides "leisure".

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Philip ******

@Lynnette ******

really? I think I know this duh... my point was that in UK we are now currently legally prohibited from travel unless it is for one of 5 approved reasons, work, funerals, medical etc and anything leisure or holiday is currently illegal

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Lynnette *******

I meant that the uk purpose of travel form doesn't seem to cover enough categories. Retirement, family reasons, property issues, moving abroad etc.

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Lynnette *******

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Kevin *******

Yet we welcome illegal immigrants coming across the channel with no passport or even a face mask with open arms and free accommodation

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Lynnette *******

perhaps you're confused. You mean a detention centre? Illegal immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker are not all the same thing.

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Kevin *******

@Lynnette ******

I think we all know what I’m saying !!!!!

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Kevin *******

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Lynnette *******

free accommodation? Illegal immigrants aren't welcomed with open arms.

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Greg ********

@Lynnette ******

Let the Gammons have their myths. It's all they have now Brexit has failed.

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Kevin *******

gammons ??? Oh how I’d love you to say that face to face you first class cock !!!!

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Lynnette *******

I spose so. Pathetic innit.

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Greg ********

@Lynnette ******

I love it hearing from gammons in Thailand moaning about immigrants. Half of them drinking 60 baht Leo and moaning about costs going up here and a shitty GBP exchange rate. :-D

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Lynnette *******

and voting leave. . And confused by big words like "illegal" and "detention centre" thinking that's a nice house or hotel. Lol.

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Lynnette *******

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Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Given this, though, I don't understand why the Thai embassy in London is granting people tourist visas. Surely they are breaking the law.

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Marcus *********

Also, this is a uk restriction, not a thai one...

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Steve *******

@Jonathan *******

How do you work that out? Selling tourist visas isnt against the law nor is buying them.

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Steve *******

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David *********

100 reasons you can say to get out, total joke!

Book a boob job and pay 50 quid deposit

Sign up to learn thai

Marry some brass

Get a job

Rent an apartment in bkk

The list goes on......

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เด่ ******

Does human a property of state ?? Are they a dog of a state ?

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Greg ********

Its the social contract

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Greg ********

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Ash ********

a few days before I fly 😒

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Anthony ********

Dont let them in, problem solved.

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Lisa ********************

this is about people leaving not entering.

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Lisa ********************

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Lisa ********************

Loads of reasons to travel

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Alex *********

@Lisa *******************

but nowhere does it say about returning home to be with one's family. Unless I missed it

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Lisa ********************

common sense. You're not leaving to go on holiday. You have property rental or purchase agreement, or invitation letter from family? Kids birth certificate? Any of these will do.

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Jeff *********

@Lisa *******************

What about if you're going to Thailand to marry whereby you have to Firstly go to British embassy in Bangkok for a notation that you are free to marry then after thai translation a visit to the Thai ministry of foreign affairs to get approval It would therefore be for a wedding but where would the proof be Lisa Just curious as to your thoughts?

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Lisa ********************

appointment letter at Embassy? Invitation letter from future wife's family?

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Jeff *********

@Lisa *******************

fair enough but it's a grey area my point being how could they prove you weren't being truthful?I only mention this because I'm due to fly in April to see my girlfriend of 2 years visa is valid until April 30th everything booked so I have a dilemma?

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Lisa ********************

tbh. I really don't think they check that much. No one even asked me my reason for travel. As you say it's a grey area and only guidelines, not law.

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Jeff *********

@Lisa *******************

I really think it's more of a deterrent In a couple of weeks imo this will all have died down although I ll carry the completed form in case I'm challenged but reckon the only people who may ask are the airline at check in

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Lisa ********************

they might. But as I said, no one asked me and I flew out during lockdown. But yeah, take all the paperwork you can, just in case.

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Alex *********

@Lisa *******************

I have my marriage certificate and the translation.

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Lisa ********************

perfect 👌

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Lisa ********************

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Lynnette *******

these govt pages don't always show every reason. I think its about showing there's a good reason and not a holiday.

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Alex *********

@Lynnette ******

agreed. Its just annoying that the British government doesn't recognise this.

IMHO this is more to stop the Social Media influencers jetting of to some hot, tropical destination, posting pictures and saying it is for work

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Lynnette *******

yes, I agree. . And to make money from fines. Its not really about limiting virus. It mostly mentions not going on "holidays".

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Lynnette *******

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Roland ****

Just tick the box and go..... 😂

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Giorgio ******

Ou la la !!!

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Lynnette *******

Look up the form, there are all sorts of reasons permitted. Education etc. So read it and complete it before travel. The "offence" is about travelling without it. .

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Jeff *********

@Lynnette ******

The problem with that Lynette is you could still be denied boarding although I do agree it's more of a deterrent than anything which will become clear in a week or two

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Roland ****

@Lynnette ******

Bureaucratic BS. Just need to tick the box, complete the form and away you go.... Unbelievable! There are some complete morons in government.

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Steve *******

@Roland ********

Not quite that simple. You'll have to produce evidence of your reason to travel.

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Lynnette *******

@Roland ********

its too late to be restricting people leaving I think. . And they then have to pay a private company selected by govt for their covid tests on their return on day 2 and day 8. It costs a lot!

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Lynnette *******

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Michael ********

We can start selling wedding invatations

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Ronald *********

If you put one of the valids reason on the form, you may have to produce evidence of that reason

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Steve *******

@Ronald ********

Not may, WILL have to produce evidence.

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Lynnette *******

@Ronald ********

evidence isn't always easy to produce: related events. What's that? An invite to a reception? Show an email invite. Work? Self employed in tourism? Show an appointment at a resort?

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Wayne **********

@Ronald ********

isn’t that the point 🙄

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Ronald *********

@Wayne *********

Their will be some just picking a reason at random, and hoping to get away with it.

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Ronald *********

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Lynnette *******

@Jonathan *******

thanks for posting that. It mentioned family on one page. My son is flying into UK next week and back out 3 weeks later. It'll be interesting to see how that works out but he's booked and will be leaving UK on his flight no matter what.

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Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lynnette ******

Legally permitted reasons for international travel include:

• work

• volunteering

• education

• medical, or compassionate grounds

• weddings, funerals and related events

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Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

David Alexander Smith BBC. Also here:

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Jonathan ********

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Оливер *********

England is becoming like north korea...

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Steve *******

@Оливер ********

Not yet, North Korea doesnt have a twat as a Prime Minister!

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Greg ********

@Оливер ********

Hyperbole is a thing now too!

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Ken ***********

@Оливер ********

or Russia

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Ken ***********

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Lynnette *******

It includes for Family, medical or work.

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Lynnette *******

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