Question reference: S6W-01630
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that documents confirming that COVID-19 vaccinations have been received in countries other than the UK are not being accepted for the purpose of granting visitors to Scotland an exemption from quarantining; whether it (a) can and (b) will issue guidance on the recognition of COVID-19 vaccination programmes and certification from other countries, and, if so, by what date.
Answer
People who have been fully vaccinated in the EU or the US will be able to travel to Scotland from amber list countries without quarantining from Monday (2 August).
"Fully vaccinated" means that it has been at least 14 days since receiving the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
To count as fully vaccinated, travellers must also have been vaccinated in one of these countries:
- the UK, including as part of a UK vaccine rollout overseas - with an NHS approved vaccine.
- an EU member state - with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City - with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Swiss vaccination programme.
- the USA - with a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
they must also:
- declare that you have been fully vaccinated on the passenger locator form
- take a COVID-19 test before travelling to Scotland – if they are travelling from Spain, it is recommended that they choose a PCR test before departure
- book and pay £68 for a COVID-19 PCR test – they should take this test within 2 days of arriving in Scotland and must book the testing kit using the CTM Booking Portal
The accepted documentation referenced is the EU Digital Covid Certificate and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s white card – known as a CDC card. We have updated our international travel guidance on the Scottish Government website to reflect this change. The most up to date information is available here : Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and managed isolation (quarantine) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)