Travellers in England could be hit with a £5,000 fine for trying to travel abroad without good reason.

The new coronavirus laws, set to be introduced next week, suggest anyone who leaves England for a destination outside the UK without a reasonable excuse, such as for work, education or medical treatment, could face a £5,000 fine. Foreign holidays are not allowed under COVID “stay at home” rules which end on Monday. Anyone travelling abroad has to fill in a “Declaration to Travel” form, stating a valid reason for leaving the country.

Under the current roadmap for easing restrictions, the earliest date people in England would be able to go abroad for a holiday would be May 17. But a third wave of COVID infections coupled with a slow roll out of vaccines across Europe have cast doubts on plans to open up international travel. From next week, the ban on leaving the UK will become a specific law will be backed up by the threat of the fine.