Britons allowed to go abroad during the travel ban face £200 FINES if they fail to get a permit

Travellers face being fined £200 if they turn up at an airport without a new form under a new clampdown on illegal travel.

The Department for Transport announced today that from Monday, people travelling internationally from England will need to complete and carry a Declaration to Travel document downloaded from the Government’s website.

The three-page form asks the traveller to set out their reason for needing to go abroad during the travel ban. 

Foreign leisure travel is banned until May 17 at the earliest, but essential travel is still permitted for a range of business, education and compassionate reasons.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said that those who failed to produce the form, either on paper or on their phone, faced being barred entry to their flight.

‘Officers will be conducting spot checks and have the power to ask travellers to produce a completed form,’ she said.

‘It will be an offence to fail to produce a completed form and individuals could face a £200 fine.’  

Foreign leisure travel is banned until May 17 at the earliest, but essential travel is still permitted for a range of business and compassionate reasons.

She added: ‘Carriers will be checking the forms have been completed before boarding, either at check in or at the departure gate. 

‘Passengers who do not have a valid form may be denied access to their booked service. 

‘Carriers will also be legally obliged to set out on their website that the form must be completed before travelling.’