From 4am on Friday (7 January), anyone arriving into the UK will no longer need to test negative for Covid-19 prior to departure.
They will also no longer need to self-isolate upon their arrival until they get a negative Day 2 test result, while the Day 2 testing standard will be lowered from PCR to lateral flow from 4am on Sunday (9 January).
Anyone who tests positive from their Day 2 rapid test will have to isolate and undertake a free confirmatory PCR test.
The changes were outlined by Boris Johnson and transport secretary Grant Shapps on Wednesday (5 January).
"The new measures apply across the UK after agreement between the UK government and the three devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland," said the Scottish government in a statement.
"Pre-departure Covid tests, the requirement to self-isolate and mandatory PCR tests were re-introduced in December to help stem the spread of the Omicron variant, but are now seen as less necessary because Omicron is now the dominant strain in the UK."
Additionally, the administrations governing all four UK nations will together discuss any future changes to Covid travel and border policy.
Scotland’s transport secretary Michael Matheson said: "We still have significant concerns over Omicron, but we recognise that, now it is the most dominant strain in Scotland and across the UK, it is sensible to review the measures currently in place.
“We also fully understand the impact of the restrictions on staff and businesses in the travel and aviation sectors, and these changes demonstrate our commitment not to keep measures in place any longer than necessary."
