The new rules were secured thanks to negotiations involving IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “This is welcome news for all those journalists who cross borders as part of their work, at a time when news and reporting is more important than ever. It’s a particularly welcome measure for freelances who have lost work and income as a result of having to quarantine. We’ve been working hard to secure this exemption and welcome the efforts made by DCMS to achieve this.”
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Thanks to the efforts of the NUJ, journalists holding the International Press Card are now able to travel and work without unwarranted restrictions; We welcome the recognition by the UK government of the vital role of journalists and their status as key workers. This reaffirms the importance of the International Press Card".
A similar exemption was negotiated by the NVJ, the Dutch journalists' union.
Full guidance on the exemption will be published shortly on gov.uk.