What are the rules for travelling to green, amber and red list countries?
- Published
The Balearic Islands - including Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca - are to be moved to the government's amber list of countries.
The change will not take place until 04:00 BST on Monday 19 July - the same date as a change of rules which means that fully vaccinated adults and under-18s will not have to quarantine upon their return to England.
What are the latest changes?
Along with the Balearic Islands, the British Virgin Islands are also moving from the green to the amber list.
Cuba, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sierra Leone will be moved to the strictest red list.
Bulgaria and Hong Kong will move to the green list, while Croatia and Taiwan join the green watchlist, which means they are at risk of being moved to amber.
The changes on the list apply to travelling to and from England, but the other UK nations are expected to follow suit.
What are the travel rules for children and people who have had both jabs?
From 19 July, adults in England who were fully vaccinated in the UK will no longer have to quarantine for 10 days on return from amber-list countries.
They will still need to pay for a Covid test three days before their departure for England, and a PCR test two days after returning. There will no longer be a day eight test.
They will have to prove they were vaccinated at least 14 days previously, via the NHS Covid Pass (on the NHS app) or an NHS Covid Pass letter.
Under-18s will also no longer have to self-isolate. Children aged 10 and under will not have to take a test before departure for England, but will have to take a test on day two. Those aged four and under will not need to take any tests.
Similar rules will also begin in Scotland on 19 July. Fully-vaccinated adults and children over 12 will still have to take tests before returning home, and on day two after arrival.
Fully vaccinated adults and under-18s in Wales also won't need to isolate on their return from amber-list countries.
Subject to confirmation, Northern Ireland is expected to introduce the same system on 26 July.
Anyone who has not been fully jabbed under the UK vaccination programme will still have to quarantine on return from an amber list country, and take tests on day two and day eight.
Anyone who tests positive for Covid or has symptoms will still need to isolate for 10 days.
The government says it hopes to extend the quarantine exemption later in the summer to those who have received vaccinations abroad.
What are the current rules for amber list countries?
The vast majority of countries are on the amber list.
The government currently advises people not to travel to amber destinations, but this will change from 19 July.
If returning from an amber-list country, you must currently:
It may be possible to end quarantine early in England if you pay for an additional test under the test-to-release scheme.
What are the rules for green list countries?
The green list is made up of a small number of destinations. You do not need to quarantine if you have been to a green-list country.
These currently include Malta, Madeira, and (until 19 July) the Balearics, and a number of Caribbean destinations, including Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados and Grenada.
If you're returning from a green-list country, you must:
You only need to quarantine on return from these countries if your day-two test is positive, or NHS Test & Trace says you have travelled with someone who tested positive.
What are the rules for red list countries?
Red list countries are those the UK government says present the highest risk from Covid, and should not be visited "except in the most extreme of circumstances".
Dozens of countries are on the red list, including India, Pakistan, Turkey, Brazil and South Africa. If you have been in one in the last 10 days, you can only enter the UK if you are a UK or Irish national, or UK resident.
If you're returning from a redlist country, you must:
Rates are:
- 10 days (11-nights) for one adult - £1,750
- Additional adult (or child over 11) - £650
- Children aged five to 11 - £325
Who decides if a country is green, amber, or red?
All countries go onto the amber list unless there is evidence to suggest they should be on the green or red lists.
Most popular tourist destinations are on the amber list.
The decision is taken by ministers, based on advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), which looks at the Covid situation in each country.
The lists are reviewed every three weeks. The rules are broadly the same for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Are other countries allowing tourists?
It is your responsibility to check the entry rules for your destination. These can change at short notice. The UK government has information which you can check before travelling.
For example:
What's the EU's Covid passport plan?
The EU Digital Covid Certificate was launched on 1 July:
- It is for citizens and residents of member states, plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein
- Acts as proof of vaccination, a negative test, or recovery from Covid-19
- The EU could decide to recognise other country's Covid certificates
- England's NHS Covid Pass is already recognised by some destinations
Where can I get a Covid test for travel from?
Before returning to the UK you need to pay for a private test with high accuracy, such as a PCR or antigen test. Further tests are required after you return.
In the UK, tests can be bought from approved providers. You can also find lists of providers in some destinations on UK government travel pages.
Failure to provide proof of a negative test before travelling to England could result in a £500 fine.