UK Border Updates | New Travel Traffic Lights System

What's been announced?

Countries are in three categories - green, amber and red. Green countries have the fewest rules.

Their status depends partly on the number of Covid-19 cases in each country and the success of their vaccine rollout.


Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet announced plans to restart foreign holidays.


Which countries are holidaymakers allowed to visit?

The government advises that not all the green list destinations are currently open to UK tourists and it is travellers' responsibility to check.

For example, travel to mainland Portugal and the Azores is currently for essential purposes only. This could change, as in March the Portuguese government said it hoped to welcome UK tourists in May.

The 12 countries and territories on the green list are:

#Portugal
#Israel
Singapore
Australia
New Zealand
Brunei
Iceland
#Gibraltar
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Tristan de Cunha and Ascension Island

The list will be reviewed every three weeks. Countries can be added or removed at short notice.
What are the rules for visiting a green country?

Travellers will need to:

Take a private Covid test in their holiday destination before returning home - this can be a lateral flow or PCR test
Fill in a passenger locator form online before leaving their destination
Take a private PCR test on or before day two of their arrival in England

There will be no need to quarantine when back home, or take additional tests, unless the post-arrival test is positive.

The cost of private PCR tests vary between suppliers, but the transport secretary said he hoped prices could come down to less than £50 per person. Tui Group is offering test packages for between £20 and £90.
Amber list banner

People should not be travelling to amber countries for leisure.

Travellers must:

Take a private Covid test before returning to England
Fill in a passenger locator form online before heading home
Self-isolate at home for 10 days
Take a private PCR test on or before day two of their arrival in England and again on day eight

They could end self-isolation early by taking an optional PCR test on day five, under the existing test to release scheme.
Red list banner

You should not be travelling to red countries for leisure.

Forty-three countries are now on the red list, including Turkey, India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives, Brazil and South Africa.

People can only enter the UK if they are a UK or Irish national (or UK resident).

Travellers must:

Take a private Covid test before returning to England
Fill in a passenger locator form online before they head home
Book a 10-day hotel quarantine and testing package for each member of their group before departure
Take a private PCR test on or before day two of their arrival in England and again on day eight

Countries can be added to the red list at short notice. If a country's status changes while you are visiting, you would have to follow the stricter rules on your return.


#UKVisa
#Holiday
#Flights


Angola
Argentina
Bangladesh
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Ecuador
Eswatini
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Guyana
India
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Maldives Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules.
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules.
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
Suriname
Tanzania
Turkey Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe