Arrivals from red list countries must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days at their own cost, and take two Covid tests
By David HughesSeptember 12, 2021 8:13 am(Updated 11:48 am)
The latest changes to the UK’s traffic light system of travel restrictions were announced on 26 August.
The three-tier measures separate countries into a green, amber and red list of destinations, each carrying different restrictions for arrivals into the UK.
Always eagerly anticipated, recent reviews have taken on greater significance following a major easing to the quarantine rules for arrivals from amber list countries.
In the last update, seven countries moved from the amber list to the green list, having demonstrated they posed a low risk to UK public health: the Azores, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Switzerland.
No countries were forced to move from the green list to amber or had restrictions ease from red to amber.
However, Montenegro and Thailand moved from the amber to the red list, where hotel quarantine is mandatory on arrival in the UK.
It was announced that the changes would come into effect from 4.00am on Monday 30 August – here’s what the red list will look like then:
Which countries are on the red list?
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Georgia
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What are the rules of the red list?
Arrivals from red list countries must undertake a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and mandatory PCR testing on or before day two and on or after day eight.
You can only enter the UK if you are a British or Irish National, or have UK residence rights.
The Government is reviewing the traffic-light system every three weeks, which means the next update should either be on Wednesday 4 or Thursday 5 August.
How did amber list rules change?
The amber list accounts for almost 150 overseas nations, including many of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations like Spain and Greece.
Previously, anybody arriving in the UK from a nation on the amber list had to quarantine for 10 days (although they could take a “test to release” on day five), as well as taking PCR tests on days two and eight.
However, under new rules, from 19 July travellers arriving in England, Scotland and Wales from these destinations do not have to quarantine if they have had both doses of the Covid vaccine, or if they are under 18.
The new rules initially only applied to UK residents (and people who have received their vaccines from the NHS), although Mr Shapps subsequently confirmed it was being extended to US and EU countries.
People returning from holidays in amber destinations, such as Spain and Portugal, are still required to take a Covid-19 test three days before returning.
Arrivals also have to take a test on or before the second day of their return, as per the previous restrictions, but will be exempted from the day-eight test.
Although the changes widen the options for British holidaymakers, it is important to check the entry requirements for your desired destination (available via the Foreign Office’s travel advice) and ensure that it is welcoming visitors from the UK, and what certification they require.
Travellers must also consider the Government’s guidance on non-essential travel, which operates separately to the traffic-light system, and can have severe ramifications for travel insurance
