The government introduced the country traffic light system on 7 May 2021 to allow the reopening of international travel from England. The traffic light system allows you to identify the countries you can or cannot visit, and the measures in place for the red, amber and green destinations on return. We take a closer look at the current advice for each of the coloured bands.
Red
If you've been in a country or territory on the red list in the last 10 days you will only be allowed to enter the UK if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK. These rules apply even if you have been vaccinated.
- Before you travel to England you must take a COVID-19 test. You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs. If you cannot prove you've tested negative you may be refused travel. You will need to find a private provider in the place where you start your journey or another country on your way to England if you break your journey. Full details on GOV.UK/covid-19-testing.
- Book a quarantine hotel package including 2 COVID-19 tests. The basic cost for one adult in one room is £1750 and this includes travel to the hotel and the two required covid tests. There are charges for extra adults and children. Full details of hotel quarantine packages can be found on GOV.UK/guidance/quarantine-hotel
- Complete a passenger locator form. You will need a quarantine package invoice number to complete this form. It must be submitted 48 hours before you arrive in the UK and you will need to show the form when you check in to travel.
If you've had a transit stop in a red list country anytime in the 10 days before you return to England you must follow the red list rules.
The current advice for red list countries is you should not travel.
Amber
If you are returning to England from an amber country that you have visited in the 10 days before you arrive, you must follow the current rules:
- Before you travel to England you must take a COVID-19 test. You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.
- You must book and pay for COVID-19 tests for day 2 and day 8 of your return. These must be booked before you travel to England. You must use private tests and you can find all the available providers on GOV.UK/find-travel-test-provider. The cost of the tests start from £45.00 and you can book using the same portal.
- Complete a passenger locator form.
- On arrival in England you must quarantine at home or a place you are staying for 10 days and take the pre-booked 2 day and 8 day tests*.
*On 8th July 2021 the Government announced that UK citizens that have had 2 doses of vaccine, will not need to self-isolate when returning from an amber country from 19th July. (This includes under 18's that have not been vaccinated) The vaccines must have been provided by the NHS in the UK. You will still need to take a test before returning to the UK and on day 2 after returning.
Green
If you have been in a green list country you must follow the rules below. You must only have been in or travelled through a green list country or the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in the previous 10 days. These rules apply even if you've been vaccinated.
- Before you travel to England you must take a COVID-19 test.
- Book and pay for a COVID-19 test to be taken on day 2 of you arrival in England. You do not need to quarantine unless you test positive. In this case you must quarantine for 10 days at home or the place you are staying.
- Complete a passenger locator form.
There are exemptions for some or all of the requirements for medical or compassionate reasons and for work related travel. There are different rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The full guidance on this and a full list of all the red, amber and green countries and territories can be found on GOV.UK/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list.
Vaccination passport
People in England who have had a full vaccine course can demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status for outbound international travel. Other countries or territories determine their own border health rules, which may include COVID-19 vaccination status. Check the entry requirements for your destination before travelling. The government has suggested in it's briefing on June 24th, that it may allow people who have had a double dose of vaccine not to have to self-isolate when returning from amber countries. We will update the information when any announcement is made.