(3min read)

It has recently been announced by the UK government that twelve destinations have been put on a green travel list for people in England, this means that anyone returning will not need to quarantine from 17 May. 

The new traffic light system of rules means international travel will no longer be illegal. Travellers returning from a country on the Green List will not need to quarantine and will only be required to take one post-arrival test. This list currently consists of Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, plus several small remote islands that are British Overseas Territories.  

However, travellers should be aware that countries such as Portugal, Israel (although travel may be disrupted due to the current political situation) and Gibraltar have their own travel restrictions on who can visit from aboard. In addition, entry to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and the Faroe Islands is severely restricted. 

Portugal plans to welcome UK tourists who have had a recent negative test, have recovered from the virus and therefore have antibodies, or have had both doses of the vaccine. Gibraltar will not require UK travellers to be tested or vaccinated, whereas Israel will initially reopen its border on 23 May to groups of foreign tourists who have received both vaccinations. 

The largest group of countries is the amber list which includes popular holiday destinations such as Spain, Italy and France. Travellers from these destinations will have to isolate themselves at home for at least five days and take two post-arrival tests. However, transport secretary Grant Shapps has stated that no one should be currently travelling to those destinations. 

In contrast, Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal has been added to England’s red list of countries on 12 May alongside Brazil, India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. This means travellers from those destinations will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days on their return.  

Those returning from a red list country must stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £1,750. 

Countries on the green, amber and red lists will be reviewed every three weeks from 17 May, Shapps has announced. Travellers have also been warned of queues at the UK border when they return. 

The full list of 12 countries and territories people in England can travel to without having to quarantine upon return are: 

• Portugal 
• Israel (travel may be disrupted due to the current political situation) 
• Singapore 
• Australia 
• New Zealand 
• Brunei 
• Iceland 
• Gibraltar 
• Falkland Islands 
• Faroe Islands 
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 
• St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island 

You can also find live Covid-19 information via the Covid-19 Travel Information page that is powered by Sitata and displays current international travel controls during the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the number of daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide.  

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