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Here are the 12 countries and territories on the travel Green List

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The Government has announced the countries and territories on the initial Green List.

This applies only to England. Different rules may apply to those who live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but no announcements have been made yet.

International leisure travel will once again be permitted from the 17th May. To facilitate the move, the UK Government has announced it is moving to a traffic light system that will categorise countries based on:

  • the percentage of people vaccinated
  • the number of Covid-19 infections
  • whether there are any variants of concern
  • the reliability of the country’s testing and genomic sequencing facilities

Each country will be labelled ‘Green,’ ‘Amber’ or ‘Red,’ with varying entry requirements when you return to the UK.

12 countries and a number of territories are on the initial Green List.

The list will be updated every three weeks.

This is how the categories are defined:

Green countries: You will need to take a pre-departure test (can be lateral flow) as well as a PCR test on or before day 2 of your return into England. You will not need to quarantine unless or take additional tests unless your tests come back positive.

Amber countries: You will need to take a pre-departure test before returning to England and must quarantine at home for 10 days, taking a PCR test on day 2 and day 8. You can choose to take an additional PCR test on day 5 under the optional ‘Test to Release’ scheme, which allow you to end your quarantine early.

Red countries: You will be subject to a 10-day quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel, with testing prior to your arrival in England as well as on day 2 and day 8. You cannot reduce your quarantine period and must pay for the hotel.

In addition to the three traffic light restrictions the Government has also promised a ‘Green watchlist’. This will be used to to indicate countries that are currently categorised as Green countries but are likely to drop to Amber or Red shortly. No countries are on this list so far.

Which countries are on the Green List?

Here are the countries on the initial UK Government travel Green List.

  • Australia
  • Brunei
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • New Zealand
  • Portugal, the Azores and Madeira
  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  • Singapore
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

For clarity, just because a country is on the Green List does not mean that you will be allowed to enter.

You will need to meet the local requirements regarding vaccination and/or testing.

The Government has confirmed that you should be able to access your vaccination status on the NHS app by 17th May. If not, or if you do not have a smartphone, a letter will be available – this can only be requested by calling 119 from 17th May.

Which countries are on the Red List?

Here are the countries on the Red List. Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal were added today. Anyone returning from these countries will be required to undertake 10 days of hotel quarantine.

  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Bangladesh
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Burundi
  • Cape Verde
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ecuador
  • Eswatini
  • Ethiopia
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Suriname
  • Tanzania
  • Turkey
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

What countries are on the Amber list?

Any country or territory not listed above will be on the Amber list. This will require 10 days of home quarantine.

You can see the full Amber list on this page of gov.uk.

What are the cheapest covid testing providers?

You will not be able to use NHS testing facilities for travel: you must pay for private tests.

The cheapest PCR test at present is provided by Eurofins, from £44.90 for an at-home test kit.

You can compare all Government-approved covid testing providers on this helpful page of gov.uk.

Comment

British Airways CEO Sean Doyle said in a statement:

“We’re pleased that our customers are able to start travelling again to some countries, including Portugal, and we’ve put on additional flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Faro to help people get moving.

What’s clear is that with high levels of vaccination in the UK being matched by other countries, we should see more destinations going ‘green’ before the end of June.  It’s disappointing to hear that despite the stringent safeguards introduced for travel from ‘amber list’ countries, the Government is now suggesting travellers avoid these.

We cannot stress more greatly that the UK urgently needs travel between it and other low-risk countries, like the US, to re-start the economy, support devastated industries and reunite loved ones.“

We will update this article later with more information as it is released.

Category

General

Comments (298)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Anna says:
    7 May7 May 20:11

    What happens if you visit an Amber destination with the intention of isolating at home for 10 days on return (or doing test & release), but you have a domestic connection? Do they just let you get on the connecting flight with everyone else?!

    • 1ATL says:
      7 May7 May 20:40

      Yes so long as you’re travelling directly back to your home . So plane, train, national express coach, car, taxi are all permitted.Taking a connecting flight to NQY for a couple more days of holidays before boarding another flight to MAN wouldn’t be permitted.

    • John says:
      7 May7 May 20:59

      Specifically says you should not travel for leisure purposes to Amber destinations

      • meta says:
        7 May7 May 22:05

        It’s not illegal to travel to amber countries for leisure purposes. It’s just advice that you should think about going to those countries.

        • Dogecoin2Mars says:
          8 May8 May 06:22

          Government advice seems clear to me. I’d be weary of insurance cover when visiting any countries in the amber list too – is it worth the risk?

          ‘You should not travel to amber list countries or territories for leisure purposes.’

          • meta says:
            8 May8 May 09:37

            There are insurances which cover travel against government advice…

  • Johnalos says:
    7 May7 May 20:20

    Quite depressing. I understand the list is small for a reason and I am in no way complaining but why have they put countries you can’t fly to nonstop? Sandwich Island? How on earth would you get there without flying via South America? The only viable country I see so far is Gibraltar (if you’re not fully vaccinated). I’m hoping the US comes on eventually otherwise I might just do a staycation and fly instead of get the train this summer. Singapore looks promising too if they allow us in! I read on the Telegraph they are doing vaccination holidays in New York!

  • John says:
    7 May7 May 21:07

    So I’m in Qatar (Red list,) fully vaccinated (Moderna,) and need to return home having been made redundant. Need to go into Hotel Quarantine for 10 days when it is perfectly easy to Quarantine at home for 10 days. If I hadn’t been made redundant (Pilot,) I would be exempt by occupation! Funny old world? Wonder if I can sleep on Carrie’s couch? I think I am going to help pay for it!

    • Will says:
      7 May7 May 21:31

      Can you go to a green for 10 days first?

      Then you’d be a green arrival,

      • bafan says:
        7 May7 May 23:51

        Even an Amber would be something…paying for 10 days in Greece or Spain is preferable to a s**t hotel in Hounslow.

    • John says:
      8 May8 May 05:39

      If you hadn’t been made redundant you wouldn’t be travelling to England. you would only be exempt when flying as part of your work duty

      • John says:
        8 May8 May 10:31

        Why? QR flights are flying to England and Scotland multiple times every day.

      • Lady London says:
        8 May8 May 14:38

        If you’re within your notice period you’d also technically still be an employed pilot

    • Amy carpenter says:
      8 May8 May 06:35

      Redundant? Not Qatar Airways then? They are taking some of the pilots back on that they laid off last year.

    • Henry Young says:
      9 May9 May 14:39

      Travel via an amber list country where you should stay for 12 days. It’ll be a lot cheaper than detention by G4S. Also note all you’re vaccinated against is variants no longer of concern. Covid vaccination is as pointless as it would be for the common cold – another coronavirus with a constant stream of variants. Follow the money 😉

  • Jon says:
    7 May7 May 21:35

    I’m close to 20 long haul flights booked and cancelled since the start of 2020. Seeing cases rise in the Maldives sucks but this is all so unpredictable. Hopefully the Maldives will get on top of this for later in our summer when the hotels are relatively cheap

    • Wet says:
      7 May7 May 22:27

      Why book 20 long haul flight under current circumstances. Bit stupid in the first place

    • John says:
      8 May8 May 05:29

      It’s because rich Indians are escaping there from India

  • Peter says:
    7 May7 May 21:47

    All places but Portugal are jokes, can’t fly there directly or simply won’t let you in. I wonder why Portugal was chosen over Malta, Greece.. especially if few months back it was the only RED European country 🙂

    • Jim Lovejoy says:
      7 May7 May 22:51

      If you look at the 3 countries you mentioned Portugal is the only one to have gotten the case count way down, and kept it down for 2 months.
      Malta might join the list if Malta’s case count stays down for another month I’d expect them to join the green list too.

    • David says:
      9 May9 May 10:21

      You can get into Gibraltar too, and Iceland.

  • Doommonger says:
    7 May7 May 21:59

    I’ll say it again…..Until there is relative uniformity in vaccination rates, international travel will be a very hit a miss affair, and likely to stay that way until early 2022. It matters not a jot what Mr Shapps says and what colour his traffic light is showing. Keep your points and miles for another year, save yourselves the heartache of last minute cancellations and the battle for refunds, stop having to second guess everchanging govt policy, It’s the weekend! so roll a joint, crack open a beer or three, and chillax, safe in the knowledge that the Doomster has your best interests at heart.

    • Andrew says:
      7 May7 May 22:40

      I just redeemed £110 off my shopping in Sainsbury’s – far more satisfying than booking another flight which will be cancelled.

      • James says:
        7 May7 May 22:47

        More satisfying than paying (say) 15000 Avios for a return flight to Europe – eg Portugal – for which others are paying cash £600 return?

        You got a ‘free’ £110 – they got a free £600.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          8 May8 May 23:33

          Ah well. Hopefully more send their Avios to nectar and the rest of us can enjoy reward seats.

    • mradey says:
      8 May8 May 07:42

      Solid advice, ‘cept maybe the joint.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    7 May7 May 22:11

    Might go to the South Sandwhich Islands just for the lols 😆

  • Fm says:
    7 May7 May 23:55

    Where does traveling to the Republic of Ireland from the mainland fall in all of this? Would it be considered on the amber list?

    • John says:
      8 May8 May 05:31

      It’s considered domestic so outside the scope of the lists. But I think Ireland doesn’t want people from great Britain visiting yet

    • James says:
      8 May8 May 11:55

      I’ve been to and from ROI, entering U.K. it counts as domestic so no tests and no quarantine, but entering Ireland they treat it as international so you need a good reason for travelling, a PCR test and to quarantine.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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