LONDON, UK
The UK government has made it much easier for
British passengers to travel abroad.
As of 11th October, arrivals from 47 countries will
no longer have to enter hotel quarantine. They will just have to do a PCR test
on or before day 2.
In a major overhaul, only seven countries remain on
the red quarantine list, including Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Announcing the update on Twitter this Thursday
afternoon, UK transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the 47 re-categorized countries will be moved to Britain’s “rest of the world” list.
The UK’s simplified rules for travel came into
force on October 4th, with the traffic light system scrapped in favour of a
single red list.
Mr Shapps added: “I’m also making changes so
travellers visiting England have fewer entry requirements, by recognising those
with fully-vax status from 37 new countries and territories including India,
Turkey and Ghana, treating them the same as UK fully vax passengers.”
Which countries have been removed from the UK’s red
list?
As of Monday 11th October, people travelling to
England from these locations will no longer have to quarantine in a hotel on
arrival:
·
Afghanistan
·
Angola
·
Argentina
·
Bolivia
·
Botswana
·
Brazil
·
Burundi
·
Cape Verde
·
Chile
·
Congo (Democratic Republic)
·
Costa Rica
·
Cuba
·
Eritrea
·
Eswatini
·
Ethiopia
·
French Guiana
·
Georgia
·
Guyana
·
Indonesia
·
Lesotho
·
Malawi
·
Mayotte
·
Mexico
·
Mongolia
·
Montenegro
·
Mozambique
·
Myanmar
·
Namibia
·
Nepal
·
Paraguay
·
Philippines
·
Réunion
·
Rwanda
·
Seychelles
·
Sierra Leone
·
Somalia
·
South Africa
·
Sudan
·
Suriname
·
Tanzania
·
Thailand
·
Trinidad and Tobago
·
Tunisia
·
Uganda
·
Uruguay
·
Zambia
·
Zimbabwe
Travel restrictions are updated every three weeks
by the UK government, meaning the next update is expected on or around Thursday
28 October.
For full information from the UK government, check
their website.
And if you’re wanting to know what travel
restrictions are in place for all other European countries, see our guide here.
What are the changes to which vaccinations are
accepted?
The UK government is also easing its vaccination
requirements for a further 37 countries and territories, including Brazil,
India, South Africa and Turkey.
This means that vaccinated passengers travelling
from these non-red list places will only need to take a day two test upon
arrival in England – just like returning, fully-vaccinated UK residents.
Those without authorised vaccines arriving from a
‘rest of world’ destination must still take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and
day 8 test, and complete 10 days of self-isolation.
·
You can find more more about the new rules here.
Changes to testing requirements
This Thursday’s announcement also confirmed that
fully vaccinated passengers, including under 18s returning from a rest of world
country, will have the option to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper
lateral flow test, followed by a free PCR test if positive.
However the government are yet to give a date this
new rule will be in place. They have said it will be some time in ‘late
October.’
The government also confirmed passengers taking
postal tests will be able to send a picture of their lateral flow test to give
their test result. Until now tests have had to be sent in the post.
They said they ‘hope to have this in place for
people returning from half-term breaks by the end of the month.’
Foreign Office drops warning for 32 countries
Prior to today’s update, the UK Foreign Office
(FCDO) dropped its advice against all but essential travel to 32 countries and
territories.
In a move to streamline its pandemic travel regime,
the FCDO will no longer be advising against travel to non-red list countries on
the grounds of COVID-19 risks.
Previously, countries including Algeria,
Bangladesh, Ghana and Malaysia were on the Foreign Office’s “no-go” list,
despite being safe destinations according to the Department of Travel.
Foreign minister Liz Truss said the government is
“striking the right balance between keeping people safe which remains our
priority and giving them the freedom to exercise personal responsibility, while
supporting the travel sector.”
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