From 11 October, the United Kingdom will reduce the red list to 7 countries and proof of vaccination will be recognized from 37 new countries and territories.
The UK government on October 7 confirmed that from 4 am Monday 11 October, 47 countries and territories will be removed from its red list, making it easier for more people to travel abroad to a larger number of countries and territories. Passengers returning to England from these destinations will no longer be required to enter hotel quarantine.
The red list continues to list 7 destinations: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The continued progress on vaccination both at home and around the world means the government can confidently reduce the size of the red list to focus on countries which pose the highest risk, informed by UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) assessment.
Eligible fully vaccinated passengers and eligible under 18s returning from countries and territories not on the red list, can do so with just a day 2 test.
Other passengers who are not fully vaccinated with an authorized vaccine returning from a non-red destination must still take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 test and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of Test to Release on day 5).
Also announced that, from 4 am Monday 11 October, eligible travelers vaccinated in over 37 new countries and territories including Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey, will also be treated the same as returning fully vaccinated UK residents, so long as they have not visited a red list country or territory in the 10 days before arriving in England.
Countries with approved COVID-19 proof of vaccination.
Passengers who are not eligible travelers with an authorized vaccine arriving from the rest of the world destinations must still take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 test, and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of Test to Release on day 5).
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, “With half-term and winter sun around the corner, we’re making it easier for families and loved ones to reunite, by significantly cutting the number of destinations on the red list, thanks in part to the increased vaccination efforts around the globe.
Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy and levelling up this country. With less restrictions and more people traveling, we can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said, “Our robust border measures have helped protect the phenomenal progress of our vaccination programme, and it is because of this success both here and around the world that we can safely open up travel further and we can visit friends and family abroad.
We’re now making it easier and cheaper for people to travel by allowing fully vaccinated travellers from non-red list countries to use lateral flow tests on day 2 of arrival, as long as they provide proof of use.”
