The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice currently advises against non-essential travel, however you are permitted to internationally travel to certain places. It is recommended before any travel you conduct research to understand the associated restrictions and identified risks in order to make an informed decision.

The UK GOV website current advice is to avoid countries on the UK’s red or amber list where possible. In addition to the advice from UK GOV, it is necessary to understand the rules of the country you intend to visit. Some green list countries still ban travel from international travellers.

Questions to consider when travelling

1. Does the UK GOV recommend me to avoid the country?
   2. What test evidence do I need to present when I leave?
   3. Will I be able to get travel insurance?
   4. Will my travel insurance become invalid if the country I visit changes to being on the red list during my visit?
   5. Will the country I intend to visit let me in; do they have restrictions?
   6. What will I need to do on my return?

Advice is as of 2 June 2021, consideration should be given to the following guidelines prior to planning a foreign trip with particular attention paid to the arrival rules for your destination country and its categorisation of arrivals from the UK.

GREEN LIST (current green list countries can be found here*)

Visiting green list countries from the UK

1. Some green list countries have banned international travellers. For updates, please click here.
   Australia, New Zealand, Falkland Islands, Singapore, Brunei and Faroe Islands have all closed their borders.
2. Other countries do not require quarantining if you have proof of a negative test result, these include:
   a. Gibraltar: no quarantine required.
   b. Israel: no quarantine required.
   c. Portugal, the Azores and Madeira: no quarantine required if you have proof of a negative test result or have been vaccinated.

*News sources are anticipating an updated green list imminently, effective from Monday 7th June the announcement is expected this afternoon 3rd May. The most recently updated list should be consulted and will be available on GOV.UK and news websites.

Returning from a green list country to the UK

1. You must take a COVID-19 test within three days prior to returning to the UK.
   a. Information regarding test providers in destination countries can be found here.
   b. Provide supporting documentation via email, text or printed document.
   i. No supporting documentation may prevent you from boarding the plane.
   ii. Fines of £500 are issued to those arriving in England without supporting documentation.
2. Book and pay for 1 COVID-19 test prior to your arrival in England
   a. COVID-19 test must be taken within two days of arriving in the UK.
   b. You only need to quarantine if the test is positive, or you have been informed to do so by the NHS Track & Trace app.
3. Complete a passenger location form per the guidelines above.

RED LIST (current red list countries can be found here)

Visiting red list countries from the UK

Most countries on the UK’s red list, such as India or Peru, have suspended unnecessary travel and/or require quarantine or rigorous health checks on arrival. Some do not permit entry for travellers from the UK and the destination’s entry restrictions and lockdown requirements should be thoroughly checked prior to booking a flight.

Returning from a red list country to the UK

Currently Only British or Irish nationals are allowed to return from red list countries

1. You must take a COVID-19 test within three days prior to returning to the UK.
   a. Information regarding test providers in destination countries can be found here.
   b. Provide supporting documentation via email, text or printed document.
   i. Having no supporting documentation may prevent you from boarding the plane.
   ii. Fines of £500 are issued to those arriving in England without supporting documentation.
2. Book a hotel quarantine package (this must include two COVID-19 tests) prior to your arrival in England.
   a. Any traveller arriving from a red list country must quarantine for 10 days.
   i. The day of your arrival counts as ‘day zero’.
   b. COVID-19 tests must be taken within two days of arriving and on or after day eight of quarantine.
   c. Breaking quarantine rules or providing false information can see fines imposed of up to £10,000 or a prison sentence of up to ten years.
3. Complete a passenger locator form using the following information:
   a. your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border
   b. your travel details, including times and dates
   c. the address where you will stay in the UK (if applicable)
   d. booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK
   e. the invoice number for your quarantine hotel booking if you need one
   f. If you’re arriving in England and using Test to Release (early exit from quarantine), you’ll also need the name of the test provider you booked with.

AMBER LIST (current amber list countries can be found here)

Visiting amber list countries from the UK

1. Most countries (including the US and Greece) on the UK’s amber list do not require you to quarantine but do insist on proof of a negative PCR test seventy-two hours prior to travel and/or vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19.
2. Spain does not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test from UK arrivals however hotels etc. will require this prior to checking in and any travel to Spanish islands will also require a proof of a negative test result prior to departing the mainland.
3. France is currently only allowing arrivals from the UK for EU citizens and French nationals, and proof of residency must be provided.

Returning from an amber list country to the UK

1. You must take a COVID-19 test within three days prior to returning to the UK
   a. Information regarding test providers in destination countries can be found here.
   b. Provide supporting documentation via email, text or printed document.
   i. No supporting documentation may prevent you from boarding the plane.
   ii. Fines of £500 are issued to those arriving in England without supporting documentation.
2. Quarantine at home or in the place where you are staying for ten days.
   a. Breaking quarantine rules or providing false information can see fines imposed of up to £10,000 or a prison sentence of up to ten years.
3. Book and pay for two COVID-19 tests prior to your arrival in England.
   a. COVID-19 tests must be taken within two days of arriving and on or after day eight of quarantine
4. Complete a passenger location form per the guidelines above.