Information up to date as of 12th July 2021
Charitable Travel endeavours to update this page every three weeks, as the government announces their updates, however for the most up-to-date, reliable information relating to specific countries please visit the FCDO website.
On this page you will find information on the Travel Traffic Light system, a live feed of Travel updates from the FCDO below and suggested information and websites for Travel Insurance, Legal Questions and Testing.
Alternatively please visit the FCDO Travel Advice website for current details for all international travel.
Coronavirus Traffic Light Travel Restrictions
International travel can take place from 17 May, and the traffic light system has been revealed. Destinations are categorised into red, amber and green lists based on a range of Covid-19 health metrics, including vaccination numbers, infection rates and how prevalent variants are. The different colours assigned, indicate the level of risk in each destination and define which tests and what period of quarantine is required.
The government has advised that countries will move in and out of the different traffic light colours depending on changes in that destination. To reduce the impact of the advice changing, the government plans to update the lists every three weeks, however the government has also warned that it will not ‘hesitate to act immediately should data show countries’ risk ratings have changed.’
For full Traffic Light information please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england
The Green List
Green List Destinations are approved for travel for leisure. Passengers will not need to quarantine on return*, but must take a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR test to return to the UK. This must be an approved, private test and cannot be an NHS test.
Important
Before booking, you need to ensure you are aware of the country you are travelling to’s entry requirements. For example, New Zealand is on the Green List however New Zealand is not permitting entry to the country.
Travel restrictions may differ depending on the country within the UK. Click the buttons below for more accurate information
Australia
Brunei
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Iceland
Israel and Jerusalem
New Zealand
Singapore
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha
Countries on the Green 'watchlist' (at risk of being moved from Green to Amber)
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Malta
Montserrat
Madeira (Portugal & the Azores remain on the Amber List)
The Balearic Islands (Spain & the Canary Islands remain on the amber list.)
Turks and Caicos
The Amber List
Amber List Destinations are not approved for travel for leisure, though this is not legislated. Passengers will need to quarantine at home for 10 days, as well as taking a pre-departure test before return to the UK, and two PCR tests on day 2 and day upon their return to the UK. You do have the option to Test to Release on day 5. All tests must be an approved, private test and cannot be an NHS test.
What you must do before you travel:
- Take a Covid-19 test an get a negative result during the 3 days before you travel
- Book and pay for 2 x Covid-19 travel tests to be taken on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of your quarantine
- Complete a passenger locator form with details of where you will home quarantine when you arrive and the booking reference number of the your day 2 and day 8 travel tests
Find a day 2 and day 8 travel test provider >
The FCDO advise and amber list countries may not always align. For example the FCDO currently says it’s safe to travel to the Canary Islands, but the Canaries are on the amber list. If the FCDO advises against travel to a country, your insurance may be invalidated.
Important
Before booking, you need to ensure you are aware of the country you are travelling to’s entry requirements. For example, New Zealand is on the Green List however New Zealand is not permitting entry to the country.
This amber list is not exhaustive. If a country or territory is not on this list, you should not assume that this is a green or red list country. Countries and territories are only green or red if they appear on the green or red list.
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Belgium
Belize
Bhutan
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
China
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guadeloupe
Hong Kong
Hungary
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Macao
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Portugal (including the Azores)
Romania
Russia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain (including the Canary Islands)
Sri Lanka
St Lucia
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
United States (USA)
Vietnam
Western Sahara
Yemen
The Red List
Red List Destinations are not approved for travel for leisure. Passengers will need to quarantine for 10 days in government managed hotels which cost upwards of £1,750 per person, as well as taking a pre-departure test before returning to the UK, and two PCR tests on day 2 and day 8 upon their return to the UK. All tests must be an approved, private test and cannot be an NHS test.
What you must do before you travel:
- Take a Covid-19 test an get a negative result during the 3 days before you travel
- Book a managed quarantine hotel within a 14-day period before arrival. The booking will include your hotel, quarantine transport and travel tests for Covid-19 tests on day 2 and day 8 of quarantine
- Complete a passenger locator form with details of where you will quarantine when you arrive. You must provide a quarantine package invoice number to complete your passenger locator form
You will need to agree to book and pay for a quarantine package before you complete your passenger locator form and board your return journey to the UK.
The FCDO advise and red list countries may not always align. For example the FCDO currently says it’s safe to travel to the Canary Islands, but the Canaries are on the amber list. If the FCDO advises against travel to a country, your insurance may be invalidated.
If you are in a destination which is added to the red list, you may need to pay for a flight to get home before the change takes place, or you will have to pay for hotel quarantine.
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
French Guiana
Guyana
Haiti
India
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Maldives
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Phillipines
Qatar
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uganda
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
FCDO Travel Advice – Subject to ongoing change
- Papua New Guinea June 9, 2023Updated information on Crime ('Safety and security' page).GOV.UK
- USA June 8, 2023Additional information on the poor air quality across parts of the East Coast of the USA ('Summary' page).GOV.UK
- France June 8, 2023Information on an attack in Annecy, South East France (‘Summary’ page)GOV.UK
- Senegal June 8, 2023Further information on political demonstrations in Dakar and other cities ('Safety and security' page).GOV.UK
- Mexico June 8, 2023The alert level at Popocatépetl was decreased to Level 2 ('Natural disasters' page).GOV.UK
Testing before you travel
Before you travel you must have proof of a negative coronavirus Covid-19 test to travel to England. You must take a test even if you have been vaccinated, are travelling from a country on the green list and regardless of whether you a UK citizen or not. This test must be taken in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive, departs.
If your test result is positive, you must not travel. If your result is inconclusive, you must take another test.
Your test result can be a printed document or an email/text message that you can show on your phone – ensure your device is fully charged. If you do not present proof of a negative test, you may not be able to board your return transport. If you arrive without proof of a negative test, you could be fined £500.
You will need to find a private test provider to take a test. You can find advice and information on providers of tests in destinations on the FCDO travel advice pages for specific destinations.
NHS tests cannot be used for the purpose of pre-departure testing before travel to England. You cannot take an NHS test abroad with you to use before you return.
You must ensure that the test provide you choice meets the standards for pre-departure testing. The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
This could include tests such as:
- Nucleic acid test, including a PCR test or derivative technologies
- Antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device.
It is your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards. You must check with your test provider that it meets these standards and ensure you get the right test. Children under 11 do not need to take a test. See a full list of exemptions for the pre-departure test here.
You must also complete a passenger locator form before you travel to England.
For full Traffic Light information please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england
Insurance
Looking at taking out Covid-19 insurance?
Discover Holiday Extras Enhanced Covid cover. For more information, or to purchase please click here.
The FCDO advise and Traffic Light categorised countries may not always align. For example the FCDO currently says it’s safe to travel to the Canary Islands, but the Canaries are on the amber list. If the FCDO advises against travel to a country, your insurance may be invalidated.
Charitable Travel do not sell or advise on insurance matters or policies.
Legal queries? If you are unsure of your rights, or wish to find out further legal information regarding the Covid-19 travel restrictions we recommend visiting TravLaw.co.uk to access their helpful PDF guidance or speak directly to a solicitor.
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