It’s time for the usual game of “what madness is this government on, with the latest changes to the Green, Amber and Red Lists.
Let’s dive straight into the country and regions
Green List
- Bulgaria – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bulgaria
- Hong Kong – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hong-kong
No Quarantine or Self-Isolation is required on arrival from Green List countries, although you will need to test and complete paperwork.
Green Watchlist
- Croatia – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/croatia
- Taiwan – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/taiwan
Green Watchlist countries are those that could move quickly from Green to Amber. These go into effect on 4 am Monday 19 July
Amber
- Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Formentera (Spain – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain).
- The British Virgin Islands – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/british-virgin-islands
These countries form the green watchlist to amber. This change occurs from 4 am Monday 19 July
Red
- Cuba – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba
- Indonesia – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
- Myanmar – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/myanmar
- Sierra Leone – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sierra-leone
These will be added to the red list from 4 am Monday 19 July.
Visitors who have departed from or transited through these countries and territories in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights (including long-term visa holders), will be allowed to enter and must stay in a government-approved facility for 10 days.
Coming to the UK? Test, Paperwork and Test.
Before travelling to England, everyone needs to take a pre-departure test and complete a passenger locator form regardless of where they are coming from.
If arriving from a green list destination you will also be required to take a day 2 PCR test.
Arrivals from amber list countries and territories who are not fully vaccinated will need a day 2 and day 8 test, and to quarantine for 10 days. The Test to Release scheme remains an option for non-fully vaccinated travellers returning from amber countries and territories to shorten their quarantine period.
For Red List countries, see above.
So, why is the list early?
It seems the main reason for this list is that this will coincide with the changes to the requirements for passengers travelling to amber countries who have been fully vaccinated.
From 19 July the following groups will no longer need to quarantine or take a day 8 PCR test if arriving from amber countries and territories, but will still need to complete a pre-departure test before arrival into England, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival:
- fully vaccinated through the UK vaccination programme
- on a formally approved COVID-19 clinical trial in the UK
- people aged under 18 and resident in the UK
Note, visitors to the UK from Amber List Countries will need to go through the longer self-isolation requirement.
Expect further waits
As travel opens up, expect waits longer wait times than you have used to encounter. HM Government says is making every effort to speed up queues safely (although from some of the queue pictures I’ve seen, I would debate that point).
The Government is also planning to roll out further e-gates over the summer. There are some in operation at the moment, with more to be added over the coming months.
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