Some are calling today “Freedom day” in England, as restrictions are being lifted left, right and centre. However, for travellers, there is a major change starting at 04:00 today – and it involves the countries on the Amber List.
Freedom to travel? Freedom to return? Maybe.
From 04:00, 19th of July (today), fully vaccinated UK residents arriving from amber travel list destinations will no longer have to quarantine (with an exception of France).
When you return to the United Kingdom, you will need to:
- Take a pre-departure test before returning to the UK
- Declare that you have been fully vaccinated on your passenger locator form
- Show proof of your vaccination status to your carrier (ferry, airline or train) when you travel
- Book and take a day 2 test on or before day 2 after you arrive
- You no longer need to quarantine.
- You will no longer need to take a day 8 test.
A fully vaccinated person has been deemed a person who has had a full course of COVID-19 vaccination treatment and 14 days has passed since it was completed. It’s also important to bear in mind that this measure is for those who have been vaccinated in the United Kingdom.
Under 18’s will not need to self-isolate when returning from an Amber List Country.
No information has been giving about non-UK Nationals who are entering the country from an Amber list destination. Hopefully, the UK can extend the same rules to visitors – allowing for inbound tourism and visitors.
For vaccinated travellers, this essentially makes the green and amber list the same, other than an extended testing requirement.
For those not fully vaccinated you returning from an Amber list country, they will have to:
- Take a pre-departure test before returning to the UK
- Take a day 2 test on or before day 2 after they arrive
- Quarantine for 10 days
- Take a day 8 test
- You can be released earlier if you take a day 5 test and it’s negative via the “Test to Release programme”.
It goes without saying but you cannot use NHS Test and Trace services for Day 2 or Day 8 testing – or use an NHS Antigen test. You must use a private test.
The UK government’s traffic light system for travel applies to England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland able to make their own rules – again, it will be your responsibility to check before you travel, both outbound and inbound.
Change will happen. And it already has
It goes without saying, that a Green or Amber country could turn red at any time, and you will need to keep an eye on your travels. This has already happened, with France being moved into what can be described as an “Amber Watchlist“, where arrivals will have to follow the standard Amber list procedure of self-isolating upon arrival.
Short notice changes like this are going to be a thing – like it or not.
And there’s not a lot you can do about it sadly.
Green, Amber and Red List Changes go through too
There are a number of changes to the Green/Amber/Red Lists too. I’ve cover them in another post, however for convenience sake:
Green List
- Bulgaria – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bulgaria
- Hong Kong – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hong-kong
Green Watchlist
- Croatia – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/croatia
- Taiwan – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/taiwan
No Quarantine or Self-Isolation is required on arrival from Green List or Green Watch List countries, although you will need to test and complete paperwork.
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
- France – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france
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.
Just because you can travel to a country, they don’t have to let you in
Don’t rush through just yet…
Certain countries have imposed restrictions on entry from the United Kingdom – for example, Bulgaria has banned all non-nationals travelling from the UK to Bulgaria. Other countries have their border shut to most visitors.
If you are considering travelling, you will have to check if the county you wants to head to will allow you in, what quarantine and testing rules there are as well as monitoring the return requirements back to England.
For most of you, keeping an eye on the Government’s Travel Advice site could be a very good idea if you have travel plans.
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