The exciting news many of us have been waiting for means that from July 19th 2021, the amber list of countries will be open for quarantine-free holidays once a double-vaccination has been received. There’s also great news for families, as children under 18 years also won’t need to isolate on return.
I know many of you, have been longing for a much-deserved getaway, and to finally feel the true sense of freedom and relaxation that only a holiday can bring. I am hoping to travel in the next month or so with my family and personally can’t wait!
If you are ready to do the same, there’s never been a better time than now. Demand is set to be high, so if you have plans to travel to some of the most popular amber destinations, or anywhere on the green list, we recommend acting fast to secure your holiday.
We also understand that some may still feel a little unsure about travelling. So, our Travel Experts will be by your side every step of the way. We’ll offer updates on both UK and destination entry requirements, along with helping find PCR test providers in resort, so all you need to do is relax and let us take care of everything else. And remember, we use providers that have good booking guarantees if things needs to be changed!
We hope to speak with you soon and below are deatils of the latest announcment and an update of each green, amber and red list.
Best wishes
Andrew
GOVT CONFIRMS QUARANTINE EXEMPTION FOR VACCINATED AMBER ARRIVALS
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to quarantine when returning to England from countries on the amber list, with the new rules set to take effect from 19 July.
Shapps, addressing the House of Commons on Thursday (8 July), also told MPs fully vaccinated people would still be required to take tests upon their return to the UK from amber countries.
The rules currently stipulate amber list arrivals must take a pre-departure test, and then two more expensive PCR tests on days two and eight of their return. But the day eight test will no longer be required from 19 July. People are regarded as being fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received their final jab.
Children, who have not been vaccinated against the virus, will also not have to quarantine when returning from amber countries, although they will also have to take Covid-19 tests. This will apply to all children regardless of whether they are travelling with adults or not.
Shapps said children aged between five and 10 will only have to take a day two test, and children aged four and under will continue to be exempt from all testing and quarantine requirements.
He also said that the government would drop its advice against travelling to amber-list countries from 19 July. But the current rules on returning from red-list countries will remain.
“I can confirm from 19 July UK residents who are fully vaccinated through the UK vaccine roll out will no longer have to self-isolate when they return to England,” said Shapps during his announcement.
He added that the move meant “requirements for green and amber-list countries are the same” for fully vaccinated passengers from 19 July.
Those returning from countries on the green list will also have to continue taking PCR tests on day two of their return, despite many claims that these are “unnecessary” and have not resulted in any positive cases.
“The measures are designed to ensure we can continue to minimise the risk of new variants,” added Shapps. “The government will not hesitate to act if the data signifies that needs to happen. 19 July marks the next step to this cautious reopening of travel.”
Shapps said that PCR tests were “more accurate and can also be more quickly sequenced for genomes”, when asked why the government was continuing to insist on travellers taking this type of test.
The government is expected to announce its next update on the traffic light system next week. The last update saw Malta added to England’s green list, while Spain’s Balearic islands, Madeira and several Caribbean destinations were added to the country’s green watchlist.
Shapps said there would be a further review of testing and quarantine rules for international travel on 31 July.
Here is the updated green list
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Balearic Islands (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca)
Barbados
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Grenada
Iceland
Israel and Jerusalem
Madeira
Malta
Montserrat
New Zealand
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
Singapore
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Turks and Caicos Islands
The lists can be amended at any time, but the next formal review is expected in three weeks.
Here is the updated amber list
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
The Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece (including islands)
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar (Burma)
Nauru
Netherlands
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
The Occupied Palestinian Territories
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Portugal (except Madeira, which is on the ‘green list’)
Réunion
Romania
Russia
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain (except the Balearic Islands, which are on the ‘green list’)
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Martin and St Barthélemy
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United States
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
The lists can be amended at any time, but the next formal review is expected in three weeks.
Here is the updated red list
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Guyana
Haiti
India
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Maldives
Mongolia
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
