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Date Published: 16/09/2021

ARCHIVED - UK traffic light travel system may be scrapped in coming review

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Government changes from October 1 could remove green and amber lists and make international travel easier for Brits

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - UK traffic light travel system may be scrapped in coming review

In a shakeup to Covid-19 travel restrictions by the UK government at an upcoming meeting on October 1, the green and amber categories of the traffic light system may be removed. Up until now, countries have been classified into red, amber or green depending on whether they are safe for British citizens to travel to but the government is expected to keep only the red list.

A new system will reportedly be put in place instead which will allow anyone who is vaccinated to come from countries with a similar level of vaccination as the UK without having to quarantine or self-isolate.

This will also mean that fully vaccinated Brits can travel come from countries like Spain, which is currently on the amber list, without having to do a Covid test. The red list would be maintained to restrict travel to the UK from countries without an advanced vaccination programme or with significant outbreaks of new coronavirus variants.

With the UK’s furlough scheme due to end on September 30, travel bosses want the changes to come in earlier than planned to facilitate international travel and allow employees in the tourist sector to get off furlough and back to work.

The tourist sector has already missed the big summer boom due to Covid travel restrictions, but supporters of a relaxation of the rules insist that travel overseas would pick up significantly in the autumn if the amber list is scrapped.

Passport validity rules have also changed for Brits in many countries, with visitors to Spain now needing at least 6 months left on their passport when they travel.

UK government ministers decide what countries should go on the green, amber and red lists based on advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), which studies the global Covid situation in real time. The lists are reviewed every three weeks.

No changes to the traffic light list system will be made until proposals are signed off by the UK’s Chief Scientific Officer and the Health Secretary. A government spokesperson said, “Decisions on our traffic light system are kept under regular review and are informed by the latest risk assessment from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and wider public health factors.”

Current UK travel rules until October 1

Rules for travelling from green list countries

When coming to the UK from countries on the green list – which as of August 30 has included Barbados, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Switzerland and the Azores – British travellers don’t have to self-isolate.

Rules for travelling from amber list countries

The vast majority of countries, including Spain, are currently on the amber list. Travellers who are fully vaccinated don’t have to self-isolate upon arrival in the UK when coming from amber list countries. People who don’t have their full vaccination must self-isolate for 10 days.

In order to fly, travellers currently need a negative PCR test within three days before their return from an amber country, and another negative PCR test two days after arriving. Over-18s who aren’t fully vaccinated also need an extra PCR test on or after day eight after their return. All passenger need to complete a passenger locator form when they enter the UK.

Under-18s do not have to self-isolate. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, under-11s don’t have need to do a PCR test before travelling across international borders, but do need to do a Covid test two days after they arrive. Under-5s are exempt from testing. The rules for Scotland are slightly different, with children over 12 having to take PCR tests before returning they travel and two days after they return.

Rules for travelling from red list countries

Red-list countries present the highest Covid risk and should not be visited “except in the most extreme of circumstances”. Only UK or Irish nationals or UK residents can enter the UK if they have been to a country on the red list in the last 10 days.

For people coming from countries on the red list, which will stay after the new rules are announced on October 1, must pay to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

These hotels for quarantining in the UK cost 2,285 pounds for 1 adult, 1,430 pounds for each additional adult, and 325 pounds per child between five and 11.

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