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Remaining seven countries now removed from the red list

Written by Eleanor Gaywood | 02-Nov-2021 14:36:40

As of 4 am on the 1st of November, all countries are removed from the travel red list, reports Currensea the UK's best rated travel debit card

However, you may want to hold off on booking your long-awaited trip to the Dominican Republic - the government has said that they won’t be scrapping the list entirely just yet. The quarantine hotels will still be operating and the risk of travel will be assessed every three weeks. 

Even better news: a further 30 destinations have been added to the list of locations with approved vaccination programmes. This means that those who received their vaccination at any of these locations won’t have to quarantine at home upon their arrival to the UK. 

What does this mean for travellers?

In simple terms, for the time being, travellers don’t need to worry about the risk of hotel quarantine upon arrival to the UK regardless of where they have been. It is worth bearing in mind that the risk of COVID is assessed every three weeks, so the rules could change at the last minute. 

The increase of the list of countries and territories means that upon arrival in the UK even more travellers will not  have to worry about quarantining at home. If your destination or vaccination type doesn’t appear on the list, you will need to follow the rules for people who do not qualify as fully vaccinated. 

It is important to check local requirements at your desired travel location to make sure that they are allowing visitors from the UK. Hotel quarantine still exists in a number of locations, so be sure to check local guidelines to avoid nasty surprises. 

What tests do you need?

If you are fully vaccinated 

Before travelling back to England you must:

  • Book and pay for a COVID-19 test to be taken before the end of day 2 in England - this could be either a PCR or lateral flow test 
  • Complete a passenger locator form - to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England 

 

Your COVID test reference number is required when completing your passenger locator form, so even if you are in England for less than two days, you will still need to book a COVID test. 

You won’t be required to quarantine upon arrival in the UK.

If you are not fully vaccinated 

The rules are slightly different if you do not qualify as fully vaccinated. 

Before  travelling back to England you must:

  • Take a COVID-19 test - to be taken in the 3 days before you travel to England 
  • Book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 PCR tests - to be taken after arrival in England 
  • Complete a passenger locator form - to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England 

 

Upon arrival in the UK, you must quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 full days. If you are in England for less than 10 days, you will still be required to book the tests and to quarantine, but you only have to take the day 2 and 8 tests if you are still in England on those days.