Looking to get back to your home country? Or planning a vacation to or from the United Kingdom but can’t find a country in UK’s Green List? No worries; We have got you covered!
The rules for international travel are constantly changing, and staying up-to-date before planning a foreign trip is extremely important. Due to the prevailing COVID-19 conditions, UK has a traffic light system for foreign travel.
It has added several countries to the amber, red and green list. They have classified the countries depending on the COVID-19 health metrics, infection rate, vaccinated people, and emerging variants.
All three of these lists are reviewed and updated every three weeks, and more countries are added or removed from the respective lists. This article is Wasteland Travel’s detailed guide about all the information you need to know before planning a holiday during the COVID pandemic.
GREEN LIST
People traveling from the UK’s green list countries do not require quarantine and can get to their destination without restrictions. If they test negative for COVID-19, they will not be required to self-isolate in any hotel.
RED LIST
People traveling from the UK’s red-listed countries have to pay a hefty amount ranging from £1,759 – £2,285 for self-isolation in any hotel on their return to the country.
AMBER LIST
People returning from amber list countries need to quarantine for ten days in their homes if they are not fully vaccinated. A pre-departure test is also mandatory if you travel to any amber list country, followed by a PCR test taken two days before returning to the United Kingdom.
GREEN LIST AND AMBER LIST – The Difference
If a person is fully vaccinated, there will be no difference in traveling to or from a green-listed or amber-listed country. Though all countries have different rules and procedures regarding vaccination status and COVID-19 safety measures, for British arrivals, double-vaccinated travelers must also take a test at least two days before returning to the country.
If you are planning a trip to or from the United Kingdom, you need to take a proper check before finalizing the tickets. United Kingdom has now added many more countries to the green list, as the risk of COVID-19 is declining in those countries with high vaccination rates.
And besides, many countries are being removed from the green list and added directly to the red list or marked temporarily under the green watchlist.
GREEN WATCHLIST
A green watchlist is a list in which countries from the green list are kept for a temporary observation and inspection. The British Government might move these countries to the amber list if the COVID-19 conditions do not seem to comply with the set of rules.
CAN I TRAVEL TO GREEN LIST COUNTRIES?
If you’re wondering whether you can travel to green list countries or not, then the short and sweet answer to this question is YES! You can easily travel to green-listed countries without the need for quarantine on your return. But even the trip to green list countries now comes with additional costs.
You need to take two tests; one before departure and the other before arrival to your home country. And these tests can cost over 100 British Pounds. Not only this, if on your return you test positive for the PCR test (explained below in detail), you will then be obligated to do Quarantine for 10-14 days.
Despite all these costs, green-listed countries are considered safe for travel, as the additional costs are not certain.
TESTS NEEDED TO VISIT A GREEN LISTED COUNTRY
The people going to or coming from the countries on the green list have to go through two tests. A pre-departure test is taken almost 72 hours before the traveler takes the flight. This test can be a lateral flow or a PCR test.
The other PCR test is taken 48 hours after the traveler arrives in the country. People testing negative for the tests are not required to do quarantine as per guidelines of the UK Government.
You need to make sure that you book the PCR tests through an approved Government provider because you do not want to face any hassle regarding these tests later on. Right?
GREEN LISTED COUNTRIES (COUNTRIES WITH QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL)
Every three weeks these lists are updated and a change of countries occurs. As of now following is a list of countries that are currently on the UK’s Green List.
- Australia
- Austria
- Azores, Portugal
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Romania
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES IN UK’S GREEN LIST
The overseas territories that are a part of the green list are:
- Ascension Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Besides the above countries, there are few more counties on the Green list, but now they have been added to Green Watchlist, which means that these countries might be shifted to the amber list anytime shortly.
COUNTIES ON UK’s GREEN WATCHLIST
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Croatia
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Israel
- Madeira, Portugal
- Taiwan
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES IN UK’S GREEN WATCHLIST
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Cayman Islands
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Apart from the UK’s requirements regarding foreign travel, there are requirements by other countries for travelers and visitors. Before considering a visit to a country on the Green list, you should review that all green list countries do not accept travelers. Countries like Australia, Bulgaria, and New Zealand are currently closed for all British arrivals.
WRAP UP!
Before considering a foreign trip, the first thing you need to ensure is that you are double-vaccinated. Traveling from the UK, you can use the NHS app to verify your vaccination. However, it must be kept in mind that not all countries accept the NHS app verification.
Some countries require COVID test results in other evidence. And you should keep in view the demands and restrictions of the country you are traveling to. It is better to get your vaccination certificate (issued by the local health board) in hand before making foreign travel.
For more information be sure to check out government updates here! Or should you wish to have a mini vacay in London check out our latest post: Wasteland Travel: 10 Most Incredible Travel Destinations in the UK.
