Travel restrictions now exist when you travel internationally. The current travel restrictions are there to keep everyone safe while allowing the travel industry and the world to slowly open up again.
The UK government has a new simplified system for international travel, which replaces the traffic light system. However, we still need to respect and follow the travel rules and restrictions set by each country.
Travel Restrictions by Country
The majority of popular holiday destinations now appear on the safe or non-red countries list, which gives us an idea of where we can travel once we’re fully vaccinated.
From 4 am on Monday 4th October, the amber and green lists merged together to become one safe list.
To put all of the information in one place we’ve created the table below. If your chosen destination is not on the table, it’s likely they aren’t allowing visitors from the UK just yet. Please refer to the UK Foreign Travel Advice web page, to find the country’s travel rules before visiting it.
- Country
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- (including islands)Greece
- The NetherlandsHolland
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malta
- Including the AzoresPortugal
- (including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca)Spain
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- UK travel list
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- The archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are on the green listnon-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- non-red list country
- FCDO Advice
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- OK to travel
- Travel Restrictions
- • Unvaccinated visitors need to must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure then quarantine for 10 days upon entering.
• Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates don't need to quarantine. - • Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departing. Then quarantine for 10 days upon entering.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only require an approved vaccination certificate. - • All visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departing.
• Unvaccinated visitors need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
• Fully vaccinated visitors need an approved vaccination certificate to avoid quarantine. - Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative Antigen (quick-test) test result, taken 48 hours before departure.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only require an approved vaccination certificate. - • Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure. They'll also need to quarantine for 14 days
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They require an approved vaccination certificate. - If you can visit you'll need to quarantine for 10 days upon entering, after presenting a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) or Antigen (quick-test) test taken less than 24 hours before departure.• Currently, most visitors from the UK won't be allowed to visit.
- • Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) or Antigen test taken 48 hours before departure. Then quarantine for 10 days.
• Fully vaccinated travellers must present proof of vaccination or recovery, before entering. - Vaccinated visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 48 hours before departure. Then quarantine for 5 days.
• Fully vaccinated visitors require an approved vaccination certificate. - On arrival, they will be subject to random rapid tests. If they test positive, they’ll have to quarantine for 10 days. Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors from the age of five need to produce a negative antigen or PCR test. Antigen tests must be taken no more than 24 hours before arrival and PCRs no more than 72 hours earlier.
- The isolation period can be shortened Travelers can take a test on day 5 and end quarantine earlier with negative test results.• All visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) or Antigen (quick-test) test.
• The RT-PCR (NAAT) test must be taken 48 hours before departure. The Antigen (quick-test) must be taken 24 hours before departure.
• Unvaccinated visitors need to quarantine for 10 days upon entering. - • Visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure.
• Unvaccinated visitors need to quarantine for 5 days.
• Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates do not need to quarantine. - • Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure. Then quarantine for 14 days upon entering.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only require an approved vaccination certificate. - • Visitors must present a negative Antigen (quick-test) test taken 48 hours before departure.
• Unvaccinated visitors to quarantine for 5 days.
• Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates do not need to quarantine. - Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only need an approved vaccination certificate. - Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only require an approved vaccination certificate. - Vaccinated visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated visitors from UK will not be allowed to enter Spain.
• Fully vaccinated visitors can enter without restrictions. They only require an approved vaccination certificate. - Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering.• Unvaccinated travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test 4-7 days after arrival. The result of the second test must be reported to the canton for a maximum of 2 days..
• Fully vaccinated visitors Visitors must provide a negative antigen test taken up to 24 hours before arrival. However, visitors can still chose to provide a negative PCR taken within 72 hours. - Visitors are not required to quarantine after entering Turkey.• Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departing.
• Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates do not need to present a negative COVID-19 test.
What Countries Are We Advised Not Travel To?
We’re advised not to travel to countries or territories that appear on the red list by The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
It’s still important that we check the travel restrictions and entry requirements of our chosen destination, to ensure entry is permitted before our departure. Also, on our return, we must continue to follow the UK’s travel rules. To travel with confidence, follow our safe travel advice.
The UK’s travel restrictions to countries on the red list
Before you arrive in England from a country on the red list, you must:
- Take a COVID-19 test, which must be taken two days before you travel to England.
- Book a quarantine hotel package to include two COVID-19 tests
- Complete a passenger locator form
When you arrive in England from a country on the red list, you must:
- Quarantine in a managed hotel
- Take your two COVID-19 tests
You must do all these steps if you’re fully vaccinated or not.
Moving forward, the red list and quarantine hotels will continue to operate as this is the UK’s first defense against incoming variants of concern (VOC). This is being reviewed every three weeks.
Flying and Airline Travel Restrictions
Always check with your airline to note their air travel restrictions. Depending on the airline, going on a flight will continue to differ from a flight pre-pandemic. As well as the usual flight restrictions we have to follow, such as keeping an eye on our liquid and luggage weight limits, there are measures for Coronavirus, such as wearing a face mask on-board.
Due to emerging evidence on the Omicron variant, from 4 am on Tuesday 7 December people aged 12 and above travelling back to the UK will need to show a negative pre-departure test (LFD or PCR), as close as possible to departure and no more than 48 hours beforehand. This is to slow the importation of the new variant.
When Will Travel Restrictions Be Lifted?
Coronavirus has had a huge impact on the travel industry across the world and will do so for some time. How we move today and in the future will be different.
Each country has put restrictions in place, based upon the country’s risk tolerance, vaccination rollouts, as well as the progression and mutation of the virus. Although travel is possible, we must follow travel restrictions to keep safe. In turn, they should help all of us to travel with peace of mind. Wherever we may be and whoever we travel with.
For even more peace of mind…
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Although travel is only permitted to non-red listed countries. There’s no UK law that can stop you from visiting a country on the red list. If you’re fully vaccinated you may have more freedom. Either way, always follow the rules and travel restrictions of the country you’re visiting.
However, to give everyone in your party the confidence to travel take Free Spirit Travel Insurance along for an international escape too! With Coronavirus Cover included, you’ll all be able to relax throughout a long-awaited break.