Photo credit and meriç tuna
England's traffic light system explained
England's traffic light system was introduced to provide a framework under which overseas travel could restart. It aimed to eliminate the chaos caused by short-notice travel bans seen in 2020, but it hasn't made a great start...
How does the traffic light system work?
The green, amber and red lists tell you what the requirements are when you return to England. There are separate rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The requirements you might face on arriving at your holiday destination are different, so you'll need to check what that country requires. For example, Portugal currently requires you to take a simple lateral-flow test on arrival. Italy currently requires you to self-isolate for 5 days. The Foreign Office website has an updated list of entry requirements for all countries.
The green, amber and red lists requirements are as follows:
Green: Travellers must take a test before returning home. On arriving back home in England, they must take a PCR test on or before day two of arrival which must be pre-booked before your holiday. Holidaymakers who test negative will not need to quarantine on their return or take any additional tests.
Amber: Travellers must take a test before returning home. On arrival in England, they must take a PCR test on day two and day eight, which must be pre-booked before your holiday. You must quarantine for ten days on arrival home. There is an option for “test to release†on day five to end self-isolation early, but will add the cost of another test to your package.
Red: Travellers must take a test before returning home. On arrival in England, they must stay in a managed quarantine hotel for ten days which should be booked before their trip. The stay will involve PCR testing on day two and day eight.
Tour operators and airlines will help you navigate entry and testing requirements. Testing packages are being offered at a discounted rate by all travel companies, so the process isn't as daunting as it might sound. There is also a very real hope that fully vaccinated status will remove many of the quarantine and testing requirements in the near future.
What countries are currently on the green list?
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia (Closed to UK tourists)
- Balearic islands (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca)
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Faroe Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Iceland
- Israel
- Madeira
- Malta
- New Zealand (Closed to UK tourists)
- Singapore (Closed to UK tourists)
- Turks and Caicos Islands
There are also a small number of other territories included; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. Being on the green list does not mean that British tourists can necessary visit these countries. Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are currently closed to anyone originating from the UK. Find holidays to green list countries here. See the Foreign Office website for the full list of countries and territories covered.
What countries are on the red list?
Some of the more popular destinations currently on the red list include:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Sri Lanka
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- India
- Kenya
- Maldives
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates (UAE including Dubai)
See the Foreign Office website for the full list of countries and territories covered.
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