Latest update on COVID-19 travel restrictions to UK for September 2021

With the COVID-19 epidemic slowing yet continuing to affect travel around the world, many countries—including the United Kingdom—maintain travel restrictions on international arrivals. Today’s blog will present an overview of the latest travel restrictions to the UK for September 2021. Keep reading for everything you need to know about travel to the UK during Covid-19, including an overview of the country’s traffic light system review, the difference between Green-list countries and Amber-list countries, and how to book a managed quarantine service. All this, plus additional UK coronavirus travel advice, below.

Travel restrictions to the UK for September 2021

• The UK continues to apply restrictions to travelers depending on where they are arriving from. In what is called the “Traffic Light System” countries are placed on one of three lists: Green, Amber, or Red. Green list countries are those whose travelers are subject to the weakest restrictions on UK entry (because countries on the Green list are those which are deemed the least affected by COVID—relative to Amber and Red list states). Amber list countries are middle tier, while Red list countries are considered to pose the greatest threat to the global spread of COVID-19. (Please note that the UK Traffic light system review is expected to take place soon, which could result in extant travel restrictions could ultimately be eased).  
• Some countries—including the UK— allow vaccinated individuals to avoid certain travel restrictions. Travelers who are completely vaccinated prior to arriving in the UK may be able to avoid some of the most legal coronavirus restrictions, depending on what country they are arriving from (see below for more information on UK traveling when vaccinated vs. unvaccinated). 
• In principle, British and Irish citizens as well as anyone who has residency rights in the UK are allowed to return to the UK from abroad, regardless of what country they are arriving from (in this sense, any UK travel bans effectively do not apply to UK citizens/residents). However, the entry of all individuals, regardless of their nationality/status, is subject to their respective adherence to the various travel entry restrictions outlined below. 
• Please note that often different UK restrictions and rules apply to mainland countries versus island territories. For example, at the moment, mainland Portugal is on the UK Amber list, whereas the Portuguese territories of the Azores and Madeira are on the Green list. 
• Finally, keep in mind that entry restrictions vary across the United Kingdom. If you are trying to travel to the UK during Covid-19, and you are planning to enter the country from somewhere other than England, please contact us for the specific rules in place for your destination (i.e. for other UK traveling including to Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). 

Green List

• The below countries and territories are Green List
  • Anguilla, Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Australia, The Azores, Barbados, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel and Jerusalem, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madeira, Malta, Montserrat, New Zealand, Norway, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turks and Caicos Islands
• If you are arriving from one of the above Green List countries (or you have spent any time in one of the above countries within 10 days of when you intend to arrive in the UK) the following UK restrictions and rules will apply to you:     
  • Submission of passenger locator form. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing 3 days prior to your UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing two days post-UK arrival. 

Amber List

• The below countries and territories are Amber List
  • Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, India , Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Martin and St Barthélemy, St Pierre and Miquelon, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Western Sahara
• If you are arriving from one of the above Amber list countries (or you have spent any time in one of the above countries within 10 days of when you intend to arrive in the UK) the following UK restrictions and rules will apply to you: 
  • Submission of passenger locator form. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing 3 days prior to your UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing two days post-UK arrival. 
• Please note that if you are vaccinated, you will not be subject to additional restrictions outside of those mentioned above. However, if you are not vaccinated, you will also be subject to the following additional restrictions: 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing eight days post-UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory 10-day self-isolation post-UK arrival. 

Red List

• The below countries are Red list.
  • Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Georgia, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mayotte, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Because travelers arriving from Red-list countries are considered to pose the greatest risk to the spread of COVID-19 in the UK, England has also imposed what is effectively a travel ban on arrivals from Red list countries (as well as on people who spent time in a Red list country 10 days before arriving in England). In principle, this means that only the following categories of persons can enter the UK from a Red list: 
  • British citizens.
  • Irish citizens.
  • Individuals with UK residence rights. 
• If you are arriving from one of the above Red list countries (or you have spent any time in one of the above countries within 10 days of when you intend to arrive in the UK) the following travel restrictions will apply to you: 
  • Submission of passenger locator form. 
  • Reservation of a spot in a government managed quarantine service hotel.
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing three days prior to your UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing two days post-UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing eight days post-UK arrival. 
  • Mandatory 10-day quarantine post-UK arrival. 

Please note that the various country color lists are subject to change. For the most recent information on the most legal coronavirus restrictions, and for more coronavirus travel advice to the UK, contact us here.