- Which countries are on the travel green list?
- The rules on travel to the US
- Which countries are on the amber list?
- Looking forward to a summer holiday? Prepare for chaos
Double-jabbed travellers from the US and most European countries can now travel to the UK without facing self-isolation after a rule change came into effect at 4am this morning.
The easing of travel restrictions puts those who were vaccinated in the US or the EU on an even footing with those vaccinated in the UK for whom quarantine on return from amber list countries (with the exception of France) was waived on July 19.
Travellers will still need to meet the UK’s testing requirements – a pre-departure test Covid test and a PCR test taken on or before the second day after they arrive.
John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, told Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning that the second day PCR test rule needs to be scrapped and replaced with a lateral flow test: “We rely on lateral flow tests for everyday life, why not use them for passengers as well”, he said.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is due to issue an update to the traffic light categories this week. The review could include a new amber watchlist, which would indicate countries that are at risk of turning red meaning returning travellers would be subject to a stay in a quarantine hotel at a cost of up to £1,750 per person.
Scroll down for the latest travel updates.
The key stories from the weekend
- Two-thirds of the cheapest ‘government-approved’ travel test kits were unavailable
- Boris Johnson faces Tory backbench backlash over ‘amber watch list’ travel plans
- UK rules are out of step with other countries, Sunak tells PM
- Britain poised to lift travel ban on airport hubs
- Seventeen countries could join the green list this week
Now onto today’s headlines.