The countries on England’s red list, and their quarantine rules

Foreign holidays resumed on May 17. They are now governed by a traffic light system that determines the rules for arrivals to England.

The latest update to the green, amber and red categories was on June 24, with the changes coming into effect on June 30. 

The red list of destinations have the toughest travel restrictions of all.

The latest editions to the highest-risk group include the Dominican Republic, Tunisia and Mongolia. No countries on the red list have become amber or green.

This is despite the recent revelation that – of the 24,511 red-list arrivals tested since May 20 – only 435 (1.8 per cent) tested positive. Of those 435 cases, 341 were coming in from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, which are all already on the red list.

The traffic light lists of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can potentially be different to England’s, so check the advice on the relevant government websites.

Britons returning to England from red-listed destinations will continue to face a 10-day stay in a quarantine hotel at a cost of up to £1,750, including Covid tests on day two and eight of their quarantine. Any non-Britons who have been in a red list country within the past 10 days will simply be denied entry to the country.

The rating of each country is decided based on the proportion of its population that has been vaccinated, its infection rates, the prevalence of variants of concern and its capacity to sequence their genomes.

Turkey, Nepal and the Maldives were among those placed on the red list in May, with the travel restrictions being enforced from May 12, following India’s addition on April 19, amid concern over the Delta variant that was first recorded there and a recent record-breaking surge in cases in the country. On June 8, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Bahrain, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago and Afghanistan joined the list.

All travellers must fill out a passenger locator form and secure proof of a negative Covid-19 test result before departure to England. The test must be taken within three days of departure.

Those travelling from green destinations must then pay for a PCR test on or before their second day back in England. Those returning from an amber country have to quarantine at home for up to 10 days. They must take two PCR tests when back, on days two and eight. They can pay for an additional test on day five to potentially reduce their time in self-isolation under the Test to Release scheme. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that from July 19 fully vaccinated Britons will be able to avoid quarantine on their return from amber-list destinations but will still be subject to testing.

Those returning from the red list countries must still pay £1,750 to spend that time in a quarantine hotel, however recent reports suggest those in financial hardship may be able to avoid the large fee.

Since February 15, arrivals who try to cover up their arrival from a red list country also face jail sentences of up to 10 years, whilst anyone who tries to avoid mandatory hotel quarantine will face fines of up to £10,000.

A fine also enforces the testing system. Travellers arriving from any country could be fined £500 if they do not have a valid test result.

The 56 hotel quarantine red list countries

1. India
2. South Africa
3. DR Congo
4. Tanzania
5. Zimbabwe
6. Botswana
7. Eswatini
8. Zambia
9. Malawi
10. Namibia
11. Lesotho
12. Mozambique
13. Angola
14. Rwanda
15. Burundi
16. Somalia
17. Ethiopia
18. United Arab Emirates (including Dubai)
19. Oman
20. Seychelles
21. Qatar
22. Panama
23. Cape Verde
24. Argentina
25. Brazil
26. Bolivia
27. Chile
28. Colombia
29. Ecuador
30. French Guiana
31. Guyana
32. Paraguay
33. Peru
34. Suriname
35. Uruguay
36. Venezuela
37. The Philippines
38. Pakistan
39. Kenya
40. Bangladesh
41. Nepal
42. Maldives
43. Turkey
44. Afghanistan
45. Bahrain
46. Costa Rica
47. Egypt
48. Sudan
49. Trinidad and Tobago
50. Sri Lanka

51. Uganda

52. Tunisia

53. Eritrea

54. Haiti

55. Dominican Republic

56. Mongolia