On 17 May 2021 a set of traffic light ratings was put in place for determining pre and post-arrival COVID-19 measures for travelling to England.
This policy ends the 'stay at home' rule, under which travel from England was prohibited without a reasonable excuse, and opens up the possibility of entry to the United Kingdom without a quarantine period being required.
General issues of which intending travellers must be aware
The COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements for entering England are outlined below; however, travellers should also check the requirements in place in the country to which they intend to travel. Although quarantine is not required when arriving in England from green list countries, those countries may still have quarantine or other pre or post-entry requirements that may affect the feasibility of a short holiday or business trip.
The countries included on each list may change with little or no notice, which means that travellers should be prepared either to return early or to comply with more stringent requirements if the country from which they intend to enter England is moved from one list to another.
The Department for Transport has issued a Passenger COVID-19 Charter, highlighting key points which travellers should bear in mind. Travellers should ensure that they carefully monitor and comply with documentation and procedural requirements for travelling (both pre and post-arrival) and be prepared for delays at travel terminals while compliance is checked. They should also ensure that they understand their booking terms, as well as the terms of any travel insurance policy that they have in place or are considering taking out.
There are no COVID-19 testing or isolation requirements for people arriving in England from elsewhere in the United Kingdom – or from the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man – provided that they have not been outside these places within the 10 days before their arrival.
Occupational and medical exemptions
There are certain occupational and medical and compassionate grounds exemptions from COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements. These exist outside of the traffic light system.
Before arrival, travellers who have been in or travelled through only green list countries within the 10 days before their arrival in England must:
- fill out a passenger locator form;
- take an approved COVID-19 test within three days of boarding the service that will arrive in the United Kingdom; and
- book and pay for a day two approved COVID-19 test.
After arrival, these travellers must take the booked COVID-19 test on or before day two after their arrival.
Self-isolation is not required unless the test is positive or National Health Service Test and Trace directs this because the person travelled to England with another person who has tested positive.
The government has committed to reviewing the green list every three weeks.
Although the official guidance states not to travel to amber list countries, doing so is not unlawful.
In addition to the pre-arrival requirements for those arriving in England from green list countries, a day eight approved COVID-19 test must be booked and paid for when arriving from an amber list country.
After arrival, passengers from amber list countries must also:
- self-quarantine in their home or the place where they are staying in England for 10 days; and
- take the booked COVID-19 tests on or before day two, and on or after day eight (unless they can end their quarantine early under the Test to Release scheme).
Travel to red list countries is also against government guidance, and there will be practical obstacles to returning to England from these countries as direct arrivals (subject to limited exceptions) are currently unlawful.
Only British or Irish nationals who have residence rights in the United Kingdom are permitted to enter England within 10 days of presence in a red list country.
Those who arrive in England within 10 days of having been in a red list country must do the following before arrival:
- fill out a passenger locator form;
- take an approved COVID-19 test within three days of boarding the service that will arrive in the United Kingdom; and
- book and pay for a quarantine hotel package, including a day two and day eight approved COVID-19 test.
After arrival, these travellers must:
- quarantine in an approved hotel for at least 10 days (the period will be extended in the case of receiving a positive COVID-19 test result); and
- take the booked COVID-19 test on or before day two after arrival, and on or after day eight (noting that the Test to Release scheme does not apply).
