Travel for UK residents is now far simpler than it was in 2021 – but who can enter the UK from overseas? Here we explain how the rules for travel to the UK works for non-residents.
Since Monday 4 October 2021, the green and amber lists have no longer existed, meaning anyone can now enter without having to quarantine in a government-approved hotel as long as they're not coming from a red list country (there are no countries on the red list as of March 2022).
Cornwall, England Getty ImagesSince February 2022, travellers – whether vaccinated or not – do not need to quarantine before or after travelling to the UK. If they test positive for Covid in the UK it is no longer law to quarantine, although England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty advises that people should continue to self-isolate if they test positive for coronavirus in England. In Scotland, the legal requirement to isolate was removed from Monday 21 March, while it is expected to end from Monday 28 March in Wales. In Northern Ireland, all legal restrictions were replaced by guidance from 15 February 2022.
Since 4am on Friday 18 March 2022 all travel rules in the UK have been lifted, meaning no travellers need to test, quarantine or fill in a passenger locator form, regardless of their vaccination status.
There are currently no red list restrictions in place for travel to England. Previously, the only people permitted to enter the UK from one of the countries on the red list were UK residents or British or Irish citizens. Anyone allowed to enter the UK from these countries had to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days, at a cost of £2,285. Failure to comply resulted in fines of up to £10,000.
However, there are currently no countries on the red list, and quarantine hotels will be fully stood down from the end of March, following the end of all Covid travel rules from Friday 18 March.
Yes – although bear in mind that some rules may apply – all governments within the UK have said they plan to bring back restrictions if necessary.
