Last week, the government announced the countries that UK nationals could take holidays to without facing quarantine on return, also known as travel corridors. However, confusion remains over which countries Britons can visit without facing restrictions on arrival. Currently, this is 20 – out of the government’s list of 74.
Many of the destinations on the list still have their own restrictions in place, including testing, quarantine procedures and outright bans on tourists. Australia and New Zealand’s borders remain closed to international tourists; and Austria, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Japan have restrictions on countries that have seen high levels of coronavirus, including the UK.
On Friday, the Department for Transport (DfT) published its list of travel corridors, with 74 countries (including 14 British overseas territories). Arrivals from this list of countries (both overseas tourists entering and UK nationals returning) will not face quarantine in England – although Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to announce if and when they will lift the restrictions. In addition, the Foreign Office (FCO) updated its advice for a list of 67 countries it no longer considers high-risk, to allow for non-essential travel, although many of these countries still have their own restrictions or bans in place.
Regardless of whether the UK government says it is safe to travel to a country, each destination has its own rules on who can enter. Some countries may not permit UK nationals to enter and they may ban anyone who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days. Security measures could also be in place at borders to prevent potential loopholes for passengers attempting to transit through other “safe” countries in order to dodge travel bans.
Although there are now many destinations open to UK tourists without restrictions, some may still have health screening on arrival or an entry form to complete before leaving. Arrivals from the UK may also face restrictions if they have travelled to other countries in the 14 days prior. Countries not listed below may require testing on arrival, mandatory quarantine or have a ban on arrivals from the UK. The situation is constantly changing and restrictions could be subject to re-enforcement without notice.
This article was first published on 6 July. It was updated at 14.30 on 8 July.
Countries and territories with no current restrictions (such as testing or quarantine) where UK nationals can go on holiday now
Andorra
Belgium
Croatia
Tourists must complete an entry form online in advance.
Czech Republic
Denmark
Tourists must provide evidence online of a holiday stay for six nights or more.
France
Arrivals from the UK are asked to carry out a “voluntary quarantine” for 14 days; mandatory only if a traveller shows signs of coronavirus – expected to be lifted by 10 July.
Germany
Gibraltar
Italy and Vatican City
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Poland
San Marino
Serbia
South Georgia and Sandwich Islands
Spain
A health questionnaire (known as an FCS form) must be completed online, 48 hours in advance of travel.
Switzerland
Turkey
The following countries also appear on the government’s travel corridor list (arrivals in the UK from here face no quarantine). However, many have their own restrictions for passengers arriving from the UK.
Antigua and Barbuda
If arriving by air, a health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than seven days before arrival.
Aruba
Borders are open to UK tourists, and although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK if borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel (and therefore travel insurance problematic).
Austria
A health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than four days before arrival, or face self-isolation for 14 days. Transit permitted without a certificate.
Bahamas
A health certificate is required in advance online, with evidence of a negative test.
Barbados
A health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Any travellers who fail to produce this face mandatory testing at the airport (US$150) and will have to self-isolate until the test results are provided (up to 48 hours).
Bermuda
A pre-travel online authorisation process is required, including a $75 fee for each traveller, to cover the cost of testing on arrival.
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. Although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK if borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel.
Cyprus
Travellers who have been in the UK (or any other destination not listed in categories A or B) in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter, even if they transit via another country.
Curaçao
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. Although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK if borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel.
Dominica
Borders due to open to international tourists, including from the UK, on 15 August.
Greece
Direct flights with the UK due to resume on 15 July. All arrivals must complete an Passenger Locator Form online before arrival; and currently may also face testing at the airport, which means self-isolating until test results are available. If they test positive, they must then self-isolate for 14 days. If another passenger on the same flight tests positive, they may be subject to further self-isolation measures.
Greenland
A health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than five days prior. Arrivals must also quarantine for five days: this is defined as travellers keeping distance from people other than those they have travelled with, while being permitted to leave their accommodation to go food shopping or for walks/hikes. On the fifth day, testing will be carried out again. If the result is negative the trip can proceed as planned or, if positive, the traveller will be contacted by the health authorities about treatment and isolation measures. Anyone who has been in Iceland or the Faroe Islands in the 14 days prior to arrival is exempt from re-testing.
Faroe Islands
Testing on arrival (free of charge), and self-isolation until results are received, which is likely to be the following day.
Fiji
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Finland
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
French Polynesia
Borders are due to open to tourists from the UK on 15 July. Currently, all overseas French territories require arrivals from the UK to self-isolate for 14 days and apply for a travel certificate in advance. A health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
Grenada
Health screening on arrival including a coronavirus test. Quarantine measures are expected to be announced shortly.
Guadeloupe
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. Although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK, if the borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel.
Hong Kong
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Hungary
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Iceland
Testing on arrival or self-isolation for 14 days. Arrivals must also fill in a registration form online, pre-arrival. If booked in advance, tests cost £53 (alternatively, £65 on arrival). Children born in 2005 or later will be exempt. After a positive test result, individuals will be given accommodation at a specialised isolation centre at no cost, and must self-isolate for 14 days. They may also face isolation if someone in close proximity on the same flight has tested positive.
Jamaica
Health screening on arrival including a coronavirus test, with a positive result leading to 14-days self-isolation. Pre-authorisation form also required.
Japan
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. Transit permitted, if connecting flight is in the same airport.
Lithuania
The Lithuanian government “recommends” all arrivals from the UK self-isolate for 14 days. They must also register with the Ministry of Health in advance.
Macao
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Malta
Currently, UK nationals must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival – measures which are due to be relaxed on 15 July (when direct flights resume).
Mauritius
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
The Netherlands
Passengers from the UK are “strongly advised” to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, and must book accommodation in advance.
New Caledonia
All overseas French territories require arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days and apply for a travel certificate in advance. Although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK, if the borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel.
New Zealand
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Norway
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. A list of countries with “acceptable levels of infection” is expected to be released on 10 July, allowing quarantine-free travel from those countries on 15 July.
Réunion
All overseas French territories require arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days and apply for a travel certificate in advance.
Seychelles
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK. Borders are due to open to low- and medium-risk countries from 1 August (when commercial flights resume), but this list does not currently include the UK (a health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival).
South Korea
Testing on arrival and mandatory 14-day self-isolation regardless of results (anyone who test positive will be isolated at a hospital or community treatment centre).
St Barthélemy
All overseas French territories require arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days and apply for a travel certificate in advance. Although travellers will not face quarantine on return to the UK, if the borders open, the FCO still advises against all but essential travel.
St Kitts and Nevis
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
St Lucia
A health certificate is required, with evidence of a negative test taken no more than 7 days days before arrival. Screening at airports including temperature checks, with any symptomatic passengers will isolated and tested. A pre-arrival online registration form must also be completed.
St Pierre and Miquelon
All overseas French territories require arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days and apply for a travel certificate in advance.
Taiwan
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Trinidad and Tobago
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
Vietnam
Borders remain closed to tourists from the UK.
