England Changes Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Travellers

Starting 19th July, travellers who are fully vaccinated will be able to enjoy less stringent restrictions upon arriving in England from countries or territories on the government’s amber list. The amber list is one of three color-coded classifications that officials have been using to identify the level of risk for certain places.

Since the system was first implemented, the government’s green list has allowed people arriving from certain countries or territories to avoid having to quarantine upon landing in the UK. However, those coming from places on the amber list were still required to do so for 10 days. To qualify for the lesser restrictions, travellers must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated at least 14 days earlier. This can be done using the NHS COVID Pass on the NHS app or an NHS COVID Pass letter.

Tests Still Required

While fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to quarantine upon their arrival, they will still be required to take a COVID-19 test three days before leaving the amber list country in question. In addition, they will also continue to be required to take a polymerase chain reaction test two days after arriving. Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to take an additional test after eight days.

Children aged 10 and under will not be required to take a test before departing for England, but will still be required to do so two days after their arrival. Children aged four and under will have no testing requirements.

People travelling from both green and amber list countries or territories will continue to be required to complete a passenger locator form. In addition, travellers arriving from places on the green list will also continue to be required to take COVID-19 tests before departure and two days after arrival.

Travellers should also note that the rules that will apply to them are based on the highest-risk country or territory that they have visited in the last 10 days. As such, even if arriving from a green list country, a person who has also visited an amber list country in the previous 10 days would be subject to those requirements.

People who have not been fully vaccinated, test positive for COVID-19 or display symptoms will continue to be required to quarantine and take a third test eight days after arrival from an amber list country or territory.

Changes to Lists

The government regularly reviews the green, amber and red lists to ensure that they are current with pandemic-related conditions.

Also starting 19th July, the following countries or territories will be moving to the amber list:

• Ibiza
• Majorca
• Menorca
• The British Virgin Isles

These countries or territories are being moved to the red list:

• Cuba
• Indonesia
• Myanmar
• Sierra Leone

The following countries or territories will be added to the green list:

• Bulgaria
• Hong Kong

It’s also worth noting that Croatia and Taiwan will be moved to the green watchlist, meaning that they are at risk of having their classifications changed to amber.

More Information

Travellers arriving in Scotland and Wales will experience similar changes when arriving from amber list places starting 19th July. It’s expected that Northern Ireland will also reduce restrictions starting 26th July.

For more information, contact us today.