28 October 2021

The government will remove all remaining countries from the red list at 4am on 1 November 2021.  There are currently seven countries on the red list: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. However, there are no plans to scrap the red list altogether, meaning countries could be placed on the red list in the future.

Rules for travelers from red list countries
Currently, travelers from red list countries are subject to tighter restrictions, including pre- and post-arrival PCR tests and mandatory hotel quarantine. The prices for hotel quarantine were increased in August with a room for one adult for 11 nights costing £2,285. The cost of an additional adult or child over 11 is £1,430. The cost for an additional child aged 5 to 11 is £325.

End of traffic-light system
On 4 October, the government scrapped the previous traffic-light system with a single red list. On 11 October, 47 countries were removed from the red list and the list was reduced to the current set of seven countries. This latest move by the government is part of its phased plan to re-open the UK borders to international travel.

Rules for fully vaccinated travelers
The government has recently announced a series of relaxations to the rules for fully vaccinated travelers. Those travelling from non-red list countries are no longer required to take a pre-travel COVID-19 test or a post-arrival day eight test. They are still required to take a post-arrival day two test, but this can now be a lateral flow test, instead of a more costly PCR test.

The list of approved vaccination programmes has been expanded and the government has said that mixing of approved vaccines is now permitted. Previously, fully vaccinated travelers had to have received two doses of the same approved two-dose vaccine (or one dose of an approved one-dose vaccine).

Get in touch
To learn more about forthcoming changes to UK immigration law, see our website, contact your assigned LDI lawyer or email enquiries@lauradevine.com.