Government confirms traffic light list ahead of cautious return to international travel
The UK's Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps has today - Friday 7th May 2021 confirmed that international travel can safely start to reopen from 17th May, allowing people to go on foreign holidays to green list countries.
The ‘Stay in the UK’ regulation will lift on 17 May, meaning leisure travel from England will no longer be illegal. However, speaking at a No10 press conference this afternoon, the Transport Secretary outlined how strict border control measures will remain in place as international travel gradually resumes. Different levels of restriction will be applied to individuals returning to England from countries based on the traffic light system set out by the Global Travel Taskforce.
People are being guided on where they can safely visit without needing to quarantine on return to England – starting with the additions of Portugal including the Azores and Madeira, Israel and Jerusalem and Singapore among others to the ‘green list’. They will still need to take a pre-departure test up to 72 hours before their return travel, and a single PCR test on or before day 2 of arrival into England – this can be booked in the same way as is in place now, through private test providers.
- UK government confirms international travel can gradually resume from 17 May, as 12 countries and territories are added to the ‘green list’
- strict rules on testing and quarantine will remain in place to protect public health and our vaccination programme, while people should not travel to ‘amber’ and ‘red’ countries for leisure
- International travel will be different as passengers are warned to expect additional checks and longer queues at the border