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This approach was recommended by the government’s Global Travel Taskforce, which suggests that international travel could resume from May 17 at the earliest in an “accessible and affordable manner.”
It may be a few weeks before we know the exact date on which overseas travel can take place and which countries will be subject to the most relaxed measures.
This is how the traffic light system will work:
Green countries
• People arriving in the UK from countries on the “green list” will have to take a pre-departure test in that country.
• On or before the second day after arriving in the UK, they will need to take a PCR test.
• They will not need to quarantine upon their return unless they receive a positive test.
• Test packages must be booked and paid for before traveling from a list of government approved suppliers
Amber countries
• People arriving from countries on the “orange list” must be quarantined for 10 days at home.
• They will have to take a pre-departure test, then a PCR test on days 2 and 8
• There will be an option to ‘test to release’ where they can end self-isolation earlier if they test negative on day 5 by purchasing an additional PCR test.
• Test packages must be booked and paid for before traveling from a list of government approved suppliers
Red countries
• Arrivals from the “red list” must be quarantined for 10 days in a specific quarantine hotel.
• They will have to take a test before departure and then PCR tests on the second and eighth day.
• Passengers must book and agree to pay a quarantine package before leaving for the UK
Green Watch List
• This will identify the countries most at risk of going from green to orange so that travelers are warned
• However, the government “will not hesitate to act immediately if the data shows that country risk ratings have changed”
How the list will be decided
• Countries in each category will be kept under review and the government will respond to the data, focusing on variants of concern.
• Vaccination rates, infection rates, prevalence of variants, a country’s genomic sequencing capacity and access to reliable scientific data will be taken into account.
• The restrictions will be formally reviewed on June 28 to see if the measures could be relaxed, followed by reviews “no later than July 31 and October 1”.
Passenger tracking forms
• The form – in which arrivals are to fill in their travel details, UK address, passport details, COVID test booking reference numbers and quarantine hotel invoice (if required) – will be digitized “by the fall of 2021”
Stricter rules for airlines that infringe on consumer rights
• The Civil Aviation Authority will be granted additional enforcement power to take action against airlines that have violated consumer rights.
• A COVID-19 charter will be introduced from May 17, defining what is required of passengers and what their rights are while measures are in place
What the government is still studying
• Ministers will work with the travel industry and private testing providers to see how costs can be reduced “while ensuring that travel is as safe as possible”.
• This could include cheaper testing when returning home and they are looking to see if the government can provide pre-departure testing.
• A digital travel certification system is still under consideration, and the Department of Transport is examining how COVID passports could help overseas travel for countries that use them
• “Work is also continuing to develop a system that could facilitate travel certification for inbound international travel,” the report adds.
Countries will be placed on a green, orange or red list. File Image
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