(CNN) — The UK has introduced a new system for international travel, loosening testing requirements for many fully vaccinated travelers and designating destinations either “red” or “green.”
Green list rules
Fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the UK from green list countries no longer need to do a pre-departure test, but must still book and pay for a day two PCR test.
Travelers under 18 arriving from green list countries are subject to the same rules as fully vaccinated travelers.
Non-vaccinated travelers arriving in the UK from green list countries must still present a pre-departure negative test (completed within 72 hours of departure) and must book and pay for a day two and day eight PCR test. Non-vaccinated green list travelers must also quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival in the UK.
Any destination not on the red list is considered green, but some green destinations don’t permit nonessential travel from the UK right now.
Red list requirements
Unless you’re a resident of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland — or a British or Irish national — you’ll be refused entry arriving into the UK from a red list country.
UK residents and British and Irish nationals arriving home from red list destinations must undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.
The UK’s quarantine hotels are located in England and Scotland, so if you arrive in the UK from a red list country and your final destination is in Wales or Northern Ireland, you will need to book a quarantine hotel in England or Scotland.
Red list arrivals dodging quarantine face steep fines.
Travel industry response
The UK travel rules have changed, with the amber list now eradicated.
Hollie Adams/Getty Images
In a statement, Julie Simpson, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) praised the UK’s move away from pre-departure tests for fully vaccinated green list arrivals, while also hoping for further policy change.
“While this is certainly a step in the right direction, for the UK to be real leaders, the government should adopt a system based on the risk of individuals, not countries,” said Simpson. “Placing whole countries on red lists is illogical if you can keep the UK safe by checking an individual’s status and allowing fully jabbed people to travel almost anywhere in the world safely.”
Meanwhile, Airlines UK, the trade body which represents UK-registered airlines such as British Airways, called the changes “an excellent step forward” although CEO Tim Alderslade questioned the decision to keep day two testing for fully vaccinated travelers.
Red list countries
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Georgia
Guyana
Haiti
Indonesia
Lesotho
Malawi
Mayotte
Mexico
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Réunion
Rwanda
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Suriname
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Uganda
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe