While bars, shops and cafes are now open and life is starting to feel more normal, your last trip abroad may feel like a distant memory. Many of us are holding out hope of going on holiday in 2021, but what are the latest rules for holidays within and outside the UK this year?
When can I go on holiday to the UK?
You can now travel freely between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In England you can now holiday in the country and stay in various types of accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, etc.). However, up to six people from multiple households, or any number of people from two households, can travel together. You can also camp or glamp around England.
The situation in Scotland is slightly different. While all holiday accommodation is open, families of three to six can share self-catering accommodation. However, you cannot share a bedroom with someone you do not live with or who is not part of your support bubble.
In Wales you can stay in all holiday accommodation but only with people from the same household or extended household. Campgrounds and caravan parks are also open, but visitors must maintain social distancing rules. However, it is still not possible to spend the night in a private residence with anyone who is not part of your household or extended family.
In Northern Ireland, all holiday accommodation is open and up to six people from two households can stay together overnight. Children 12 and under are not included.
Although there are fewer travel restrictions across the UK, the government advises people to minimize travel to and from the following areas where the new coronavirus is spreading:
- bedford
- birmingham
- blackburn and darwin
- blackpool
- east cheshire
- west cheshire and chester
- greater manchester
- Kirklees
- lancashire
- Leicester
- liverpool
- north tyneside
- warrington
When can I go on holiday abroad?
England
Restrictions on overseas travel have now been lifted. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has introduced a traffic light system for international travel, which sets out what travelers must do when returning from certain countries. Countries will be classified as red, amber or green depending on the risk associated with those locations. The rules are as follows:
red country
Before you return to the UK you must
- Get a COVID-19 test
- Book a quarantine hotel package including 2 COVID-19 tests
- Complete the Passenger Locator Form
After arriving in the UK
- You must quarantine in a managed hotel, including 2 COVID-19 tests
- Even if you have been vaccinated, you must follow these rules
The list of red countries can be found here.
amber country
Before you return to the UK you must:
- Get a COVID-19 test
- Book and pay for your COVID-19 travel test on Days 2 and 8 – upon arrival in England
- Complete the Passenger Locator Form
After arriving in the UK
- You must quarantine at home or place of residence for 10 days
- You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8
- Even if you have been vaccinated, you must follow these rules.
- You may be able to end isolation early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.
The list of Amber countries can be found here.
green country
Before you return to the UK you must
- Get a COVID-19 test
- Book and pay for your Day 2 COVID-19 test
- Complete the Passenger Locator Form
After arriving in the UK
- You must take a COVID-19 test on or before the day after arrival
- You do not need to quarantine unless you test positive
- Even if you have been vaccinated, you must follow these rules
- If NHS Test & Trace tells you that you traveled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate
The list of green countries is as follows:
- Anguilla
- Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Balearic Islands (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca)
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- The British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Cayman Islands
- dominican
- Falkland Islands
- faroe islands
- Gibraltar
- Greneda
- Iceland
- Israel and Jerusalem
- Madeira
- malta
- montserrat
- New Zealand
- Pitcairn Island, Henderson Island, Ducie Island and Oeno Island
- Portugal (including Madeira and Azores)
- Singapore
- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha
- Turks and Caicos Islands
If you are traveling you should keep an eye on the red, amber and green lists as some countries may move to different lists. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has advised people "should not go on holiday to Amber List countries" and should only travel in "exceptional circumstances". Grant Shapps added that "common sense" should be used when considering traveling to these destinations, and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said the decision to travel to countries on the Amber List was a "personal responsibility".
Wales
Wales lifted restrictions on foreign travel on 17 May. First Minister Mark Drakeford advised people against traveling abroad and advised people to go on holiday in Wales as a safer option, but said people choosing to travel abroad "should not feel guilty" if they wanted to Guilty".
Those going on holiday abroad will face the same situation as the traffic light system in place in the UK. However, Welsh residents cannot return directly to Wales from a red list country and must arrive at a designated UK port of entry in England or Scotland. You must also quarantine in a managed hotel there for 10 days.
Scotland
Scotland also lifted foreign travel restrictions on May 17, and the country has adopted a traffic light system modeled on that of Wales and England.
Northern Ireland
An exit traffic light system similar to that in England, Scotland and Wales is now in force from 24 May.
vaccine passport
In England, you can now apply for an NHS Covid Pass via the NHS website or the NHS app. This is not the same as a "test and trace" application. You will only receive your pass after you have had your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and both doses must be given in England. You must be registered with a GP surgery to use the NHS app. If you don't have a smartphone, you can call 119 to get a copy. More information about vaccine passports can be found here.
You can also get a pass if you have had a negative PCR test or lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours and this has been recorded on the NHS website.
Paper "vaccine passports" could be rolled out in Northern Ireland from 5 July at the earliest.
Scottish residents can obtain a vaccine certificate from the NHS portal without asking their GP. More information about Scotland’s vaccine certificates can be found here.
Contributions by Alice Broster, Sophie McEvoy, and Aishi Rimi.
