Amber list: What are the rules for holidays and which countries are on it?
8 July 2021, 12:47 | Updated: 3 August 2021, 12:24
The amber watchlist has been scrapped ahead of the next travel review, but rules for the amber list are still in place.
Rules for amber list countries vary depending on traveller age and vaccine status.
Previously, anyone who returned from an amber list destination had to self-isolate for 10 days after coming back to the UK.
It meant some of the most viable holiday destinations, such as mainland Spain and Greece, were effectively impossible to travel to unless tourists had the ability to shut themselves away for more than a week.
However, rules have been relaxed for some making their journey abroad.
Here is the latest on the amber list, the rules and the countries eligible people can travel to without quarantining.
What is the amber list?
Countries designated as amber are countries which have a Covid situation considered to be less safe than green list countries.
The Government uses a variety of factors to decide this, including vaccinations, case rates and the presence of variants.
Grant Shapps confirms new travel rules for double-jabbed people in England
Green list countries require no quarantine, just tests, for travellers when they return. Amber list countries require tests for people coming back home and, until recently, a 10-day isolation period.
Red list countries, considered the places with the most risky Covid situations, require a hotel quarantine.
Can tourists avoid quarantine?
Fully vaccinated UK residents can return from amber list countries without isolating.
A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second vaccine dose. However, Downing Street has confirmed it doesn't apply to all British citizens - just those who have been vaccinated by the NHS, as opposed to Brits who got a dose abroad.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the changes ahead of England's unlocking on 19 July.
Read more: Quarantine scrapped for double-jabbed UK residents returning from Amber list countries
Read more: PM unveils plan for fully-vaccinated people to no longer isolate after amber list holiday
It was revealed that under 18s would not need to isolate on return either.
Guidance telling people not to travel to amber list places has since been lifted.
"In essence, this means that for fully vaccinated travellers the requirements for green and amber list countries are the same," Mr Shapps told the Commons.
PCR tests will still need to be taken three days before departure and on or before day two of arrival. They will no longer be required on day eight for people who are fully vaccinated or children.
PM reveals what he has learned since start of pandemic
However, those arriving in England from France will still need to quarantine for 10 days and take both the day two and day eight Covid tests, even if they have been fully vaccinated.
It is part of what has been labelled the 'amber plus' list, due to concerns over rising cases over the Beta variant.
Which countries are on the amber list?
Many popular tourist destinations are on the list, which is being regularly reviewed.
However, travellers should check the entry requirements for the country they want to visit, in case they put restrictions or extra demands on UK visitors.
The countries are:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
The Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Bosnia and Herzegovina
British Virgin Islands
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue
Côte d’Ivoire
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic (Czechia)
Denmark
Djibouti
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece (including islands)
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Honduras
Hungary
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Nauru
Netherlands
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
The Occupied Palestinian Territories
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Portugal (including the Azores) Madeira is on the green watchlist.
Réunion
Romania
Russia
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain (including the Canary Islands - the Balearic islands are on the green watchlist)
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Maarten
St Martin and St Barthélemy
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United States (USA)
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
What was the amber watchlist?
Ministers were said to be considering a new category for the traffic light system, labelled the amber watchlist. It was intended to include nations at risk of being moved to the red list.
However, the government has since scrapped the plans, after a backlash from Tory MPs, ministerial concerns and complaints from the travel industry.
Minister Gillian Keegan told LBC on Tuesday that they had "explored all options" but wanted the system to remain as simple as possible.
