Where can I travel to now? Your travel questions answered

This page was last updated on Friday 4 June, 2021 and will be updated regularly to reflect the latest government information about international travel in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the current situation is subject to change, sometimes at short notice, it is important that you keep up to date with all of the latest travel information on the UK government website.

What are the current regulations for international travel?

How does the government’s traffic light system for travel work?

Can I book my testing and quarantine hotel package at East Midlands Airport?

Is the PCR testing package available to book at East Midlands Airport?

Which countries are on the ‘green’ list?

Which countries are on the ‘red’ banned travel list?

Can I book my summer holiday for 2021 now, given the government’s guidance for international travel could change?

What if I travel to a ‘green’ country and it is re-categorised as higher risk while I’m there?

Will I need to quarantine when I get to my destination country?

Do I still need to complete health checks or forms?

What should I do if I think I have developed COVID-19 symptoms?

Are the rules the same when returning to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

When will the government announce its next travel updates?

What are the current regulations for international travel?

As of Monday May 17, 2021, international travel for non-essential reasons is allowed again.

However, the government will continue to focus on testing and quarantine in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any variants.

To help passengers understand the levels of testing and quarantine required, the government has announced a traffic light system for foreign travel.

How does the government’s traffic light system for travel work?

To make the steps involved in travelling to a particular destination and the risks involved clear, the UK government has launched a new ‘traffic light system’ that will classify countries as red, amber or green.

The government has outlined the measures for travelling to the countries in each category and how testing and quarantine will work:

Green – those countries posing a minimal risk

Passengers arriving to England must:

• Fill in a passenger locator form

• Take a pre-departure test

• Book a test package from a government-approved provider before travel

• Take a PCR test on or before day 2 of arrival

• If negative, passengers won’t have to quarantine or take any further tests

Amber – those countries posing a moderate risk

Passengers arriving to England must:

• Fill in a passenger locator form

• Take a pre-departure test

• Book a test package from a government-approved provider before travel

• Quarantine at home for 10 days

• Take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 of their return*

• * arrivals from amber list countries can use test to release on day 5 to end quarantine early

Red – those countries posing a high risk

Passengers arriving to England must:

• Fill in a passenger locator form (including details of quarantine package)

• Take a pre-departure test and get a negative result in the three days before travel

• Book a quarantine package – including a managed quarantine hotel, quarantine transport and the travel test package – from a government-approved provider before travel

• Quarantine for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel

• Take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 of return (with no option for early release)

Can I book my testing and quarantine hotel package at East Midlands Airport?

Unfortunately, East Midlands Airport is not on the list of government-approved ports of entry from red list countries.

Is the PCR testing package available to book at East Midlands Airport?

East Midlands Airport offers onsite testing for those coming back from green and amber countries. Passengers can book the PCR tests required on day 2 for arrivals from green countries and days 2 and 8 for arrivals from amber countries. We also offer the test to release tests which, if negative, mean arrivals from amber countries can leave self-isolation early, on day 5.

Find out more about the arrivals testing facilities at East Midlands Airport.

Which countries are on the ‘green’ list?

On Friday May 7, the UK government announced the initial countries to be added to the green list. This list will be reviewed every three weeks.

• Australia

• Brunei

• Falkland Islands

• Faroe Islands

• Gibraltar

• Iceland

• Israel

• New Zealand

• Portugal including the Azores and Madeira (until 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Singapore

• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha

Which countries are on the ‘red’ banned travel list?

To make sure that travel doesn’t lead to the spread of COVID-19 and emerging variants, the UK government is operating a ‘red list’ of travel ban countries. This is being updated regularly, with the most recent addition being 7 countries, including Egypt and Sri Lanka, as of 4am on Tuesday 8 June.

•  Angola

• Afghanistan (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Argentina

• Bahrain (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Bangladesh

• Bolivia

• Botswana

• Brazil

• Burundi

• Cape Verde

• Chile

• Colombia

• Costa Rica (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Ecuador

• Egypt (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Eswatini

• Ethiopia

• French Guiana

• Guyana

• India

• Kenya

• Lesotho

• Malawi

• Maldives

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Nepal

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Panama

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Philippines

• Qatar

• Rwanda

• Seychelles

• Somalia

• South Africa

• Sri Lanka (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Sudan (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Suriname

• Tanzania

• Trinidad and Tobago (as of 4am Tuesday 8 June)

• Turkey

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Uruguay

• Venezuela

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe  

Can I book my summer holiday for 2021 now, given the government’s guidance for international travel could change?

We know that even as restrictions ease there is still some uncertainty, and that travel plans could still be subject to change at short notice. That’s why, at East Midlands Airport, we now offer free cancellation on all parking bookings for your peace of mind.

You should make sure that, when booking your holiday, you choose a provider that offers speedy refunds, COVID-19 insurance and other measures to accommodate events outside of your control.

Good cancellation or amendment terms will be essential for all 2021 travel plans.

What if I travel to a ‘green’ country and it is re-categorised as higher risk while I’m there?

The government’s new traffic light system will include an early warning system to prevent passengers having to rearrange their plans to return home mid-trip. The so-called ‘green watchlist’ will list those countries classed as green but at risk of moving to amber or red. If you’re planning to travel abroad in 2021, it will be important to monitor this list.

Will I need to quarantine when I get to my destination country?

The travel corridors used in 2020 have been suspended, and the green list operates slightly differently: just because a country is on the green list, doesn't mean it is currently open to tourists. It is up to you to check the latest travel advice from the UK government before booking your trip.

Do I still need to complete health checks or forms?

Passengers still need to fill in a passenger locator form when they return to the UK. This can be filled in 48 hours before your arrival and then either a printed or electronic copy must be shown at the UK border. The government will use the information to contact passengers if someone they have come into contact with during travel develops COVID-19 symptoms.

What should I do if I think I have developed COVID-19 symptoms?

Passengers who believe that they may have COVID-19 symptoms should not travel. Please inform airport or cabin staff if you develop symptoms while travelling.

Are the rules the same when returning to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are publishing their own guidance on international travel. The system explained above relates only to England.

When will the government announce its next travel updates?

The government has said that it intends to review international travel on June 28, July 31 and October 1, 2021.