The Amber List: What Are The Return Travel Requirements?

Many of us are aware of the traffic light system that the UK government has implemented in regard to international travel. The traffic light system categorises countries into a red, amber or green list and sets out entry requirements based on which list a country is in.

As of June 22nd the amber list includes a large number of holiday destinations that are popular with British travellers and holidaymakers, such as Italy, Spain, France and Portugal.

This article takes a look at the travel requirements when returning to the UK from a country on the amber list.

The Traffic Light System

After the strict confinement enforced through travel bans and threats of financial penalties throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, the UK has been gradually reopening for travellers. This opens up the prospects of travel and holidays for nationals.

The traffic light system for international travel was put in place as a means for assessing the public health risk of international travel. Public health data and statistics relating to Covid-19 form 250 countries is being continuously reviewed by UK authorities.

By default, every country is placed on the Amber list unless they can provide specific evidence to suggest that there is a low public health risk to the UK from all known Covid-19 strains and variants.

Those countries that are deemed to present a high public health risk to the UK are placed on the red list. The top level factors that are considered in terms of the public health risk are the rates of infection or prevalence of Covid-19 in a country as well as the existence of ‘variants of concern’. The risk assessment methodology also takes into account details such as a country’s genomic sequencing capabilities and vaccination strategy.

Return Travel Requirements for Amber List Countries

Travellers entering (or returning to) the UK from countries on the green list must take a Covid-19 test on arrival, or 2 days after arrival. There’s no need for self-isolation or a period of quarantine if the test result is negative.

Travellers from countries on the red list are currently banned from entering the UK; unless they are UK or Irish nationals, or have the right to live in the UK.

There is a slightly different set of requirements for travellers entering the UK from a country on the amber list:

The official advice from the UK government is ‘DO NOT TRAVEL’ to any country that’s on the amber list. It’s not an offence to book, or travel, to countries on the amber list, however there are certain pre-travel & return travel requirements that must be adhered to.

The particulars of the pre-travel requirements depend on the rules set by the destination country. Italy, for example, now imposes a mandatory 5-day quarantine on visitors from the UK whilst British citizens are barred from entering Australia altogether, even though Oz it’s on the UK’s green list.

The return travel requirements imposed by the UK Gov for people entering the UK from amber list countries reads as follows:

1. You need to deliver proof of a negative Covid-19 test result from a test that was taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival in the UK. If you don’t deliver evidence of a negative test you may not be able to board your transport to the UK or continue your onward journey into the UK. Those who fail to provide evidence of a negative test result, prior to arrival face a £500 fine.
2. All travellers must complete a passenger locator form online before arrival in the UK. The passenger locator form can be submitted for free at any time during the 2-days directly before arrival in the UK. Have proof of the completed passenger locator form with you as it can be checked prior to boarding your plane or on the UK border.
3. A quarantine of ten days is mandatory for anyone entering the UK from an amber list country. The quarantine or self-isolation period can be in your home or the place you are staying.
4. A traveller must organise and pay for two Covid-19 tests to be taken on, or before, day 2 and on, or before, day eight 8 of the quarantine.* The UK Gov provides a list of test providers or sellers on the official UK Gov website.
5. Travellers can also choose to end their quarantine period early through the ‘test to release scheme’. This involves paying for a private Covid-19 test that can be taken after 5 days quarantining. If the test is negative, you can end your quarantine.

Traffic Light System Update: June 24th

The most recent update to the government’s traffic light system saw destinations including the Balearic Islands, Barbados, Bermuda, Madeira and Malta move from amber to green – the change will take effect from 4am on the 30th of June.

No countries moved from red to amber on this update however the government did announce their intention to look into removing the 10-day self-isolation period for amber list countries for those who are fully vaccinated. The final decision and full details of this change to the amber list travel requirements will be set out in July.