Israel Reopens to Visitors from UK After Removal of its Red List of Countries

After eliminating its red list of countries, Israel is poised to reopen to visitors from the United Kingdom on Sunday (9th January).

The Israel Government Tourism Office (IGTO) in London issued the following statement: “Israel has announced the welcome news that it is set to open its skies for the first time in a month by canceling its list of high-infection ‘red’ countries, including the UK, pending Israeli government approval.

“Countries that were previously listed on the red list will be moved to Israel’s orange and green lists dependent on their status.”

Nachman Ash, the director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Health, recommended that the red list be removed.

The list was designed to combat the spread of the Omicron type in Israel, but officials now consider the travel bans obsolete because the country is experiencing a severe outbreak.

According to the IGTO, the move will allow Israelis to travel anywhere in the world again without requiring special government permission or requiring them to quarantine for a week upon their return – as long as they are fully vaccinated according to the health ministry’s criteria: inoculated twice within the previous six months, vaccinated with a booster, recovered with one shot, or recovered within six months.

Foreign travelers from the orange and green countries will be permitted to enter Israel beginning Sunday, 9th January, pending final government permission.

In order to board the flight, inbound passengers must have a negative Covid test (either PCR performed less than 72 hours before departure or antigen less than 24 hours prior to departure) and must take a PCR upon arrival in Israel.

Those who have been vaccinated will be free to leave quarantine as soon as the results are received, or within 24 hours; those who have not been vaccinated will be confined for a week and will be tested again on the seventh day.