Written statement to Parliament

Traffic light system update for 19 July 2021

Changes to the international travel red, amber and green lists coming into force at 4am on Monday 19 July.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP

From 4am BST Monday 19 July 2021, the following countries will be added to the government’s green list:

  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Hong Kong
  • Taiwan

Croatia and Taiwan will also be added to the green watchlist, signalling to passengers that these countries are potentially at risk of moving from green to amber at short notice, should swift action be required in order to protect public health in England. Passengers arriving from green list destinations need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result prior to travel and take a further test on day 2 of their arrival in the UK.

The following countries are being added to the amber list:

  • Balearic Islands
  • British Virgin Islands

As announced on Thursday 8 July, arrivals from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme (plus 14 days), will no longer need to quarantine or take a day 8 test if they can provide proof of their vaccination status to carriers in advance of travel to England. This policy will also apply to those on a formally approved UK COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, and children under the age of 18. These changes will also take effect from 4am BST Monday 19 July.

Non-vaccinated passengers arriving from amber countries need to provide evidence of a negative test result prior to travel, self-isolate at home for 10 days, and take a test on day 2 and day 8 after arrival. As before, these passengers will have the option to take a further test on day 5 and end their 10-day self-isolation early, upon receipt of a negative test result.

The following countries are being added to the red list as they present a high public health risk to the UK from known variants of concern, known high-risk variants under investigation or as a result of very high in-country or territory prevalence of COVID-19:

  • Cuba
  • Indonesia
  • Myanmar
  • Sierra Leone

Passengers arriving from these destinations, irrespective of vaccination status, will be required to self-isolate in a managed quarantine hotel, provide a valid notification of a negative test result prior to travel and take a test on day 2 and 8 after their arrival.

All arrivals into the UK must continue to complete a passenger locator form.

As health matters are devolved, the Devolved Administrations will confirm their respective positions in due course.

Published 15 July 2021