Red list of countries and territories
Check the COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for countries and territories on the red list for international travel to England.
Applies to England
If you have been in or travelled through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you will only be allowed to enter the UK if you either:
- are a British or Irish National
- have residence rights in the UK
If you live in England, you should not travel to countries or territories on the red list.
There are different rules for entering England if you have not been in a red list country or territory.
Before you travel to England - red list rules
Before you travel to England you must:
- take a COVID-19 test – you must take the test in the 3 days before you travel to England
- book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests
- complete a passenger locator form
You must do this even if you are fully vaccinated.
Read more about taking a COVID-19 test before you travel to England.
When you arrive in England - red list rules
When you arrive in England you must quarantine in a managed hotel, and take 2 COVID-19 tests.
You must do this even if you are fully vaccinated.
Travelling with children - red list rules
Children aged 11 to 17 must take a COVID-19 test in the 3 days before travel to England.
On arrival in England children aged 5 to 17 must quarantine in a managed hotel for 10 full days and take 2 COVID-19 tests.
Children aged 4 or under do not have to take any travel tests but must enter managed quarantine.
Red list of countries and territories
| Red list | Upcoming changes to the red list |
|---|---|
| Colombia | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Dominican Republic | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Ecuador | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Haiti | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Panama | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Peru | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
| Venezuela | Will move off the red list 4am Monday 1 November. If you arrive in England before then, you must follow the red list rules. Read the Travel to England guidance to find out what you need to do if you arrive in England after 4am 1 November. |
Transiting through a red list country on your way to England
If you make a transit stop in a red list country on your way to England you may need to follow the red list rules when you arrive.
A transit stop is a stop where passengers can get on or off the transport in which you are travelling. It can apply to ships, trains or aeroplanes. Your ticket should show if a stop is a transit stop.
Making a transit stop would not affect what you have to do on arrival in England if, during the stop:
- no new passengers board your aircraft, vessel or train carriage
- passengers get off but do not get back on
- you are kept separate from passengers who did not arrive on the same aircraft, vessel or train carriage as you
Private vehicles or coaches travelling through red list countries or territories
If you are travelling to England in a private vehicle, the rules of the countries and territories you drive through apply. If you drive through a red list country, then you must follow the red list rules when you arrive in England.
This applies whether you stop in the country or territory or not. You need to record the countries and territories you drive through on your passenger locator form.
Medical, compassionate and work-related exemptions
Some people are exempt from red list restrictions for medical or compassionate reasons, or because of the job they do.
Read about:
Stay up to date
The risk posed by individual countries and territories is monitored continuously and the red list is reviewed every 3 weeks. Countries and territories can be added to the list or taken off it more frequently if conditions change.
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Last updated 28 October 2021
