Red, amber and green list rules for entering England
Countries rated as red, amber or green for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the rules you must follow to enter England.
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What you must do when you arrive in England from abroad depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive.
This page lists countries and territories as either red or amber and tells you what you must do if you have been in those countries or territories.
New rules for a green list of countries will come into force 17 May.
Red list countries and territories
What you must do if you have been in a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England.
If you have been in a country or territory on the red list in the last 10 days you will only be allowed to enter the UK if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK.
You should not travel to red list countries or territories for leisure purposes.
Before travel to England
Before you travel to England you must:
- complete a passenger locator form
- take a COVID-19 test
- book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests
On arrival in England
On arrival in England you must:
Red list of countries and territories
| Red list | Red watchlist - moves from or to green or amber list | |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | ||
| Argentina | ||
| Bangladesh | ||
| Bolivia | ||
| Botswana | ||
| Brazil | ||
| Burundi | ||
| Cape Verde | ||
| Chile | ||
| Colombia | ||
| Congo (Democratic Republic) | ||
| Ecuador | ||
| Eswatini | ||
| Ethiopia | ||
| French Guiana | ||
| Guyana | ||
| India | ||
| Kenya | ||
| Lesotho | ||
| Malawi | ||
| Maldives | Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules. | |
| Mozambique | ||
| Namibia | ||
| Nepal | Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules. | |
| Oman | ||
| Pakistan | ||
| Panama | ||
| Paraguay | ||
| Peru | ||
| Philippines | ||
| Qatar | ||
| Rwanda | ||
| Seychelles | ||
| Somalia | ||
| South Africa | ||
| Suriname | ||
| Tanzania | ||
| Turkey | Currently on the amber list. Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after then, you will need to follow the red list rules. | |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | ||
| Uruguay | ||
| Venezuela | ||
| Zambia | ||
| Zimbabwe |
Amber list countries and territories
What you must do if you have been in an amber country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England.
You should not travel to amber list countries or territories for leisure purposes.
Before travel to England
Before you travel to England you must:
- complete a passenger locator form
- take a COVID-19 test
- book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests - to be taken after arrival in England
On arrival in England
On arrival in England you must:
- quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
- take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8
Read about quarantine and taking COVID-19 tests.
You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the ‘Test to Release’ scheme.
Travel within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
You do not need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in England if you are travelling within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, (the Common Travel Area), and you have not been outside of the Common Travel Area in the previous 10 days.
If you have been in a country or territory on the red list
If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.
Read more about making a transit stop in a red list country or territory.
Countries on the watchlist or moving to red
If conditions change in a country or territory, it can be moved from the amber list to the red list. If that is likely to happen, this will normally be flagged in the Amber watchlist column in the table below. If there is a sudden change in conditions, a country or territory may be moved between lists without warning.
Amber list of countries and territories
| Amber list | Amber watchlist - moves from or to green or red list |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | |
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |
| Albania | |
| Algeria | |
| Andorra | |
| Anguilla | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | |
| Armenia | |
| Aruba | |
| Australia | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Austria | |
| Azerbaijan | |
| The Bahamas | |
| Bahrain | |
| Barbados | |
| Belarus | |
| Belgium | |
| Belize | |
| Benin | |
| Bermuda | |
| Bhutan | |
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| British Antarctic Territory | |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | |
| British Virgin Islands | |
| Brunei | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Bulgaria | |
| Burkina Faso | |
| Cambodia | |
| Cameroon | |
| Canada | |
| Cayman Islands | |
| Central African Republic | |
| Chad | |
| China | |
| Comoros | |
| Congo | |
| Cook Islands | |
| Costa Rica | |
| Côte d’Ivoire | |
| Croatia | |
| Cuba | |
| Curaçao | |
| Cyprus | |
| Czech Republic (Czechia) | |
| Denmark | |
| Djibouti | |
| Dominica | |
| Dominican Republic | |
| Egypt | |
| El Salvador | |
| Equatorial Guinea | |
| Eritrea | |
| Estonia | |
| Falkland Islands | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Faroe Islands | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Fiji | |
| Finland | |
| France | |
| French Polynesia | |
| Gabon | |
| The Gambia | |
| Georgia | |
| Germany | |
| Ghana | |
| Gibraltar | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Greece (including islands) | |
| Greenland | |
| Grenada | |
| Guadeloupe | |
| Guatemala | |
| Guinea | |
| Guinea-Bissau | |
| Haiti | |
| Honduras | |
| Hong Kong | |
| Hungary | |
| Iceland | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Indonesia | |
| Iran | |
| Iraq | |
| Israel and Jerusalem | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Italy | |
| Jamaica | |
| Japan | |
| Jordan | |
| Kazakhstan | |
| Kiribati | |
| Kosovo | |
| Kuwait | |
| Kyrgyzstan | |
| Laos | |
| Latvia | |
| Lebanon | |
| Liberia | |
| Libya | |
| Liechtenstein | |
| Lithuania | |
| Luxembourg | |
| Macao | |
| Madagascar | |
| Malaysia | |
| Maldives | Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after that, you need to follow the red list rules. |
| Mali | |
| Malta | |
| Marshall Islands | |
| Martinique | |
| Mauritania | |
| Mauritius | |
| Mayotte | |
| Mexico | |
| Micronesia | |
| Moldova | |
| Monaco | |
| Mongolia | |
| Montenegro | |
| Montserrat | |
| Morocco | |
| Myanmar (Burma) | |
| Nauru | |
| Nepal | Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after that, you need to follow the red list rules. |
| Netherlands | |
| New Caledonia | |
| New Zealand | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Nicaragua | |
| Niger | |
| Nigeria | |
| North Korea | |
| North Macedonia | |
| Norway | |
| The Occupied Palestinian Territories | |
| Palau | |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands | |
| Poland | |
| Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira) | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Réunion | |
| Romania | |
| Russia | |
| Samoa | |
| San Marino | |
| Sao Tome and Principe | |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| Senegal | |
| Serbia | |
| Sierra Leone | |
| Singapore | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Slovakia | |
| Slovenia | |
| Solomon Islands | |
| South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| South Korea | |
| South Sudan | |
| Spain (including the Balearics and Canary Islands) | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | Will move from amber to green list 4am, Monday 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| St Kitts and Nevis | |
| St Lucia | |
| St Martin and St Barthélemy | |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | |
| Sudan | |
| Sweden | |
| Switzerland | |
| Syria | |
| Taiwan | |
| Tajikistan | |
| Thailand | |
| Timor-Leste | |
| Togo | |
| Tonga | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Tunisia | |
| Turkey | Will move to the red list 4am, Wednesday 12 May. If you arrive in England after that, you need to follow the red list rules. |
| Turkmenistan | |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| Tuvalu | |
| Uganda | |
| Ukraine | |
| United States (USA) | |
| Uzbekistan | |
| Vanuatu | |
| Vietnam | |
| Wallis and Futuna | |
| Western Sahara | |
| Yemen |
The amber list is not exhaustive. If a country or territory is not on this list, you should not assume that it is a green or red list country or territory. Countries and territories are only green or red if they appear on the green or red list.
Green list countries and territories - from 17 May
From 17 May there will be a new green list of countries and territories. Until 17 May all countries and territories outside of the Common Travel Area are either red list or amber list countries or territories. If you travel to England before 17 May you must follow the relevant amber list or red list rules.
This section tells you what you will have to do if you travel to England from a country or territory on the green list from 17 May. You must only have been in or travelled through a green list country or the Common Travel Area in the previous 10 days.
Before travel to England
Before you travel to England you must:
On arrival in England
You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive.
You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.
You must self-isolate if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you have been in a country or territory on the red or amber list
If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.
If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the amber list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, and have not visited a country on the red list, you must follow the amber list rules.
Read more about making a transit stop in an amber or red list country or territory.
Countries on the watchlist or moving to amber
If conditions change in a country or territory, it can be moved from the green list to the amber or red list. If that is likely to happen, this will normally be flagged in the green watchlist column in the table below. If there is a sudden change in conditions, a country or territory may be moved between lists without warning.
Green list of countries and territories - from 17 May
| Green list | Green watchlist - moves from or to amber or red list |
|---|---|
| Australia | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Brunei | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Falkland Islands | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Faroe Islands | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Gibraltar | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Iceland | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Israel and Jerusalem | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| New Zealand | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira) | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| Singapore | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
| St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | Will move to green from the amber list at 4am, 17 May. If you arrive in England before then, you need to follow the amber list rules. |
Transit stops in amber or red list countries
When you arrive in England you need to follow the rules for the highest risk country or territory that you have been in or passed through in the previous 10 days. That can include transit stops.
A transit stop is a stop where passengers can get on or off the same part of the transport in which you are travelling. It can apply to ships, trains or flights. Your ticket should show if a stop is a transit stop.
The rules of a country or territory that you make a transit stop in could apply if:
- new passengers get on and are able to mix with you
- you or other passengers get off the transport you are on and mix with other people, then get on again
Making a transit stop would not affect what you have to do on arrival in England if, during the stop:
- no new passengers, who are able to mix with you, get on
- no-one on-board gets off and mixes with people outside
- passengers get off but do not get back on
Private vehicles or coaches travelling through amber or red list countries and territories
If you are travelling to England in a private vehicle, the rules of the countries and territories you drive through apply. For example, if you drive through an amber list country, then you must follow the amber 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.
Transiting through airports in England
See what you need to do if you are transiting ‘landside’ or transiting ‘airside’ through England.
Travel within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
You do not need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in England if you are travelling within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, (the Common Travel Area), and you have not been outside of the Common Travel Area in the previous 10 days.
Job and medical exemptions
Some people are exempt from some or all of the requirements:
Travelling abroad from England
Until 17 May, you can only travel abroad from England if you have a legally permitted reason to do so. You must complete a declaration form for international travel.
From 17 May you will not need to complete a declaration form to travel abroad.
You should not travel to amber list or red list countries or territories for leisure purposes.
Demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status when travelling abroad
From 17 May, people in England who have had a full vaccine course (2 doses), will be able to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status for outbound international travel.
Other countries or territories determine their own border health rules, which may include COVID-19 vaccination status. Check the entry requirements for your destination before travelling.
Find out:
- about demonstrating your NHS COVID-19 vaccination status using the NHS App or letter
- if the countries or territories you are travelling to accept proof of COVID-19 vaccination status as part of their entry requirements
- how to prove your COVID-19 vaccination status if you are a resident of Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
The government is working with the devolved administrations to ensure this facility is available to everyone across the UK, and continues to work to ensure that every UK citizen is kept safe.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice continues to advise against all non-essential travel to some countries and territories. Many other countries have rules in place about who can enter and what you can do when you are there. These rules are not related to which colour list that country is on. Before you travel, you should read: