Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic update

International travel continues to be impacted due to COVID-19, and a number of variant strains have emerged globally, with information on such travel available for people living in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. To help prevent new COVID-19 variants being exported and imported, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advise against travelling to red list countries.

On 4 October 2021, the traffic light system for travel to the UK was simplified, with the green and amber lists merging, and a red list remaining for countries with high case numbers and variants of concern. The rules travellers need to follow depend on whether they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 using a UK government approved vaccine, and whether they are arriving from, or in the previous ten days have travelled through, a red list country or territory, or from the rest of the world on the non-red list. It should be noted that the lists do not indicate which destinations allow UK travellers to enter their country.

Currently, anyone aged over 18 years who is fully vaccinated and entering Scotland from a non-red list country or area will be required to complete a passenger locator form and take a COVID-19 PCR test within two days of arrival. Isolation is only required if the COVID-19 test result is positive, or NHS Scotland Test and Protect makes contact to inform of the need to isolate due to travelling with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Travellers should be aware that testing and quarantine rules may differ in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and travellers must ensure they are able to comply with the rules appropriate to the UK nation they will be arriving in and reside in, if different.

Country specific COVID-19 risk

The fitfortravel (for the general public) and TRAVAX (for health professionals) country pages have been updated to include a COVID-19 country specific risk-rating, with every country being identified as high, moderate or low risk and each rating accompanied by appropriate travel advice. This information will be listed in the ‘Alerts’ section on each country page of fitfortravel and the 'Emerging Health Risks' section of every TRAVAX country page. This risk-rating is based on a robust public health assessment of the COVID-19 risks for travellers to each country and is regularly reviewed.

In September 2021, the COVID-19 risk for UK travellers decreased in Kuwait.

Advice for travellers

Prior to booking any international travel, travellers must first check if the country they are travelling to is currently accepting UK travellers. 

• The FCDO foreign travel advice country pages have up-to-date information on entry rules, in response to coronavirus (COVID-19), under the ‘Entry Requirements’ section. 
• Travellers should be aware that some countries or territories may require proof of COVID-19 vaccination status for entry. Guidance for demonstrating COVID-19 vaccination status is available for those living in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is advised that travellers are aware of all travel restrictions, self-isolation rules and precautions they should take, in order to reduce their risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) before, during and after travel, as detailed on the fitfortravel COVID-19 health considerations for travel page.

Source: TRAVAX, 5 October 2021