The summer holidays are here and for most British citizens that means jetting off for a trip abroad. However, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, things aren’t as straightforward as they usually are.
If you’re planning to travel abroad for study, work or just for a holiday, you’ll need to make sure you’re familiar with where you can and cannot travel.
Below, we explain what the current rules are for British passport holders.
Where can British tourists visit in Europe without quarantining or restrictions?
A lot has changed for UK citizens journeying to Europe, even before Coronavirus hit. Now that the United Kingdom has left the European Union, British visitors are classified as third country travellers by the EU.
This means that you may only visit the EU for up to 3 months within a 6 month period visa-free. Not only that, but from 2022, you will also need to complete an ETIAS application from the UK to get a visa waiver for Europe.
However, COVID-19 has made things much more awkward for British travellers.
Each country in Europe maintains its own rules to keep out COVID infections. Yet, for many of the top EU destinations, it’s now possible to travel as long as you are fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID PCR test.
This is not universal, however, as in many cases British visitors are only allowed to enter some European countries for essential reasons. Therefore, it’s important to check the rules for the EU country you plan to visit before you travel.
Which EU countries allow vaccinated British Citizens to enter?
Since the launch of the EU Digital COVID certificate in summer 2021, a number of EU countries are allowing British visitors to enter for tourism if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
These European countries include:
- Croatia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Poland
- Romania
- Spain
- Switzerland
Be aware however that if you are unvaccinated and visit these nations, you may be required to enter quarantine for up to 14 days. You will also need to present a negative COVID PCR test on arrival.
Where else in the world can British nationals visit without entry restrictions?
A few countries around the world currently allow British travellers to enter with no restrictions whatsoever. This means you may enter with no PCR tests.
The countries that UK travellers can visit without any special COVID restrictions are:
- Albania
- Columbia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mexico
- Tanzania
Be aware however, that some of these countries are currently on the UK’s red list. This means that you will have to comply with the government’s strictest quarantine requirements on your return.
You may also need to hold evidence of vaccination or a negative COVID test before being allowed to board your flight. This is often a stated requirement of the airline you use to fly to your destination.
Avoiding the UK red list
The UK uses a traffic light system to manage COVID restrictions for returning citizens and arriving passengers. These are decided by the volume of case numbers and the presence of risky variants in your country of departure.
Currently, if you arrive back in the UK in a country on the red list you must enter hotel quarantine for 10 days and undergo 2 PCR tests whilst isolating.
Following recent changes, visitors arriving from countries on the amber list may avoid quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated. All other arrivals from these destinations must self-isolate for 10 days and undergo 2 PCR tests during quarantine.
Lastly, travellers arriving to the UK from green list countries don’t have to undergo quarantine at all. However, they must present a negative PCR test and undergo another PCR test within 2 days of arriving in Britain.
Places Brits cannot travel to in summer 2021
At the moment, a number of countries have barred British and EU travellers from visiting. This means tourists will not be able to enter the nations affected by the current policies, no matter if they have been vaccinated or not.
The countries barring entry to UK passport holders include:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Cambodia
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- Fiji
- Guatemala
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Malawi
- Mongolia
- Montserrat
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Suriname
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- United States
However, for many other countries around the world, you may also currently face strict restrictions as a British traveller. These include quarantine, requesting special permission to enter from the national government or proving that you are travelling for essential reasons.
Making holiday plans hasn’t been easy over the last 18 months. However, it’s still important to have a good grasp on the possible travel restrictions you might have to comply with as a UK traveller. These restrictions and rules often change, so make sure to check the latest information before you leave.
