On Saturday 12 December, 2020 the UK government removed the Canary Islands from its travel corridor list, leaving thousands of people needing to isolate upon their return from the popular winter sun destination.
However, tourists have been left in a state of confusion as, despite the removal of the destination from the corridor list, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has not advised against travel to the Islands.
This means that while travellers will need to isolate for up to 10 days after a trip to the Canaries, the majority of British tourists could still be covered by their travel insurance provider to visit the destination, as they are not travelling against FCDO advice.
Those who decide to visit the popular destination should be aware that they will be required to complete the Spanish government’s health form 48 hours before they travel and display their QR code when they arrive.
They will also need to present a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours before their arrival – this could be in the form of a PCR or antigen test. Tourists will also be required to have their temperature checked and have a visual health assessment.
Of course, whether you are permitted to travel outside of your region is a different matter and completely depends on where you live in the UK.
For example, those living in England are allowed to travel abroad regardless of what regional restrictions are in place. However, those living in Wales are banned from travelling for leisure until January 2021.
For this reason, we would recommend checking your local guidance before booking a trip, and discussing your options with your tour operator if you already have a holiday booked but live in a UK region that restricts travel.
Lastly, we’d also like to make readers aware that those affected by the removal of the Canary Islands from the travel corridor list won’t be able to claim for any costs related to the mandatory isolation rules. For example, a loss of earnings due to having to self-isolate for 10 days.
