UK residents arriving from “amber” list countries that have received both Covid-19 vaccinations will no longer be required to quarantine. Anyone under-18 returning from “amber” destinations will also be exempt.
Travellers will, however, still be required to pay for PCR tests before and after their return.
The new rules come into effect from July 19, 2021, and at present only apply to those living in England.
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, emphasised that “a full vaccination means 14 days have passed since your final dose of the vaccine.”
Shapps also warned prospective travellers that “an amber list country could still turn red”, which would mean that travellers would need to isolate for 10-days in a government-regulated hotel – at their own expense.
This is most definitely is a positive step for the travel industry and a leap closer to normality. However, we cannot stress how important it is that travellers check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) advice to make sure the country they plan to visit is not one they advised against.
The reason we say this is because those who travel against the FCDO’s guidance, without an essential reason, will, in most cases, invalidate their travel insurance policy.
For example, Spain is currently on the UK government’s “amber” traffic light list, and from July 19 travellers will no longer need to quarantine on return from visiting the country. However, the FCDO advises against travelling to Spain at present, and therefore anyone who travels there could be invalidating their insurance.
