Travel Corridors Explained
Last updated on 10th August, 2020
The UK was one of the last countries to enforce a lockdown, due to this the lockdown took longer than neighbouring countries to ease and eventually open up to include more movement inside and outside of the country. This has lead to uncertainty about summer holidays and the ability to travel without having to self isolate in your destination and when you return home to the UK.
You might think that the COVID-19 pandemic has put your travel plans into great peril but do not despair. The UK government has released a list of destinations that are open for summer travel without needing to self isolate on return, this list is updated weekly. Read on to learn more about these destinations and your potential for travel.
Travel Corridors
Travel corridors are when neighbouring countries decide to open their borders to one another, allowing their citizens to travel freely between them and avoid a mandatory self-quarantine requirement.
Check below the countries or territories added to the exempt list:
Keep in mind that you will have to self-isolate if you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that is not on the list in the 14 days before you arrive in England.
Update
The following countries were removed from the travel corridor list as of Saturday 8 August 2020, 4am:
- Andorra
- The Bahamas
- Belgium
If you arrive in England from Andorra, The Bahamas or Belgium on or after 4am, 8 August you will need to self-isolate.
However, only a limited number of countries permit travellers from the UK without restrictions on arrival. While some countries require travellers to self-isolate, others have entirely prohibited foreign nationals from entering. Below, we have compiled a list of countries that Britons either can’t travel to currently or include requirements such as having to provide a negative test or self-quarantining.
These select countries by continents are:
1. Europe
- Cyprus - from August 1st, 2020, travellers from the UK are permitted to visit Cyprus, provided that they present a negative coronavirus test (obtained within 72 hours before travel).
- Finland - travellers from the UK need to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
- Greece - travellers from the UK must complete a Passenger Locator Form and may be required to take a Covid-19 test and self-isolate.
- Hungary - travellers from the UK need to provide 2 negative Covid-19 tests (taken 48 hours apart, within 5 days prior to arrival) or self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
- Iceland - travellers from the UK can choose to either undergo a 14-day isolation period or pay to be tested for the virus.
- Luxembourg - travellers arriving to the UK from Luxembourg after 31 July need to self-isolate.
- Portugal - travellers from the UK must take a Covid-19 test if visiting Madeira, Porto Santo or Azores.
- Spain - travellers from the UK will be asked to provide the Spanish Ministry of Health documentation regarding contact information and history of exposure. Travellers may also need to undergo a temperature check and a visual health assessment.
For a more in-depth look at all the European destinations that are open for summer travel please visit our latest blog.
2. Asia
- Hong Kong does not allow UK travellers but this is subject to change.
- Macao does not permit travellers from the UK.
- Japan does not allow travellers from the UK
- South Korea imposes a 14-day quarantine on arrival.
- Taiwan has banned foreign travellers until further notice.
- Vietnam is currently closed to all foreign travellers.
3. Oceania
Australia only allows entry for residents and is currently closed for international travel as well as a ban on travel between certain regions inside the country.
New Zealand is closed for leisure travel.
4. Caribbean
Barbados - travellers from the UK must provide a negative PCR test upon arrival.
Fiji is currently closed to all foreign travellers.
Seychelles - travellers from the UK are currently not permitted to enter Seychelles.
Jamaica is open to international travel but requires a negative COVID-19 test for admission to the country.
No countries from Africa and the Middle East are currently allowed to enter the UK without self-isolation of 14 days.
For a more in-depth look at the lockdown rules per country please visit our state of travel page.
Disclaimer: changes in local policies are continuously unwrapping, and we will keep updating the list with more destinations and details. Please be aware that The Foreign & Commonwealth Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Always be sure to check the government guidelines for each country in the list above. These guidelines are available here. As much as we would love to encourage you to plan your next trips, in the current situation, we urge you to be conscious about the consequences and consider risks involved.