UK travel corridors: government’s full list of 74 countries exempt from UK quarantine under latest FCO travel advice

UK travellers have been enjoying heading abroad again after the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its travel advice, and quarantine restrictions on a select number of location have been lifted.

The 14-day self-isolation policy for any travellers returning to England from 74 destinations overseas has now been scrapped, as the UK government deems them low-risk for UK tourists to visit.

When will the list of countries be announced?

The UK government has published a list of 74 countries, including France, Italy and Cyprus, that travellers from England are allowed to visit and will be exempt from quarantine on their return.

The FCO changed its advice against all but essential international travel on 4 July, while the updated quarantine policy came into effect on 10 July.

The changes mean that anybody who travels to one of the countries included in the government approved list will not need to self-isolate on their return to the UK.

The Department for Transport (DfT) indicated that reciprocal arrangements between England and overseas nations have not been confirmed, but said it is the government's "expectation" that a number of exempted countries will also not require UK arrivals to self-isolate.

However, there is no guarantee that foreign nations will not have quarantine restrictions in place.

All travellers who arrive in the UK from abroad will still have to supply contact information to allow health officials to trace them should someone they have been in contact with display symptoms, or test positive, for coronavirus.

The DfT confirmed in a statement that the devolved administrations “will set out their own approach", meaning passengers who arrive in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have to follow the laws and guidance that apply in these areas.

Which countries are included?

As of 10 July, passengers arriving from the following 74 countries will not be required to self-isolate on arrival into England, unless they have visited or stopped in any other country or territory in the preceding 14 days.

This list will be kept "under constant review", meaning quarantine measures could be reinstated in the event the risk to public health increases.

Spain was removed from the list of countries exempt from quarantine restrictions on Sunday 26 July, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, due to an spike in the number of coronavirus cases over the last few days. The change means all travellers returning to the UK from Spain will now have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. The quarantine rules apply to people returning to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Here is the full list of approved countries and territories:

Akrotiri and Dhekelia