The Foreign Office advice against all non-essential travel will be lifted on Saturday 04 July for some countries, meaning that a summer holiday abroad will now be possible for English travellers. The government has also announced that people arriving into England from 59 countries will no longer need to self-isolate from 10 July.
Government eases quarantine rules in England
The Foreign Office advice against all non-essential travel will be lifted on Saturday 04 July for some countries, meaning that a summer holiday abroad will now be possible for English travellers. The government has also announced that people arriving into England from 59 countries will no longer need to self-isolate from 10 July.
The list of countries that are exempt from quarantine restrictions in England includes France, Spain and Italy, as well as St Lucia, Vietnam and Australia. From 10 July, travellers from 59 countries in total will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival into England.
The full quarantine-free list of countries is:
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Réunion, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, South Korea, Spain, St Barthélemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam.
Spain is the most popular destination for English holidaymakers and many have second homes in the country. The news that there will be no need to self-isolate on arrival in Spain or on return to the UK is expected to see holiday bookings to Spain explode. The second most popular holiday destination is France, which receives roughly 17 million UK visitors annually.
Greece is on the list of countries exempt from quarantine in England, but English holidaymakers cannot enter the country until 15 July. Notable exclusions from the quarantine-free list include Portugal and the USA.
All countries will have measures in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Exact rules will be individually determined by each country, but common regulations will include temperature checks, social distancing and wearing face masks in shops and on public transport. Bars and restaurants may be running at lower capacities, beaches may have social distancing regulations, and some attractions – including nightclubs – may remain closed. Most waterparks, gardens, theme parks and archaeological sites are likely to open.
The relaxed quarantine rules currently only apply to England, as each nation in the UK controls its own quarantine rules.
Click here to find out more information on global travel restrictions.