It is nearly impossible to keep up with changes to the rules for international travel during the pandemic.
Here the PA news agency answers 12 key questions about the current situation:
A risk-based traffic light system determines the testing and quarantine requirements for arrivals into the UK.
– What happens if I arrive from a green list country?
That is the low-risk tier, so all travellers are exempt from quarantine.
– What about testing?
You have to buy one post-arrival PCR test, which typically costs around £65.
The green list includes countries and territories such as Austria, Barbados, Croatia, Germany, Gibraltar and Malta.
– What about hotspots such as Spain, Italy and Greece?
They are all on the amber list.
– What are the amber rules?
Fully vaccinated travellers are treated the same as those arriving from a green country.
– How about those who have not had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine?
They must self-isolate for 10 days, and take two post-arrival PCR tests.
You can buy a third test to be taken on or after day five.
If you get a negative result, you can leave self-isolation.
– What about the red list?
This is the one to avoid if possible.
Arrivals from red list countries must stay in a quarantine hotel for 10 days.
– How much does that cost?
The price for solo travellers rose from £1,750 to £2,285 earlier this month.
There are currently 60 locations on the red list, such as Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey, and much of South America and Africa.
– Is there anything else I need to do?
Whatever country you arrive from, you must take a test in the three days before you travel and have filled out a passenger locator form.
