UK Loosens Restrictions for 30 Countries… But Not South Africa Yet

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has lifted its advice ‘against all but essential travel’ for over 30 countries and territories. The change, announced today, means UK travellers will be able to visit these destinations with greater ease… although still not South Africa.

SA is not on the list of 32 countries and, as of Wednesday evening, is still on the UK’s dreaded Red List. It’s believed however that a meeting will be held on Thursday morning in which SA may be removed from the Red List. The announcement is likely to be on Thursday afternoon.

The FCDO said in a press release today that it “will remove advisories for more countries and territories in the coming days.”

It’s expected that the travel red list will be reduced to only 9 to 12 countries (from 54); and the UK’s Guardian newspaper has reported today that “destinations including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa are expected to be moved off the red list on Thursday, meaning passengers returning from them will not have to isolate in a hotel for 11 nights at a cost of more than £2,000.”

South Africa, along with Brazil, has endured the worst restrictions – longer than most countries as they’ve both been on the red list since January, due to the variants identified in each country (Gamma in Brazil and Beta in SA).

Today’s update to the 32 countries is part of a simplified system for international travel to and from the UK, with the traffic light system being replaced with a single red list, and reduced testing requirements for eligible fully vaccinated travellers.

“The FCDO will no longer advise against travel to non-red list countries on COVID-19 grounds, except in exceptional circumstances such as if the local healthcare system is overwhelmed,” the UK government said in a press release on Wednesday.

Many travel insurance companies use FCDO travel advice as a reference point in their policies – typically excluding cover for places where government advises against essential travel, however people will now be able to purchase travel insurance for a wider range of destinations across the globe.

The press release said: “Advice has been lifted in light of the improved public health in many countries and territories, better understanding of the virus and the decreased risk to British nationals as a result of the vaccine roll out.

“The FCDO will continue to advise against all but essential travel for all red list countries and territories where the risk to British travellers is ‘unacceptably high’. People should not travel to red list countries. The FCDO will remove advisories for more countries and territories in the coming days.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “We’re striking the right balance between keeping people safe which remains our priority and giving them the freedom to exercise personal responsibility, while supporting the travel sector as it continues to recover.”

FCDO will lift its advisory against all but essential travel to:

Algeria
America Samoa
Armenia
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Comoros
Congo
Tokelau & Niue
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Fiji
French Polynesia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Liberia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Solomon Islands
Togo
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu