UK quarantine list: you must self-isolate on return to the UK from these countries - including Spain, France and Croatia
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Several countries and territories around the world are now considered safe for travellers to visit and have been added to the UK government’s list of approved travel corridors.
More than 70 countries were initially included on the list, which was first released in July, meaning UK nationals can safely travel to these regions without having to self-isolate on their return.
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Hide AdHowever, following a rise in coronavirus cases in some parts of the world, a number of countries have since been removed as they pose a high risk to tourists.
Which countries have been removed?
On 25 July, Spain was removed from the list of approved travel corridors, with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advising against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands.
The advice was updated in response to an increase in coronavirus cases in several regions, but most particularly in Aragon, Navarra and Catalonia, which include the cities of Zaragoza, Pamplona and Barcelona.
Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas were removed from the list in early August, followed by France, The Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos, and the island of Aruba, with quarantine restrictions applying to all travellers returning to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Hide AdCroatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago have also been added to the quarantine list, along with Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Cuba more recently.
In early September, several Greek islands were removed from the approved travel list due to concerns in a rise in cases. These include Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos .
September has also seen quarantine restrictions brought in for several other countries, with the likes of Curaçao, Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia, Guadeloupe, Slovenia, French Polynesia, Hungary, Portugal and Réunion all removed from the list this month.
What if I have a holiday booked?
The FCDO is now advising all British nationals against all but essential travel to all of the countries listed above, based on the current assessment of coronavirus risks.
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Hide AdTravellers who decide to go ahead with their travel plans to any country not on the approved list of travel corridoes will be required to self-isolate for two weeks on their return to the UK.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said that travel insurance will remain valid for people who are already in quarantine countries, including France, until they return home. However, those who travel to countries against FCO advice will “likely” find that their insurance is invalid, the ABI added.
As for employees who will have to go into quarantine, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab previously said that no worker who is required to self-isolate should be penalised by their employer, including by being put on sick pay.
Which countries are safe to visit?
The following countries and territories currently do not require travellers to self-isolate for 14 days on returning to the UK.
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Hide AdIf you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that is not on the list, you may be subject to quarantine restrictions.
Here’s the full list of countries that are considered safe to visit:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Azores
Barbados
Bermuda
Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Cayman Islands
the Channel Islands
Cuba
Cyprus
Dominica
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
Gibraltar
Germany
Greece (except the islands of Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos – if you arrive in England from any of these islands you will need to self-isolate)
Greenland
Grenada
Hong Kong
Ireland
the Isle of Man
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macao (Macau)
Madeira
Malaysia
Mauritius
Montserrat
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
Poland
San Marino
Seychelles
Singapore
South Korea
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
St Barthélemy
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Vatican City State
Vietnam