COVID 19 Travel: What Countries Will be on the Green List?

*Please note that this information applied in 2021/2022 and has since been updated, please always check for up-to-date travel rules and restrictions before embarking upon a journey.

As the world reopened and the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to fall, the UK government issued three lists of countries, the red list, the amber list, and the green list. These lists denoted the countries which were safe to travel to and which weren’t.

The lists changed regularly depending upon a set of determining factors and so it was necessary to keep up to date with the lists to find out where it was safe to travel to and where it was not.

As of the 4th of October 2021, the green list of countries was scrapped by the UK government in favour of a simplified system wherein only a red list of countries was provided, with all other countries being deemed safe for travel.

As of writing, the green list is effectively all of the countries not on the red list and offers perspective on the countries it is safe and acceptable for UK citizens to travel to. There may be regulations at your destination including vaccination status and COVID-19 test results which will be conditional on your entry into the country.

Note: now that Brexit has come into force, UK citizens need to be aware of changes to entry requirements to EU countries, including the need for extra documentation and time to fill out an ETIAS application form for movement within the Schengen Zone.

To find out more about the countries on the green list, keep reading now.

What is the green list?

As previously discussed, the green list is essentially all of the countries that are not on the red list of countries issued by the UK government. Countries not on the red list are considered safe to travel to but the UK government scrapped the idea of the traffic light-coloured lists back in October 2021.

While UK citizens are allowed to travel to these countries, rules may apply at the other end. This may mean that UK citizens are not being accepted into countries on our green list or that you have to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test to get into your destination country. Always check before flying to ensure you can enter your country of choice!

What are the requirements to be on the green list?

Since the green list no longer technically exists, there are no requirements as such to be on it. However, to be put on the red list, there are a number of factors that the government considers.

First, if the country has high cases of ‘variants of concern’ of the Covid-19 virus, it is likely to be on the list. Other factors include local testing and case rates and the number of travel connections with the UK or other countries with high cases of variants of concern etc.

In opposition to green list countries or those that are not on the red list, there are restrictions in place when travel is necessary to these countries. These can include hotel quarantine and testing in advance of departure from a red-list country.

Which countries are on the green list?

As of writing, there are no countries on the UK government’s red list meaning that all countries are on the green list. This means that UK citizens may travel anywhere in the world provided that their chosen destination is accepting foreign visitors from the UK.

It is worth noting that a number of countries are still not accepting foreign visitors, or have banned visitors from the UK. And others may still require UK tourists to complete a lengthy hotel quarantine upon arrival.

Green List Holiday Destinations

So, now we know that almost all countries are open for travel, it’s probably time to book that long-awaited holiday. With half-term, the Easter break, and the summer holidays coming up, there are plenty of opportunities to jet off for some sorely needed sun. But, where to go?

Europe

From city breaks to days lounging by the pool, almost all of Europe is open to you this summer. With many European countries lifting restrictions on UK travellers, you can book into your favourite hotel in Paris to soak up some French culture (and some incredible pastries) or you could book in for an all-inclusive break on the sun-soaked Canary Islands.

Caribbean

Several Caribbean islands are now accepting tourists and though there are some restrictions depending upon where you have previously travelled, most UK citizens will be able to soak up the sun on pristine beaches somewhere in the Caribbean this summer.

Where can I not go?

A part of the world that has consistently denied foreign visitors throughout the Covid-19 pandemic is Australasia. Many of the nations in this region, including Australia and New Zealand were still not accepting tourists at the time of writing this.

Green List Countries

Though the official green list was scrapped by the UK government at the end of last year, any countries not on the red list can be considered to be on the green list. As of writing, there are no countries currently on the UK government’s red list, meaning all countries are open for travel by UK citizens.

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