UK quarantine list: you must self-isolate on return to the UK from these countries - including Spain, France and Croatia

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.

However, 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.

Croatia, 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.

Travellers 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.

If 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