Malta, the Balearic islands and parts of the Caribbean are among the countries being moved to the UK’s travel green list from today.
Anyone arriving in the UK from green list destinations from 4am on Wednesday will no longer have to self-isolate for 10 days.
The full list of countries moving onto the green list is as follows:
Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Balearic islands (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca), Barbados, Bermuda, BIOT, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Madeira, Malta, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands.
All of the destinations being moved to the green list, with the exception of Malta, are also being put on the government’s ‘green watchlist’.
This means that they are “at risk of moving from green to amber”, the Department of Transport said, noting that “passengers are urged to take extra care when thinking about travelling to green watchlist countries”.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said green watchlist countries could be moved to amber before the next official review in three weeks’ time.
Jerusalem and Israel, which were already on the green list, are also being moved onto the watchlist, the department said.
Eritrea, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Tunisia and Uganda are being moved onto the red list from 4am on Wednesday.
Anyone returning from these countries will have to quarantine in a government-sanctioned hotel for 10 days.
Although Malta and the Spanish Islands are being moved to the green list, local rules mean that Britons hoping to holiday there face restrictions on arrival.
Only fully-vaccinated people from the UK will be allowed into Malta, while those travelling to the Balearics will have to prove vaccination status or a negative COVID test result before entering.
The next travel review will take place before the planned final easing of coronavirus restrictions in England on 19 July.