When will the UK lift the travel ban?

Can you travel on holiday right now? Unfortunately, that’s not possible. Since January 2021, the UK has been under national lockdown - this is the third one so far. Holidays in the UK or abroad are prohibited.
What’s more, from 29 March, anyone even going to the airports without good reason can be fined as much as £5,000.
What everyone wants to know is, when will the UK lift the travel ban?
The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke about the lockdown restrictions on Monday, 5 April.
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The UK travel ban and travel restrictions
International travel is not allowed right now. The earliest date for that is set to be 17 May. However, the date is still not a firm one. The government has revealed there will be a traffic light system for foreign travel.
There are fears that the date could be pushed back due to Covid cases spiking across Europe. The Government’s global travel task force was going to report on 12 April, the same day retail and hospitality are set to reopen. However, this was brought forward by a week.
The situation is unchanged, as there continue to be strict travel rules. UK citizens have to stay local and not only that, but there is also a fine of £5,000 for anyone caught attempting to travel abroad without an official exemption.
The government’s red list
Here is the official red list of countries, from which entry to the UK is banned (in alphabetical order). People with specific jobs are exempt from the red list travel restrictions.
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bangladesh (will be added to the list 4 am, 9 April)
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Kenya (will be added to the list 4 am, 9 April)
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Oman
- Pakistan (will be added to the list 4 am, 9 April)
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines (will be added to the list 4 am, 9 April)
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
If you have been in or through any of the countries listed above in the last 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.
However, if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter but you will be obliged to quarantine in a hotel approved by the government for 10 days. You will not be eligible for the Test to Release scheme.
As you noticed, several countries will be added to the list 4 am on Friday, 9 April. These are Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and Philippines. Depending on whether you arrive before or after this time, the quarantine rules for you will be slightly different.
If you arrive in the UK from one of these countries before 4 am on 9 April, you will have to self-isolate for 10 days in the place you’re staying and take a COVID test on the second and the eighth day. You will be eligible for the Test to Release scheme.
If you arrive in the UK from these places after 4 am on 9 April, you will be required to stay in your quarantine hotel for your 10-day quarantine period and take a COVID-19 test on day 2 and day 8.
Conclusion
Currently, it is uncertain when the UK will lift the travel ban and whether you can start planning your summer holidays. International travel corridors might open 17 May, but the date isn’t a firm one.
Before you plan to exit the country, make sure to check the latest government announcement; otherwise, you risk a hefty fine.
Stay updated, practice social distancing and be safe!