UK travel rules and regulations changed significantly on Monday October 4th.

In an effort to simplify travel rules, Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps announced that the current traffic light system would be replaced with a Red List and a “Rest of the World” (ROW) list, a merger of previous lists. green and orange.

Countries considered to be at the highest risk in terms of infection rates were to remain on the red list, with arrivals from those countries to the UK still having to pay for a stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel.

While double-bitten travelers returning to the UK from non-redlisted countries no longer have to take a pre-departure Covid test (or ‘test to fly’), they are still required to book a Covid test (rapid lateral flow test or PCR test) to be taken within two days of arrival.

If you have not received both doses of the vaccine (or if your vaccine is not yet recognized by the UK), you will need to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival and have two PCR tests on days two and eight. (with the option “Test to Release” on the fifth day in England) – whether you come from a country on the red list or not.

But which countries are on the “rest of the world” list? Here is all the information you need to know.

Which countries are on the “rest of the world” list?

All countries are now on the ROW list.

The Red List had previously been reduced to just seven countries – Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela – but these were removed in the latest government reshuffle, announced on October 28 and taking effect on October 1. November. .

However, the Department of Transportation will continue to review the data every three weeks, with the possibility that destinations will descend from the right-of-way to red if a worrying variant emerges.

Can I travel to all the countries on the “rest of the world” list?

No. Many of the countries on the list are closed to UK arrivals or have restrictive quarantine rules in place.

New Zealand’s borders remain closed, for example, while Hong Kong and Australia remain off-limits to British holidaymakers.

Across the Pacific, however, Canada announced in September that it would reopen its doors to fully vaccinated travelers.

The United States is also expected to follow suit, with double-stung travelers expected to be allowed in from November 8.

Will the lists be updated as before?

Revisions to the red lists and “rest of the world” are expected to continue to be announced every three weeks, with the next review scheduled for on or around November 18, although changes may occur more quickly if the Covid situation in a country radically changes.

There is typically a grace period of around four days between such an announcement and the changes being implemented, resulting in a scramble for return flights to the UK.