The Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh to be added to England’s red list from 9 April 2021.
Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh have been added to England’s red list to protect the country against new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19), at a critical time for the vaccine programme.
With over 30 million vaccinations delivered in the UK so far, the additional restrictions will help to reduce the risk of new variants – such as those first identified in South Africa (SA) and Brazil – entering England. So far, surveillance has found that few cases of the SA variant have been identified as being imported from Europe, with most coming from other parts of the world.
Red list travel ban countries
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bangladesh (will be added to the list 4 am Friday 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 4am Friday 9 April)
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Oman
- Pakistan (will be added to the list 4am Friday 9 April)
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines (will be added to the list 4am Friday 9 April)
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
During their stay, passengers will be required to take a coronavirus test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8, and they will not be allowed to shorten their quarantine period on receipt of a negative test result. They will also not be able to end their managed quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) produces risk assessments of the spread of variants of concern internationally. These risk assessments cover a range of factors for each country including:
assessment of surveillance and sequencing capability
available surveillance and genome sequencing data
evidence of in-country community transmission of COVID-19 variants
evidence of exportation of new variants to the UK or other countries
travel connectivity with the UK
The government has made it consistently clear it will take decisive action if necessary to contain the virus and has added these destinations to the red list to protect public health.
The government continues to work with the hospitality sector to ensure it is ready to meet any increased demand.
British nationals currently in the countries on the red list should make use of the commercial options available if they wish to return to England. Commercial routes that will enable British and Irish nationals and residents to return to England continue to operate.
If you have been in or through any of the countries listed below in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.
If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.