Goodness - where has the time gone since my last newsletter? I trust you are well and had a great summer.
Exciting news... holidays are returning!
Whilst many of you have already been making the most of having a holiday abroad this year, the latest announcement from Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, has been a welcome one and is a huge step towards the return of international travel.
From Monday 4 October 2021, England’s traffic light system will be simplified.
We will move to a two tier system: countries we can travel to (so long as the destination of choice allows entry to UK citizens and the FCDO doesn’t advise against travel) and those we cannot travel to (red list).
From 4 October, if you are fully vaccinated there is more good news. You will no longer be required to take a Covid-19 test before you return to the UK. Then, later in October, the Day 2 PCR test will be replaced with the cheaper lateral flow test.
Non-vaccinated travellers returning from non-red list destinations will still be required to take a test in resort before entering the UK and will also need to take the day 2 and Day 8 PCR test.
Test to release will remain an option to reduce the self-isolation period.
Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test at no additional cost to the traveller which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.
Other great news announced was that from Wednesday 22 September, eight countries will be removed from the red list: Turkey, the Maldives, Egypt, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
As always, I am available to help if you have any questions about the latest travel rules and I am here to take care of you every step of the way.