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Covid international travel rules

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022.

Are there any rules for international travel to the UK?

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022. Testing and quarantine requirements were removed for fully vaccinated individuals and under 18s on 11 February, and then for unvaccinated individuals on 18 March, along with passenger locator forms for all arrivals. [1] Remaining restrictions were also removed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. [2]

International travel for leisure in England had first resumed in May 2021. Initially countries were given a red, amber, or green rating with different rules for testing and quarantining on return.

The government simplified this system in October 2021, with only the red list remaining, and the red list was cleared of all countries on 1 November. In late November and early December 2021, some countries were added again, amid concerns about the Omicron variant. These countries were removed again as it became clear that Omicron was circulating widely within the UK. [3]

Arrivals from red list countries were required to take a pre-departure test and book a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel with day 2 and day 8 tests, regardless of vaccination status. For countries not on the red list, arrival requirements depended on vaccination status, with vaccinated travellers subject to fewer requirements than unvaccinated arrivals by the end of 2021.  

The government has stated that it has contingency plans in place for a new variant but these have not been set out in detail. [4]

Is this in line with what other countries are doing?

A small number of countries have also removed all travel restrictions – including Ireland, Iceland, Norway. But many still have some entry requirements, particularly when it comes to testing. Others are also still restricting access for unvaccinated individuals or, in a few cases, for most non-residents. [5]

How do Covid passports for travel work?

Although travel to the UK is no longer dependent on vaccination status, many countries still require proof of vaccination.

A Covid passport for travel is incorporated into the existing NHS app (which is different from the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app). [6] The app is also available for Welsh residents, while Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own apps. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can now request an NHS Covid pass letter for travel. From 3 February 2022 children aged 13 and over will be able to access a Covid pass for travel through the app, and those 12 and over will be able to request a PDF online. [7]

What are the potential challenges ahead?

Since the spread of the Delta variant in spring 2021, with questions about whether India should have been added to the red list sooner, the government has faced a tricky balance between the pressure to open up travel and the need for continued caution about Covid transmission and the spread of new variants.

All travel restrictions when entering the UK have now been removed. However, most other countries still retain some restrictions, meaning that travel from the UK is still affected.

The major question remaining is what the government will do if a new variant emerges. It has said that contingency plans are in place to respond to any future variants but has not set out in detail what those plans would mean for travel. [8]

• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK, 14 March 2022, www.gov.uk/government/news/all-covid-19-travel-restrictions-removed-in-the-uk
• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Scottish Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel, www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine ; Welsh Government, International travel to and from Wales: coronavirus, 4 October 2021, https://gov.wales/rules-international-travel-and-wales-coronavirus ; NI Direct Government Services, Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice, www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice
• Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Travel Update: 47 countries and territories removed from red list, 7 October 2021, www.gov.uk/government/news/travel-update-47-countries-and-territories-removed-from-red-list ; Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979
• GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice,  www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• The app is available to individuals over 16 who are registered with a GP surgery in England. Individuals who cannot access the app can get a paper certificate by calling the NHS 119 helpline after 17 May. Certificates will be available from five days after a second vaccine dose: see Department of Health and Social Care, Using your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad and at venues and settings in England, 7 May 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad
• Welsh Government, Get your NHS COVID Pass,  https://gov.wales/nhs-covid-pass-prove-your-vaccination-status#section-70614 ; NI Direct Government Services, Apply for a Travel COVID vaccination certificate,  www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/coronavirus-covid-19-covid-certificate-ni-residents ; www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record-of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status ; www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass#children
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022,  www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979

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Travel Aware

Staying safe and healthy abroad

Advice for going abroad

Stick with your mates.

Going abroad with your mates is all about having fun. Lounging by the pool, catching the rays and partying into the early hours.   

It should be a trip you want to remember for the right reasons.

Sadly, for a small number of Brits, their holiday ends in a hospital ward or a police station.  

But we are here to share with you a few simple tips that can help you have a holiday to remember, not one to forget.  

Here are five things that can help prevent things going wrong on the strip:

Friends don’t leave friends behind.

Serious incidents often happen after drinking alcohol when you are alone and isolated.

◊ TIP: Stick with your mates throughout the night. Stay in contact and if you’re staying at the same accommodation, go home together.

Drinking abroad can be different than back in the UK. The quality and measurements of alcohol can be larger, cheaper and deals can result in you being drunk quicker than intended.

Drinks spiking can also take place on holiday. Spiking is adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink without them knowing.

S piking is commonly used to distract you from theft or impair you before an assault .

◊TIP: Do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from complete strangers. This is the best strategy to prevent the possibility of your drink being spiked.

◊TIP: Consume water in-between alcoholic drinks. This will help pace you throughout the night and help keep you hydrated.

◊ TIP: Drink at your own pace. Everyone’s tolerance to alcohol is different. Consider avoiding rounds or having a break from drinking alcohol if you are feeling uneasy.

Remembering where to go at the end of the night can be tougher than you think. It’s a new environment, a different climate, and drinking alcohol could make this harder.

TIP: Keep details of your accommodation on you. Consider taking a screenshot of the hotel’s address before going out. Or ask reception if they have an address card you can take and store in your wallet.

◊ TIP: Use messaging apps to set up a group chat. This way you can send your location to your friends if you get lost or check they are safe if you lose them.

It is easy to get lost in a foreign country. Add alcohol and sun and it’s now even easier to get lost.

◊ TIP: If you are on the strip, before your first big night, familiarise yourself with the area. Exploring your surroundings will help you remember where you are later.

◊ TIP: Agree a meeting place in case you lose your friends and cannot get in contact (e.g. phone out of battery or lost etc.)

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is important. It provides protection and coverage for unexpected events that can happen on holiday. Travel insurance can cover a range of scenarios, such as:

• medical emergencies and repatriation
• lost or stolen baggage
• trip cancellations or interruptions
• natural disasters

You must purchase insurance cover that is appropriate for your travel plans. Travelling without the right cover can be very expensive if things do go wrong while you are abroad.

There are many reasons why travel insurance may be invalidated.

If you buy a basic policy that does not provide enough medical coverage, you may get a big bill if you have an unexpected health issue on holiday.

You may buy a policy that does not cover your planned holiday activities such as water sports or quad biking; or does not cover cancellations or delays. If you’re injured doing activities, or your trip is disrupted, you may have a big bill to pay.

So, before you go on holiday, you can do some small things in only a few minutes which could save you a lot of money.

You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. If you already have cover, you should check that your list of medical conditions is up to date before each trip abroad.

Failure to do this could mean your claim is rejected if you have a medical emergency while travelling.

Therefore you must be honest about any medical conditions you have, to avoid risking a big bill.

Check your policy to see what you need to declare. Medical conditions can include, but are not limited to:

• heart conditions
• high blood pressure
• respiratory conditions (such as asthma)
• mental health conditions
• any form of cancer

When buying travel insurance, consider the type of coverage you need. If you intend to engage in adventure activities, like quad-biking or water sports, you may need specific insurance cover. Check your policy before you travel to make sure all your activities are covered.

Make sure you buy travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your holiday. Some insurance policies have a limit on the amount of time you can be abroad; if you exceed it, your policy may be invalidated.

You may assume you will not need to be brought home for medical reasons whilst on holiday. But, if you become ill or injured while travelling, you may need to be transported to hospital, or back to the UK, for treatment. Medical evacuations can cost thousands of pounds.

Check your policy covers medical evacuation before travelling. This is especially important if your trip includes adventure activities like climbing, quad-biking or water sports.

Before you go on holiday, share your insurance policy details with travel companions, and friends or family at home. This can be helpful in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf, if you get into trouble abroad.

When you travel, take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you. If you lose your phone abroad, this paper copy will provide the information you need, including your policy number and insurer’s emergency 24 hour telephone number.

More information

Travel advice

More travel insurance info

Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

Travel checklist

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel

Planning foreign travel and information on travel rules.

This document is part of a collection

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Visiting Scotland from another country

There are no covid travel rules in place for people arriving in Scotland from abroad.

You do not need to:

• complete a Passenger Locator Form
• take any covid tests before you leave for Scotland, or after you arrive
• isolate when you arrive

Normal travel rules apply.

When returning home or travelling to other countries outside Scotland, you should check your own government’s travel advice for further help. Even though Scotland does not have covid travel rules, other countries may.

If you live in Scotland and you're travelling abroad

Even though Scotland’s rules have ended, other countries may still have travel rules in place. If you live in Scotland, you should  check GOV.UK’s foreign travel advice   for every country you're planning to visit.

COVID-19 vaccination for travel is only available if you’re traveling to a country that requires proof of coronavirus vaccination for entry and you do not have the number of doses required. There are very few countries in the world that require proof of COVID status to enter. Most countries have no requirements at all, and some will allow you to enter if you take a coronavirus test prior to travel.

If you need a coronavirus vaccine, please contact your local health board to discuss your circumstances.

If you need to prove which vaccinations you’ve had when you arrive in another country, you can normally use your NHS Scotland COVID Status app to do this.

Future changes to travel advice

New covid travel rules in Scotland, or any other country, may be brought in at short notice. You should always check the latest advice for each country you’re planning to travel to before booking your trip and before you go.

Central Enquiry Unit Email:  [email protected] Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

Updated section 'if you live in Scotland and you are travelling abroad'.

Amended information note about travel relating to China to include advice to check the gov.uk foreign travel advice page.

Added line about travel (or return) by plane from mainland China to Scotland via England and requirement to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test.

Removed redundant information regarding rules.

Updated to reflect the end of Scotland's COVID-19 international travel rules.

Added update about Scotland's travel rules ending at 4am, 18 March. Also, red list travel page taken offline.

Updated with changes to fully vaccinated travel rules, non-fully vaccinated travel rules and travel exemptions.

Added announcement of upcoming changes for all travellers from 4am, 11 February.

Updated with latest rules for fully vaccinated travellers, including choice of day 2 lateral flow tests rather than PCR.

Updated to include changes to rules for fully vaccinated travellers.

Updated to include upcoming changes to rules for fully vaccinated travellers.

Updated to remove all countries from Scotland's red list.

Added announcement all countries to be removed from red list.

Removed lines that said children (under 18) do not need to isolate.

Updated to reflect pre-departure test extension to everybody aged 12 and over.

Nigeria added to red list.

Updated to reflect 2 announcements: Nigeria to move to red list and extension of pre-departure testing requirements.

Updated to reflect PCR testing requirement.

Added upcoming rule changes for fully vaccinated travellers.

Added more detail for hotel booking process for arrivals from red list countries.

Added information that 6 African countries will be added to red list from 26 November.

Link to foreign travel advice on overview page amended to point to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Amended overview page to make clear who the guide is for and better links between pre-arrival tests and fully vaccinated rules.

Changes to sectoral exemptions page transport categories - aircraft pilots/crew, ship inspectors, bus/coach drivers, goods vehicles drivers. Also information about clinical trials added to not fully vaccinated page.

Changes made to Overview page.

Changes to Overview, Testing for people travelling to Scotland and Managed and self-isolation: what you must do.

Revised guide layout to make the information clearer and separated out red list rules into its own page.

Added Ethiopia section to Testing rules for travelling to Scotland page.

Minor changes made to not fully vaccinated over 18's information on Red/non-red countries page.

Red and non-red list rules page updated.

Updated text about getting help to pay for hotel quarantine/testing packages.

Updated the guide to reflect that no countries are on the red list.

Updated to reflect option of booking lateral flow tests for fully vaccinated travellers and 11 to 17 year olds entering Scotland.

Minor change to 'What fully vaccinated means' on Red/non-red countries.

Amended text on Red, amber and green list countries.

Text updates to Red and non-red list rules.

Revised red list and accepted vaccines for 'fully vaccinated' status.

Linked to news release announcing changes to the red list from 11 October.

Update to reflect changes that came into effect today. Green and amber lists no longer in use, changes to pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

Minor updates to links and bullet point re. amber countries.

Amendment to text on amber countries section for 'if you're not fully vaccinated' to clarify when 10 day period starts.

Revisions to red, amber and green list countries effective from 4am on 19 July 2021.

Added news release to Overview and Red, amber and green list countries.

Revised red list to show upcoming changes.

Exemptions page updated - sections on clinical trials and studies and specialist technical work in sub-sea telecommunications infrastructure, goods, waste, power infrastructure or space infrastructure updated to include testing information update.

Link updated on testing for people travelling to Scotland page.

Updated to reflect that private providers are now eligible to supply testing kits.

Added Luxembourg to amber list.

Changes to Overview and Red, amber and green list countries.

Changes to Overview, Red, amber and green list countries and Testing for people travelling to Scotland.

Altered the layout of the red, amber, green list page so that green is at the top. Amended the text in the amber section to make the vaccination content clearer.

Updated email on Managed isolation: what you must do

Amended pricing for testing.

Updated Managed and self isolation: what you must do

Changes to Overview, Red amber and green list countries, Sectoral exemptions and Managed isolation: what you must do pages.

Changes to Overview, Red amber and green list countries and Managed isolation: what you must do pages.

Changes to overview page and amber countries page reflecting latest changes in respect of vaccinations and travel.

Changes to Overview and Red, green and amber list countries and Testing for people travelling to Scotland.

Changes to Overview and Red, green and amber list countries.

Compassionate exemptions on medical grounds section added to sector exemptions page - exemptions: arriving from all countries.

Word "quarantine" replaced replaced with “self-isolate at home or the place you are staying” in references to arrivals from France.

Amended to highlight that 19 July double NHS vaccination rules will not apply to people returning from France.

Updated to reflect changes coming into force on 19 July 2021, in particular overview, all lists and details and isolating in a hotel

Changed sectoral exemptions for seafarers.

Amended sectoral exemptions for defence personnel.

Amended sectoral exemptions for seamen.

Amended red, amber and green lists to reflect changes coming into effect at 4am.

Amended the amber list to show changes coming into effect on 30 June 2021.

Added link to news release - expanded travel green list for Scotland - dated 24 June, following latest review.

Updated offshore oil and gas work in sectoral exemptions page to reflect current situation.

Added information notice to Red list countries and areas section.

Updated elite sportspeople in sectoral exemptions page to reflect current situation.

Amendment to sectoral exemptions page for those returning from amber countries. Removed: 'you do not need to book a managed isolation package' as these sectors do not need to self isolate.

Overview and red, amber and green counties pages updated to reflected latest situation.

Added details in the sectoral exemptions chapter, seafarers section on cruise ship detail.

Changes made to 'getting help paying for your hotel quarantine section' email and telephone numbers on the managed and self isolation page.

Link to CTM booking portal amended.

Boarding school pupils and children under 18 travelling without an adult information updated.

Updated seamen, masters of ships, ship inspectors or surveyors of ships information.

Updated to reflect regulation changes on 17 May 2021.

Added information on the red, amber and green list countries that will come into effect on 17 May 2021.

Nepal, Maldives and Turkey added to list of acute risk countries.

Changes made to links for seasonal migrant workers. Also minor amendments made to what you must do and sectoral exemptions pages to add links to ctm portal and north hotels.

Made sectoral exemptions page testing criteria clearer.

Information on getting help to pay for your hotel quarantine updated.

Line added to information note on sectoral exemptions page about booking of testing packages.

Sectoral exemptions amended because the existing exemption for ‘transporting human cells or blood’ will be extended to arrivals from all countries effective from 4am on Friday 23 April.

India added to list of acute risk countries as of 4am on Friday 23 April.

Added Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and Philippines to list of acute risk countries as of 4am on Friday 9 April.

Added information box and link and updated seamen section in sectoral exemptions, update to covid testing in travelling to England in managed and self-isolation page.

Clarification of testing for children aged 11 or over in the boarding schools section.

Updates to the boarding schools/children under 18 section in sectoral exemptions.

sectoral exemptions (seamen) section updated.

Addition of boarding school pupils and children under 18 travelling without an adult to sectoral exemptions page

Updated phone number in managed and self isolation section.

Update to section on seamen, masters of ships, ship inspectors or surveyors of ships in sectoral exemptions.

Updated the text relating exemptions to aircraft pilots or crew and seamen etc in relation to travel from acute risk countries

Removed Mauritius and Portugal from acute risk countries and added: Ethiopia, Oman, Qatar and Somalia.

Revised layout to make it clearer.

Added information about previous positive test results to testing for people travelling to Scotland section.

Removed Falkland Islands from list of acute list countries.

Added Myanmar to list of exemptions in testing for people travelling to Scotland section.

Added links to supplementary agricultural advice.

Change made to introductory paragraph of managed isolation guidance page.

All pages updated and new content added on managed isolation.

Link added to booking portal from key facts page.

Sectoral exemptions page updated.

Key facts and what you must do pages updated.

Added new section on arrival from Burundi, Rwanda and the UAE.

List of country exemptions removed.

Added suspended information to film and tv sectoral exemption.

List of exempt countries removed following the suspension of travel corridors.

Country exemptions page and key facts page updated to reflect the fact that the travel corridors have been suspended until further notice.

Added new section on testing for people travelling to Scotland.

Updated travel information for Brazil, Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba and Qatar

Key facts page amended to include information about requirement to have a valid negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than three days before the scheduled time of departure.

Added information re United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Added information on arrivals from Dubai to the exemptions page.

Updates on travel advice for: Israel and Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Israel

Caution note added to key facts page regarding travel restrictions from the UK.

Updated country exemptions page to reference arrivals from Namibia, Uruguay and US Virgin Islands.

Updated to reflect change in self-isolation period from 14 to 10 days.

Updated to reflect changes including addition of Botswana and Saudi Arabia and removal of Canary Islands from 04:00o on 12/12/21.

Updated country exemptions page to reflect latest position.

Various changes to the list of country exemptions.

Updated exemptions page to reflect recent changes

Changes to various country exemptions.

Changes to travel rules covering Denmark.

Removed Denmark from list of exempt countries.

Updated travel information for Germany and Sweden.

Updated travel information for Cyprus and Lithuania.

Regulations page updated

Updated travel information for the Canary Islands, Denmark, the Maldives and Mykonos, and Liechtenstein.

Updated travel information for Greece and Italy.

Updated travel information for Madeira and Azores; Poland, Turkey and the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Updated travel information for Curacao, Denmark, Iceland and Slovakia.

Updated travel information for Singapore, Thailand, Slovenia and Guatemala.

Updates to Overview and Regulations pages.

Updated travel information for Sweden, Hungary and La Reunion

Updated travel information for Portugal and French Polynesia.

Updated travel information for Greece.

Added Cuba, removed Czech Republic and Jamaica.

Changed number of exempt UK overseas territories from 14 to 13 and added note to Portugal.

Removed Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago and added Portugal.

Add notes for Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago and Portugal.

Country exemptions: removed France, The Netherlands, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Malta and Monaco

Country exemptions: removed Andorra, The Bahamas and Belgium from list.

Country exemptions: added info re Andorra, The Bahamas and Belgium.

Removed Luxembourg from the exemptions list.

Self isolation advice changed from 7 to 10 days

Added Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to the exemptions list.

Removed Spain to the exemptions list.

Added Spain to the exemptions list.

Added in links to the sectoral exemptions page to guidance for seasonal workers and elite sports.

Changes to exemptions and sectoral exemptions pages to reflect the 'travel corridor'.

Revised with country and sector specific information updates.

Added link to news item detailing countries where rules do not apply

First published.

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Travel checklist

Six to know before you go.

1. Always make sure it is safe to travel

Check and follow the latest  foreign travel advice on GOV.UK  from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), especially as travelling against it is likely to invalidate your travel insurance. 

2. Buy travel insurance and make sure that it best meets your needs   The main reason for travel insurance is to cover the costs of emergency overseas medical treatment which, together with any repatriation required back to the UK, can easily run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. For example, the cost of medical treatment in Spain following a fall by a UK traveller and their emergency medical repatriation back to the UK was £124,000. In another case, treating and returning a traveller who contracted Covid while in Cyprus cost £70,000. Both these costs were paid by travel insurers.

3. Check what cover and exclusions are in your travel insurance     Most policies will have a maximum single trip duration limit, with some excluding participation in certain specified hazardous activities, as well as any claims caused by excess alcohol. Policies are likely  to  have some exclusions relating  to  COVID-19. So always check the scope of cover  before  you buy, and read your policy  to  ensure you  know  exactly what is covered and what is not. If you are planning  to do any activities, such as winter sports or scuba diving, ensure that these are included in your cover.

4. Be aware of, and comply with, travel requirements for entering overseas countries It is your responsibility  to  comply with any border restrictions in place at your destination country (i.e. visas, vaccines, having a valid passport). If you do not comply with these requirements, then you will need  to  return home at your own cost. Travel insurance will not cover you for any delays in obtaining/renewing a UK passport in time for your travel although some policies may cover you for certain additional costs you incur if you lose your passport while abroad.  

5. Have your EHIC, or get a GHIC, if travelling to Europe If you hold a current European Health Insurance Card (the EHIC entitles you  to  access state-provided health care when visiting the EU) this remains valid until its expiry date. After then, or if you do not have an EHIC, you will need  to  apply in the same way  (available for free  through NHS online) for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC is a replacement for travel insurance as it will not cover you for all medical costs, or the cost of emergency repatriation back to  the UK. For example, a travel insurer paid the £10,000 cost of the air ambulance needed  to  bring a traveller who fell in Portugal back home.  

6. Know your rights if facing travel problems Gather as much information as you can, so that, in the event of any travel problems, you  know  what you are entitled  to . For example, check the refund policy of any accommodation provider, what you are entitled  to  if booking a package holiday, and what the legal obligations of the airline are if your flight is disrupted or cancelled.

If you have to cancel your travel, in the first instance a refund should be sought from:

• the airline
• accommodation provider
• tour operator

Any bookings made through a credit card may also be able to have costs recovered through section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.​

If you are travelling within the European Union (EU) or with an EU based airline, and your flight is cancelled or delayed, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline under EU regulations. The Civil Aviation Authority website has more information on your legal rights .

You should check if your travel insurance covers travel disruption, which will cover certain non-refundable costs because of specific circumstances (for example, strike or industrial action and airport closures), when other consumer protections do not apply.     

• Entertainment

Foreign Office travel advice: Eight countries added to 'do not travel' warning list for UK holidaymakers after declared 'too dangerous'

The Foreign Office has added eight countries to its “do not travel” warning list.

The government urges UK holidaymakers not to travel to the eight new countries added to the list as they have been declared “too dangerous”.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues advice to holidaymakers and regularly updates its travel advisories based on how dangerous countries are perceived to be and what particularly to look out for when visiting them. In total, 66 countries - or parts of countries - have been declared "too dangerous" for British tourists by the FCDO.

Eight nations have been added to the list by FCDO, these are Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Belarus and the Palestinian territories.

These nations are categorised as either on the 'red list' or 'black list' by experts in the UK Foreign Office.

The FCDO does not ban UK citizens from travelling to these countries but it says they may find themselves without any government support if something were to go wrong.

The advice given for each country is slightly different but the same warning is given that help may not be offered to those who travel.

The Belarus warning from the FCDO reads: "Russian military operations are taking place in Belarus.

"There is some risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. If conflict starts, FCDO’s ability to offer consular assistance will be severely limited. Routes out of the country are limited, particularly by air."

Currently the Foreign Office is sternly advising against travel, or all but essential travel, to 24 destinations on the 'black list'.

These destinations are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Palestinian territories, Russia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

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Foreign Office travel advice: Eight countries added to 'do not travel' warning list for UK holidaymakers after declared 'too dangerous'

The Foreign Office has added eight new countries to its “do not travel” warning list for being “too dangerous”

The Foreign Office has added eight countries to its “do not travel” warning list. The government urges UK holidaymakers not to travel to the eight new countries added to the list as they have been declared “too dangerous”. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues advice to holidaymakers and regularly updates its travel advisories based on how dangerous countries are perceived to be and what particularly to look out for when visiting them. In total, 66 countries - or parts of countries - have been declared "too dangerous" for British tourists by the FCDO. 

Eight nations have been added to the list by FCDO, these are Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Belarus and the Palestinian territories. These nations are categorised as either on the 'red list' or 'black list' by experts in the UK Foreign Office. The FCDO does not ban UK citizens from travelling to these countries but it says they may find themselves without any government support if something were to go wrong. The advice given for each country is slightly different but the same warning is given that help may not be offered to those who travel.

The Belarus warning from the FCDO reads: "Russian military operations are taking place in Belarus. There is some risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. If conflict starts, FCDO’s ability to offer consular assistance will be severely limited. Routes out of the country are limited, particularly by air."

Currently the Foreign Office is sternly advising against travel, or all but essential travel, to 24 destinations on the 'black list'. These destinations are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Palestinian territories, Russia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The Foreign Office also advises against travel, or all but essential travel to 42 'red list' nations. This list focuses more on specific regions or territories instead of the country as a whole. The destinations are Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea.

The advice on the Foreign Office website reads: "Get advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings. Get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Check that it covers the places you will visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities such as adventure sports. Tell your insurance company about any medical conditions, including undiagnosed conditions which are being investigated, and check that your policy will cover these."

• International

Israel-Hamas war

Sydney mall attack

April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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• Entering and staying in the UK
• Rights of foreign nationals in the UK
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Skilled Worker visa: immigration salary list

• Home Office

Published 4 April 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list

Check which jobs are on the immigration salary list in each area of the UK. 

If your job is on the list, the minimum salary is 80% of the route’s usual minimum rate  to qualify for a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa . 

The annual salaries for these jobs are based on a 37.5-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by your employer.

If you do not know your code, you can search for your job in the  CASCOT occupation coding tool .

If you qualify for the standard rate, because you got your certificate of sponsorship after 4 April 2024, you should look at the “standard rate” column. 

If you qualify for the lower rate, you should look in the “lower rate” column. 

You qualify for the lower rate if either:   

• you are applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa in certain occupations
• you got your certificate of sponsorship for this visa application before 4 April 2024  
• you got your certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024 and have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then

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