Portugal is taken OFF England's travel ban red list but Qatar is added, Government announces

• Portugal was placed on Britain's red list over historic Brazil links and virus strain
• Travel to the 33 countries mostly in South America and Africa was banned
• Department of Transport has said Portugal and Mauritius will be taken list
• However, four countries - Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar - will now be addedPortugal and Mauritius have been taken off the government's red list in the first change to travel rules for months.

  This means people will be able to travel from the two countries - as well as the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores - to England, the Department for Transport said.

  However, four more countries - Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar - will now be added to the government's banned list. Quarantine restrictions for travellers from Portugal and Mauritius will be relaxed, with people allowed to travel to their own home for the 10-day isolation period rather than spending it in a government-approved hotel.

  

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  Portugal and Mauritius have been taken off the government's red list in the first change to travel rules for months. Pictured: Lisbon in PortugalThey will also still have to take a Covid test on their second and eighth days to end self-isolation early.

  The Department for Transport said: 'Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) and Mauritius will be removed from England's red list.

  'The flight and maritime ban from Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) will also be removed, following evidence that shows the risk of importing a variant of concern from these destinations has reduced.

  'Portugal has put steps in place to mitigate the risk from its links with countries where variants have become a concern, and now has genomic surveillance in place.'

  The changes to restrictions will all come into effect from 4am this Friday.

  They only relate to England, as Scotland has its own policy of hotel quarantine for all arrivals and there are no international flights going in and out of Wales.

  And Britons are are still unable to go there for holidays until at least May 17 – the earliest international travel can get underway under the Government's official roadmap for lifting lockdown. 

  Portugal had been the only European country on the red list of 33 nations due to its historic links to Brazil, where a new variant of coronavirus was discovered in January.

  The country has however already said it aims to reopen to Britons who can show proof of vaccination or a negative test from mid-May.

  Greece, Spain and Cyprus have signalled they will be doing the same.

  Which countries are on England's banned travel list?

  Angola

  Argentina

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Burundi

  Cape Verde

  Chile

  Colombia

  Democratic Republic of the Congo

  Ecuador

  Eswatini

  Ethiopia 

  French Guiana

  Guyana

  Lesotho

  Malawi 

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Oman 

  Panama

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Qatar 

  Rwanda

  Seychelles

  Somalia 

  South Africa

  Suriname

  Tanzania

  United Arab Emirates (UAE)

  Uruguay

  Venezuela

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe

   

  What are the rules for entering Britain? 

  You cannot enter the UK if you've been in or through a country on the banned travel list (known as the 'red list') in the last 10 days, unless you're British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK

  You must either quarantine where you're staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days

  What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive - if you travel in or through a country on the banned travel list within 10 days, you must stay in a managed quarantine hotel; if not, you can quarantine at home

  You need to provide your journey and contact details in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. You must do this by completing the online passenger locator form

  You'll need to show proof that you've completed the form when you arrive at the UK border as well as proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken three days before departure

  You could be fined $695 when you arrive at the border if you cannot provide proof that you have had a negative coronavirus test

  You do not need a test if you're travelling within the UK, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey; from Ireland; from Ascension, Falkland Islands or St Helena; and children under 11 do not need a test

  After arriving at a quarantine hotel you will be tested on days two and eight of your stay using a PCR test self-administered in your room

  In Scotland, arrivals from all international destinations have to quarantine, even if they are not on the red list.