The British government has announced that foreign travel will resume from May 17 – and there are new rules which affect travellers from Nigeria.
Under a new risk-based traffic light system being introduced, where countries will be labelled green, amber or red, Nigeria has been classed under amber which requires one pre travel Covid tests and two post arrival tests once in the UK.
The U.K. government has made its first announcement of which countries fall into the green list, and the lists will be available on the government’s website.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed in a Downing Street press briefing on Friday that the following countries will be green-listed from May 17.
There are:
Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Australia
Brunei
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Iceland
Israel
New Zealand
Portugal including Madeira and Azores
Saint Helena
Singapore
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Green destinations
These are destinations with the lowest risk. Arrivals to the UK will have to take a pre-departure test at their holiday destination, then another PCR test on or before day two of their return to the UK.
No quarantine or additional tests will be needed unless a positive result comes back. However, if your test comes back positive, you will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days, following the usual self-isolation rules.
Those coming back from green destinations will be required to book “test packages” from a government list of providers before travelling – you can find the full list here. The rules apply whether or not you’ve been vaccinated. Prices for the test packages start from around £160 and go up to nearly £600.
Amber destinations including Nigeria
These are places with a moderate risk. You must take a pre-departure test before leaving your destination. Those coming back from amber destinations will also be required to book “test packages” from the government list of providers before travelling, even if they’ve been vaccinated.
Arrivals to the UK will be required to quarantine for 5-10 days, depending on the testing package purchased. This quarantine can be completed at home.
Once in the UK, those in quarantine will need to take a PCR test on day two and day eight after their return, with the option to pay for an extra test on day five to end self-isolation early. This is called the ‘test to release’ system. Under the system, you pay for a private PCR test (£60-£100) and can end your isolation as soon as you receive a negative result. If you use the test to release system, you must still complete the day eight PCR test. If you receive a positive test result, your isolation period resets and you’re back at day 0.
Red destinations
Travel to these countries will be most heavily restricted. Returning travellers must stay for at least 10 days in a quarantine hotel, at a cost of £1,750 per person.
Travellers will have to take a pre-departure test, plus a further PCR test on day two and day eight of their quarantine. If you get a positive test result from your day-8 test, you will need to quarantine for a further 10 days – the day of the test becomes day 0. You can’t use the early “test to release” scheme if you’ve visited a red listed county.
Arrivals from red countries will need to book a “quarantine package” before departing on their travels. The rules apply whether or not you’ve been vaccinated.
