The red list is set to be slashed to just a dozen locations after the traffic light system changed on Monday.
The traffic light system that Brits have been following since 2020 in an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19, transformed on Monday October 4 to just the red list which signified 'no-go' zones.
But just hours before further changes are expected to be announced by Transport Minister Grant Shapps this afternoon, the FCDO have updated their travel advice.
Countries including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa are expected to to be moved off the red list, meaning travellers will no longer have to quarantine in a hotel for 11 nights on return.
This move would mean that travel rules would be at its most relaxed since the pandemic began.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have also announced a major overhaul to their travel advice.
Currently, it still issues advice to people not to travel to some non-red list countries for all but essential reasons due to the Covid rates.
The update comes as part of a simplified system for international travel which has seen the replacement of the traffic light system with a single red list, and reduced testing requirements for eligible fully vaccinated travellers.
The FCDO will no longer advise against travel to non-red list countries, including Algeria, Ghana and Malaysia, on COVID-19 grounds, except in exceptional circumstances such as if the local healthcare system is overwhelmed.
This is a significant move as many travel insurance companies use FCDO travel advice as a reference point in their policies – typically excluding cover for places where government advises against essential travel, however people will now be able to purchase travel insurance for a wider range of destinations across the globe.
Advice has been lifted in light of the improved public health in many countries and territories, better understanding of the virus and the decreased risk to British nationals as a result of the vaccine roll out.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "These rule tweaks will make travelling more straightforward, supporting businesses and families right across Britain - and allow more of us to see friends and loved ones with greater peace of mind.
"We’re striking the right balance between keeping people safe which remains our priority and giving them the freedom to exercise personal responsibility, while supporting the travel sector as it continues to recover."
FCDO will lift its advisory against all but essential travel to:
- Algeria
- America Samoa
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Benin
- Comoros
- Congo
- Tokelau & Niue
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Nauru
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Solomon Islands
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
The red list is expected to be confirmed Thursday (October 7) afternoon.
