A new strain of coronavirus discovered in the UK, thought to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original virus, has led to a slew of countries temporarily banning arrivals from the UK.
The Netherlands was the first country to issue restrictions, followed swiftly by a number of other European nations. Chaos ensued as the French border closed to Brits, including those crossing the Channel with cargo, until 11.59pm on 22 December.
More destinations have followed suit around the world, potentially scuppering thousands of people’s Christmas travel plans. Here’s everywhere that has issued a travel ban on visitors from the UK so far.
This is an evolving situation and while this list is being kept up to date, more countries may impose bans throughout the day. Bans may also be extended at short notice. You should check before you travel.
Albania
Albania will suspend flights to and from the UK from 2pm on 22 December 2020 until, provisionally, 6 January 2021.
Argentina
Argentina has suspended direct flights to and from the UK until further notice.
Austria
A flight ban on all flights from the UK is being imposed from midnight, Tuesday 22 December until 1 January.
Belgium
From 00.01 on 21 December 2020, Belgium initially closed the border between the UK and Belgium for 24 hours. The Belgian Government has now extended the suspension of passenger travel from the UK for a further 24 hours until 23.59 on 22 December. From 23 to 31 December, the Belgium Government will allow entry into Belgium from the UK for certain categories of travel, which are defined on the website of the Belgian Embassy to the UK.
Bulgaria
The Government of Bulgaria has announced that air travel between Bulgaria and the UK will be restricted from 00.00 on 21 December until 31 January 2021. British nationals with a valid Bulgarian resident permit are exempt, but they must self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival.
Read more: Tier 4 and Christmas travel rules explained
Canada
All inbound passenger flights from the UK to Canada have been suspended for 72 hours from 24.00 (ET) on 20 December.
Chile
The Chilean government has announced that from Tuesday, 22 December at 00.00, non-resident foreign nationals that have been in the UK during the last 14 days will not be allowed entry to Chile.
Colombia
Direct flights to/from London will be suspended from 20 December until further notice.
Passengers who have arrived directly or indirectly from the UK from 13 December will be contacted and required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Croatia
Croatia have announced they will be prohibiting entry for non-Croatian air passengers from the United Kingdom until 31 December.
Cyprus
The authorities have informed the British High Commission, but not yet publicly announced, that the UK is now in Cyprus’ Category C. This means that visitors from the UK are not permitted to travel to Cyprus.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has announced that it will suspend flights between the UK and Czech Republic from Monday 21 December until at least 31 December.
Denmark
The Danish government has suspended all flights from the UK to Denmark until midnight on 24 December in order to assess measures for the new variant of coronavirus.
From 25 December until 3 January those resident in the UK will not be able to enter Denmark, with a few exceptions.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican government has suspended all inbound passenger flights from the UK from Tuesday 22 December.
El Salvador
Travel to El Salvador is currently banned to travellers who have been in the United Kingdom in the last 30 days or whose flights have included a layover there.
Estonia
From 22.00 GMT Sunday 20 December, Estonia will not be permitting the operation of air passenger services to or from the UK. The restriction to air services is temporary and subject to review, but is currently planned to last until 1 January 2021.
Finland
Finland has announced all travel from the UK will be restricted from 12.00 on Monday 21 December until Monday 4 January.
Read more: Can you travel in and out of tier 4 areas?
France
The French government has announced it will be restricting air, car, ferry and train travel from the UK to France from 24.00 (CET) 20 December for 48 hours. Until at least 6 January (subject to a possible review), only the following categories of people will be authorised to travel to France from the UK: French nationals and nationals of the European Area; British and/or third country nationals who are either permanently resident in France, the European Union or the European Area, or who must travel for certain essential reasons (as specified by the French government).
Germany
The German Government has extended its ban on all air passenger flights arriving from the UK to Germany to a ban on all forms of transport until Wednesday 6 January.
Grenada
The Government of Grenada has, from 20 December, suspended all air traffic between UK and Grenada and is not allowing entry to anyone who has been to the UK within the previous 14 days.
Hong Kong
From 22 December, travellers who have visited the UK for more than two hours within the past 14 days will be denied entry to Hong Kong.
Hungary
Hungary has announced it will be banning commercial flights to/from the UK from 00.01 Tuesday 22 December until 8 February.
India
India is banning flights from the UK from midnight 22 December until at least 31 December.
Iran
On 21 December, the Iranian government suspended direct flights for two weeks to and from the UK.
Ireland
The Irish Government has extended the ban on flights and passenger ferry journeys from Great Britain to Ireland until 31 December. This applies to people in Great Britain regardless of nationality.
Italy
On 20 December, the Italian government announced the immediate suspension of all flights between the UK and Italy. According to the Ministry of Health, anyone who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Italy.
Additionally, anyone already in Italy who has been in the UK in the 14 days before 20 December, must report to their local health authorities and take a Covid-19 rapid antigenic or molecular swab test. These measures will remain in place until 6 January.
Jamaica
Effective from 22 December, the Government of Jamaica will ban all flights coming from the UK into Jamaica until 4 January 2021. Inbound flights from London to Jamaica will be permitted until midnight 22 December.
Japan
From 24 December, foreign nationals arriving from the UK and in possession of visas issued since 1 October under the ‘Global Residence Track’ will not be permitted to enter Japan.
Jordan
Jordan has announced it is suspending flights to and from the UK until 3 January. Passengers who have been in the UK within the previous 14 days, including passengers who have passed through the UK in transit, are not permitted to enter Jordan during this period. You cannot transit from the UK through a third country to enter Jordan.
Kosovo
All flights to and from the UK have been suspended.
Kuwait
On 20 December 2020 the Government of Kuwait announced that travellers will not be allowed to enter Kuwait if they have been in the UK during the preceding 14 days. This ban is expected to come into force by 22 December.
Latvia
From 21 December at 00.00 until 1 January, Latvia will not be permitting the operation of passenger flights to or from the UK.
Lithuania
Lithuania has announced that all travel from the UK will be restricted from 04.00 on 21 December until 23.59 on 31 December.
Luxembourg
The Luxembourg government has banned all air passenger flights between the UK and Luxembourg until 3 January.
Malawi
Due to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases recorded in Malawi, and the emergence of a new strain of the virus, Malawi has closed its land borders to all foreigners for 14 days starting from 23 December.
Malta
From 00.01 on 22 December normal commercial flights between the United Kingdom and Malta will be suspended. Maltese Nationals and Residents of Malta will be able to return to Malta on Air Malta flights. British Nationals will be able to return to the UK with Air Malta.
Mauritius
Mauritius is banning flights to and from the UK, starting at midnight on 21 December.
Moldova
The Moldovan government has announced the suspension of all UK flights to and from Moldova with effect from midnight on 23 December. This includes passengers transiting the UK en route to Moldova.
Morocco
With effect from midnight on 20 December, the Moroccan Government has suspended until further notice all flights to and from the UK
British nationals living in Morocco, as well as their families, are allowed to enter the country.
Nepal
The Government of Nepal has restricted entry of all passengers originating from or transiting the UK, effective from 23.59 hrs (local time) on 23 December until further notice.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia has suspended all direct flights from the United Kingdom until the end of 2020. Passengers arriving from the UK via any route need to self-isolate for 14 days and fill in a form regarding personal and accommodation details on arrival.
Norway
Norway has temporarily banned all flights from the UK, initially for two days as of 21 December.
Oman
On 21 December 2020, the Supreme Committee announced the closure of its land, sea and air borders with effect from 22 December at 1 am. This will remain in place for 7 days and will be subject to review by the Omani authorities. During this time, it will not be possible to enter or leave Oman.
Pakistan
A transport directive from the government of Pakistan said travellers arriving from the UK on direct or indirect flights would not be permitted to enter from midnight on 22 December until midnight on 29 December.
Passengers transiting in the UK on their way to Pakistan will be allowed to enter if they haven’t left the airside area of the UK airport they are connecting through.
Panama
Entry to Panama is closed to all those who have been in the United Kingdom or South Africa 20 days prior to their arrival unless they are Panamanian nationals or residents.
Paraguay
From 21 December 2020 until 4 January 2021, entry to Paraguay by non-resident foreign nationals that have visited the UK since 7 December is not permitted.
Peru
Peru has suspended all flights originating in Europe for a period of two weeks. Direct flights from the UK and those with a stopover in the UK are suspended until further notice.
Non-Peruvian citizens or residents who have been in the UK during the last two weeks are prohibited from entering Peru.
Philippines
The Philippines has temporarily suspended flights from the UK to the Philippines starting at 00.01 on 24 December until 31 December 2020.
Passengers not arriving directly from the UK who have been in the UK within 14 days prior to arrival to the Philippines, including those just transiting through the Philippines, are prohibited from entering the country during this period.
Poland
Flights between Poland and the UK are suspended from midnight on 21 December until at least 6 January.
Portugal
The government has introduced a ban on all passenger travel, with the exception of Portuguese citizens and those legally resident in Portugal, between the UK and Portugal from 24.00 (GMT) on Sunday 20 December 2020.
Romania
From 19.00 (CET) on 21 December, all passenger flights to and from the UK will be banned for 14 days.
Russia
Russia is suspending UK flights for one week from midnight on 22 December.
Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Interior announced the suspension of all international flights for travellers entering and leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (except in exceptional cases). Entry to the Kingdom through land and sea borders has been suspended. The announcement states that these measures are due to last for one week, and may be extended for another week.
Singapore
The Singapore government announced that from 23.59 Singapore time on 23 December, all travellers who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days before travel will not be permitted to enter or transit Singapore.
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are still able to enter Singapore, but must undergo Covid-19 tests upon arrival in Singapore and at the end of their mandatory 14 day quarantine period.
Slovakia
Flights to and from the UK will be suspended for 72 hours as of 00.01 22 December.
South Korea
On 23 December the Government of the Republic of Korea announced that direct flights from UK to South Korea will be temporarily suspended until 31 December 2020
Spain
Spain is to ban all arrivals from the UK apart from Spanish citizens and residents, from 6pm on 22 December until 6pm on 5 January. Madrid said it would also reinforce controls at the border with Gibraltar to ensure travellers complied with the restriction. This includes flights from the UK to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. Flights from the UK will continue to allow residents to enter Spain.
Sudan
The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority has announced they will be restricting air travel from the UK, Netherlands and South Africa from 23 December 2020 until 5 January 2021.
Sweden
The Swedish government has imposed restrictions on travel from the UK to Sweden. A temporary entry ban applies to all passengers arriving from the UK, with the exception of Swedish citizens. The ban comes into force at 23.00 (UK time) on 21 December 2020 and will apply for one month. With effect from 15.00 (UK time) on 21 December, the Swedish government has suspended all passenger flights from the UK to Sweden for 48 hours.
Switzerland
Switzerland has announced a general entry ban for travellers from the UK, including UK nationals, and flights have been suspended until further notice.
Tunisia
On 21 December, the Tunisian government suspended until further notice all flights to and from, or that transited through, the UK. The Tunisian government also suspended the entry into Tunisia of passengers who are coming through the UK or transited through the UK.
Turkey
British nationals may not travel by air to Turkey unless they possess Turkish residency permits and travel on Turkish air operators.
Passengers who have visited the UK will then be required to self-isolate for seven days starting from the date they left the UK. On day seven they will be subjected to a further PCR test. If that test is negative then quarantine will be ended.
Uzbekistan
From 21 December 2020 until 10 January 2021, British nationals either arriving directly from the UK or who have been in the UK in the last 14 days, are not permitted to travel to or to enter Uzbekistan. All other foreign nationals, with the exception of Uzbek nationals, who are arriving from the UK or who have visited the UK in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter the country either during this period.
