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Country Specific Risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Update 31)

29 Jan 2021

Travel restrictions and self-isolation (quarantine) rules have been implemented across the UK since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 to try and reduce the global spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the UK public. The range and type of measures have varied over time as the pandemic has evolved. In recent months new ‘variants’ of the coronavirus causing COVID-19, have been detected around the world, including in the UK. Some of these, including the UK variant, transmit more easily between people. Concern remains that virus variants could emerge that cause more severe illness, or reduce the protection from COVID-19 vaccines.
The current UK travel restrictions are stringent both to avoid new variants being brought into the UK, and to avoid UK travellers taking the UK variant to other countries. 

Travel restrictions and self-isolation (quarantine) rules have been implemented across the UK; different rules apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

These rules can change rapidly, therefore you should follow the latest guidance according to your location and check the guidance regularly before, during and after travel.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance on travelling abroad, including the latest information on COVID-19 and other non-COVID-19 risks such as safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

If you intend to travel to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from abroad, including UK nationals returning home, you must now provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure. If you don’t comply (and you don’t have a valid exemption), you may be denied boarding by the airline and/or you may be fined on arrival.

Country Specific COVID-19 Risk

Each fitfortravel country page includes a COVID-19 country specific risk-rating which identifies the country as having a high, moderate or low risk of exposure to COVID-19 for UK travellers.

  • This risk rating can be found in the 'Alerts' section on every country page and each rating is accompanied by appropriate travel advice.

In January 2021, the COVID-19 risk for UK travellers was increased in 20 countries:

  • see the individual country news alerts for further details.

In January 2021, the COVID-19 risk for UK travellers was decreased in the following locations:

  • Martinique
  • Guam

The COVID-19 risk rating in each country is being kept under constant review and may change at short notice.

You should follow sensible precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) before, during and after travel; for information on how to do this, please read our COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page.