Final countries taken off the red list as Scots told to update vaccine certificates for EU travel
The final seven countries have been removed from the international travel red list, meaning travellers to the UK from those destinations will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine for 10 days on arrival.
The decision was made on a four nation basis and will take effect at 4am on November 1.
It affects arrivals from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.
In addition vaccine certificates from a further 35 countries and territories will be recognised to allow quarantine-free travel to Scotland.
Going forward this list will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Despite no countries remaining on the red list from 1 November, the policy is continuing and some managed quarantine capacity will stay in place in Scotland in order to react to any change in risk assessment that would see a country added to the red list.
Transport Minister Graeme Dey said: “Today’s decision is a further sign of the success of the Scottish Government’s vaccination programme and will enable the travel and tourism sector to take another step back towards normal operations.
“However, the pandemic is not over.
"The situation will be closely monitored and regularly reviewed and If the situation demands it we will not hesitate to re-impose restrictions on international travel to safeguard the health of our citizens and protect Scotland’s recovery.”
The 35 countries and territories to be added to the eligible vaccinated traveller policy are: Angola, Anguilla, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Eswatini, Gibraltar, Guyana, Honduras, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda and Uruguay.
From 4am on Sunday, October 31, fully vaccinated travellers returning to the Scotland will be able to a take a lateral flow test on the second day after their arrival, instead of the more expensive PCR test.
Unvaccinated travellers, or travellers from countries where certification is not yet recognised, must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival and take PCR tests on day two and day eight.
It was also confirmed this week that Scotland and the rest of the UK have been formally adopted into the European Union’s Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) scheme, the European Commission has confirmed.
All Covid status certificates will be recognised across Europe on Monday, November 1 as the UK joins the EU scheme which provides the means for QR codes to be scanned and verified as being officially issued.
The change will open up ease of access for travellers to more than 40 countries covered by the certification scheme.
It covers travel to Europe and those countries which, like the UK, are affiliated with the EU DCC.
It will also enable better access to facilities like bars and other venues where this is required in those countries which have chosen to use the EU DCC domestically.
Users of the NHS Covid Status app will have their vaccination status automatically updated when they login.
Scots travelling to the EU and countries covered by the scheme who have downloaded a PDF version with QR codes on their mobile device, or anyone who has a printed letter with their Covid status dated before October 7 will need to either download the app or request a new letter.
