From 19 July, adults who have been double jabbed in the UK arriving from amber list countries will not need to isolate for 10 days.  

But the government said the easing would not apply to France due to "persistent" cases of the Beta variant, first identified in South Africa.  

Anyone arriving from France to England must continue to quarantine for ten days at home or in other accommodation, even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  

From Monday 19 July, UK residents arriving from amber countries who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to quarantine, although they will still need to comply with necessary testing requirements. However, this will not apply to France following the persistent presence of cases in France of the Beta variant, which was first identified in South Africa.   

Anyone who has been in France in the last ten days will need to quarantine on arrival to England in their own accommodation and will need a Day 2 and Day 8 test, regardless of their vaccination status. This includes any fully vaccinated individual who transits through France from either a green or another amber country to reach England. The Test to Release scheme remains an option for travellers to shorten their quarantine period should they test negative after day 5.   

Some operators may make specific arrangements compliant with the public health regulations that allow for transit without quarantine, for example those travelling by train from Belgium, so travellers should check with their operator.  

Public health remains the government’s top priority and it has been clear swift action will be taken on travel list allocations should the data show that countries risk to England have changed, including in France.  

While current cases of the Beta variant in France are not high enough to require arrivals to enter managed quarantine, it is important to consider the potential detection and transmission risk in light of the current situation in England. As a precautionary measure to protect the gains made in the UK’s vaccination programme and as the country unlocks, anyone arriving from France to England will continue to quarantine for ten days from early Monday morning, while we continue to assess the latest data and track prevalence of the Beta variant.