COVID-19: Entry barred to most travelers from most Latin American countries and Portugal

IMPACT – HIGH

The United Kingdom has barred entry to most travelers from South America, Cape Verde, Panama and Portugal. The move was made in response to the detection of a new COVID-19 variant in Brazil and countries with strong travel connections to Brazil.

Key Points:

• Beginning Jan. 15 at 4 a.m., the U.K. halted entry to travelers who in the past 10 days have been in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Panama, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Peru, Suriname, Uruguay or Venezuela. The restriction also applies to travelers who have transited through any of these countries.
• The U.K. will also impose a flight ban on any of these countries that have direct flights to the U.K., including Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores).
• The U.K. will close its travel corridors with Chile, Madeira and the Azores. The U.K. does not have travel corridors with any of the other countries facing new restrictions.
• U.K. nationals, Irish nationals and third-country nationals with residence rights in the U.K. are exempt from the ban but will be required to self-isolate with their household for 10 days upon arrival. Anyone arriving from the countries listed above will not be permitted to cut their period of isolation short through the Test to Release scheme.

Additional Information: The U.K. is also moving to implement a new COVID-19 testing requirement for anyone traveling to England from 4 a.m. on Jan. 18 forward. Internal COVID-19 restrictions also remain in place, prohibiting travel except for a very limited set of reasons, including work.

Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in the U.K. and other countries.

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