International travel will be made "easier" in England will change next month, it has been confirmed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced this afternoon that testing for travel would be made easier on October 4.

Changes to testing

Travellers will no longer be required to take a pre-departure test to arrive in England from non-red list countries if they are double vaccinated.

The PCR test will also eventually be replaced by a cheaper lateral flow test.

Changes to traffic light system

The traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list from October 4.

More simplified measures will be introduced for the rest of the world.

While eight countries, including Turkey, Pakistan and Maldives, have been removed from the red list, starting on September 22.

This is the full list of countries removed from the red list:

  • Turkey
  • Pakistan
  • Maldives
  • Egypt
  • Sri Lanka
  • Oman
  • Bangladesh
  • Kenya

What did Grant Shapps say?

The Transport Secretary took to Twitter and said: “TRAVEL UPDATE: we’re making testing easier for travel From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.

 

“In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.

“We’ll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Mon 4 Oct , replacing the current approach with a single red list and simplified measures for the rest of the world – striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as No.1 priority.”

Early reaction

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has welcomed the Government’s changes to rules for international travellers.

Dale Keller, chief executive of BAR UK said: “Greater freedom of movement for many vaccinated passengers, without the anxiety of pre-departure tests and the high cost of PCR testing on arrival, will help restore traveller confidence and set the aviation, travel and tourism sectors on what is still a long road to recovery."