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Which countries have banned UK travel? Full list of holiday destinations revealed
COUNTRIES around the world are blocking travel from the UK due to the mutant coronavirus strain.
Among the authorities imposing travel restrictions on passengers from the UK are France, Spain and Portugal, ranging from full flight bans to a ban on Brits.
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Some countries have lifted the blanket travel ban, such as the Netherlands, which now requires a negative coronavirus test from travellers instead.
Greece and Cyprus require a negative coronavirus test before arrival, as well as two in the country during quarantine.
While experts do not believe the new variant of the virus -- one of several -- is more lethal or will affect the impact of vaccines, it may be up to 70 percent more transmissible, according to early data from the UK.
A German government source said restrictions on air travel from Britain could be adopted by the entire 27-member EU and that countries were also discussing a joint response over sea, road and rail links.
However, the EU Commission has urged the UK travel bans to stop, saying in a statement: "Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions."
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Full list of countries with UK flight bans or restrictions in place
These are the current countries with travel bans on the UK, please note that some of the shorter bans could be extended.
Algeria: Flights suspended indefinitely
Argentina: Flights suspended indefinitely
Austria: Flights suspended through January 1
Belgium: Only residents of Belgium allowed to enter until December 31
Bulgaria: Flights suspended through January 31
Canada: Flights suspended indefinitely
Chile: Flights suspended indefinitely
Colombia: Flights suspended indefinitely
Croatia: Flights suspended until January 31
Czech Republic: Flights suspended until January 31
Denmark: Flights suspended until December 25
Dominican Republic: Flights suspended indefinitely
El Salvador: Flights suspended indefinitely
Estonia: Flights suspended until January 1
France: Only residents of France allowed until January 6
Finland: Flights suspended until January 4
Germany: Flights suspended until January 6
Gibraltar: Only residents of Gibraltar or Spanish nationals allowed to enter
Grenada: Flights suspended indefinitely
Hong Kong: Flights suspended indefinitely
Hungary: Flights suspended until February 8
India: Flights suspended until December 31
Iran: Flights suspended for two weeks
Iraq: Flights suspended indefinitely
Ireland: Flights and ferries suspended until December 31, Northern Ireland excluded.
Israel: Only residents of Israel allowed to enter
Italy: Flights suspended until January 6
Jamaica: Flights suspended until January 4
Japan: Flights suspended indefinitely
Jordan: Flights suspended until January 3
Kuwait: Flights suspended until January 1
Lithuania: Flights suspended until January 1
Macedonia: Flights suspended until January 31
Malta: Only residents of Malta allowed to enter
Mauritius: Flights suspended until December 31
Moldova: Flights suspended indefinitely but land borders remain open
Morocco: Flights suspended indefinitely
Norway: Flights suspended until December 26
Oman: Borders closed until December 27
Pakistan: Only residents of Pakistan allowed to enter until December 30
Panama: Only residents of Panama allowed to enter
Peru: Flights suspended until January 4
Philippines: Flights suspended until December 31
Poland: Flights suspended until January 6
Portugal: Only residents of Portugal allowed to enter
Romania: Flights suspended until January 4
Russia: Flights suspended until December 28
Saudi Arabia: Borders closed until December 27
Singapore: Only residents off Singapore allowed to enter
South Korea: Flights suspended until December 31
Spain: Only residents of Spain allowed to enter
Sri Lanka: Flights suspended indefinitely
Sweden: Only residents of Sweden allowed to enter until January 21
Switzerland: Flights suspended indefinitely
Turkey: Flights suspended indefinitely
Uzbekistan: Only residents of Uzbekistan allowed to enter until January 10.
The rapid response thwarted travel around the world just as families were preparing to unite for Christmas.
"Please help us leave!" said one British traveller who was among dozens held overnight in German airports, unable to leave until virus tests come back negative.
While India and Hong Kong joined the move to suspend travel from the UK, US officials signalled they were holding off for now.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was confident existing 14-day quarantine rules for arrivals were sufficient to handle the threat, also holding back on a flight ban.
The flow of goods from France was disrupted after Paris imposed a 48-hour blockade on people and lorries crossing the English Channel - just as companies are racing to shift merchandise before Britain finally quits European Union trade structures.
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The country's critical south coast port of Dover said late Sunday it would close to all accompanied freight and passengers due to the French border restrictions "until further notice".
The Netherlands, another key sea route from Europe to Britain, confirmed its freight routes to the UK remained open.
Concerns about the rapid spread of the disease were underlined with the publication of official figures showing there had been a further 36,804 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK yesterday.
According to travel expert Paul Charles, from the PC Agency, hundreds of thousands of people will be affected by the travel bans.
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Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, advised Brits who were currently abroad to try and schedule an earlier flight home if possible,
He said: "Bans on travel to and from the UK will cause concern for many people currently abroad, who may now be worried about becoming stranded at Christmas.
"It's worth coming home early if you can by taking advantage of your travel provider's flexible booking policies, to prevent the risk of becoming stuck."
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