Yesterday evening, it was announced that Malta was put on the UK’s green travel list after being put on the sidelines twice in a row. However, it might still be a tough hurdle for UK passengers to jump over as Malta has now added strict restrictions for UK travel, reportedly due to variant concerns.

Here’s what you need to know

As of 30^th June, travellers arriving in Malta from the UK will need to present a vaccination certificate recognised by the Maltese health authorities to avoid quarantine. Presenting just a PCR test done up to 72 hours in advance is no longer an option. Failure to do present a vaccine certificate will result in travellers having to quarantine at their own expense.

Currently, local health authorities only recognise certificates issued in Malta, and as of 1^st July, other EU countries' passes. 

Essentially, this means that Malta will relegate the UK from its ‘amber list’ which requires just a negative PCR test to enter the country. According to the statement released by the Health and Tourism Ministries last night, Malta took the decision based on studies on the epidemiological situation of variant cases in the UK.

On the other hand, those who travel from Malta to the UK won’t need to observe a quarantine period as of 1^st July, as per the UK’s green list regulations. As per the UK Gov website, those entering England must take a COVID-19 test, book and pay for a test on day 2 of their stay and also complete a passenger locator form.

For more information, visit the UK Gov's website.