While international travel will be permitted under all tiers, those living in tier three areas will be "strongly advised" – although not required by law – to avoid leaving their area unless for work or education.

Foreign travel is banned until the lockdown ends at midnight on 2 December, after which time people will be able to travel overseas.

However, the Department for Transport is urging people planning to travel abroad to carefully check the situation in their destination country and what restrictions they will, or could, be subject to, as well as the latest advice from the Foreign Office and the travel corridor status of their destination.

Travel into and out of tier three areas "should be avoided", says the DfT, including for overnight stays, other than for reasons of work, education, youth services, medical treatment or caring responsibilities.

Transit through tier three areas is permitted as part of a longer journey, meaning people can travel into tier three areas for purposes of international travel, as confirmed by transport secretary Grant Shapps earlier this week.

"Further travel guidance will be published when tiers are allocated on Thursday," said a DfT spokesperson. "Travel through a tier three area is permitted as a part of a longer journey.

"International travel is permitted, though we are strongly advising against this if you live within a tier three area, unless for work or education.

"Anyone planning to travel abroad should carefully check the situation in their destination country and what restrictions they will be subject to, as well as Foreign Office travel advice and the current travel corridor list."

Shapps is due to provide a weekly update on the country’s travel corridor list at 5pm on Thursday, with recent additions including Sri Lanka, Chile, Uruguay, the UAE and Qatar, as well as Africa’s first travel corridors – Rwanda and Namibia.