All arrivals into the UK from France will have to continue to quarantine for 10 days even if they are double-jabbed, the government has announced.
The UK ordered all travellers returning to the UK from the country to isolate at home in a sudden update to official travel rules, despite 'Freedom Day' changes kicking in on Monday.
Travellers arriving from France, which remains on the amber list, has been placed under special restrictions by the UK as Covid infection rates rise.
The government's plan to lift remaining lockdown restrictions on Monday, July 19, also promised changes to quarantine requirements for travellers.
Fully-vaccinated people - meaning those who have had two doses of a vaccine - will no longer be forced to isolate for 10 days upon return from amber list countries.
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However in a shock announcement on Friday night, the government excluded France from the allowance.
British holidaymakers coming home from France after Monday will still have to continue to quarantine for 10 days, officials announced.
Ministers scrapped the plans over fears about the increase in Beta variant cases (the strain which originated in South African) in France threatening the UK's unlocking plan and vaccination progress.
People arriving into the UK will have to quarantine for 10 days, effective immediately.
However travellers have been spared the cost of quarantine hotels.
Arrivals from France to the UK will not have to pay to stay in the government's isolation facilities, which cost £1,750 for a 10-day stay.
The UK's quarantine rules also affect under-18s.
Before travelling to England, everyone needs to take a pre-departure Covid test and fill in a passenger locator form or risk facing a fine.
Returnees from amber list countries must also take PCR tests on day two and day eight of their isolation once arriving back in the UK.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Government had always been clear it would take rapid action at the borders to "protect the gains made by our successful vaccination programme".
The announcement comes as a blow to holidaymakers, and the struggling travel industry which had pinned its hopes on summer holidays restarting.
Presently, France allows travellers from the UK to enter the country - however its government has put strict rules in place.
The UK is currently on France's amber list, after the government introduced a similar traffic light travel alert system.
Unvaccinated people, or those who have had one jab, must produce a completed international travel certificate outlining a 'compelling' reason for their travel to France from an amber list country.
They also have to produce a 'sworn statement' vowing they do not have any coronavirus symptoms.
Since July 12, the French government has also required all unvaccinated travellers aged over 11 to present evidence of a negative test taken within 24 hours of departure.
For most other amber countries, you will need evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or an antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure.
Under-18s travelling with fully vaccinated adults are exempt from requirements to self-isolate upon arrival n the country and do and provide an essential reason for travel, regardless of whether they have been jabbed or not.
On 12 July, the French government announced that unvaccinated arrivals aged 11 years old or over are required to present evidence of a negative test taken within 24 hours of departure. For most other amber countries, you will need evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or an antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure.
Children under the age of 18 years old, who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will be exempt from requirements to self-isolate and provide an essential reason for travel, regardless of whether the minor has been vaccinated or not.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will need to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival, then take another PCR test following this period of self-isolation.
Travellers who are fully vaccinated do not need an essential reason to travel to France and do not need to self-isolate on arrival.
However they will still need to prove their vaccination status, and all over-11s will need to show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within within 72 hours of departure - or a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours of departure.
They will also need to complete a sworn statement self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight.
