Portugal has been withdrawn from the UK's green list due to rising cases of a new Nepal variant - in another blow for thousands of families hoping to get away this summer.
Seven countries – including Sri Lanka and Egypt – have also been added to the red list. All changes to the lists will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday 8 June.
The decision to move Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores, to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, the government said.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps explained: “The public has always known travel will be different this year and we must continue to take a cautious approach to reopening international travel in a way that protects public health and the vaccine rollout.
“While we are making great progress in the UK with the vaccine rollout, we continue to say that the public should not travel to destinations outside the green list.”
We've gone through your refund rights if you were due to travel to Portugal, here.
The full list of additional countries added to the ‘red list’ includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago.
UK health security agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said: “Everyone should observe the travel guidance, continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air, and have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine when offered.
“Testing will help to break chains of transmission and allow us to see which variants are circulating so make sure you get tested when you return to the UK in line with the guidance.”
Ahead of the changes from next week, we answer some of your key travel questions for this summer.
Why has Portugal been moved to the amber list?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said moving Portugal from the green to the amber list is a "safety first approach" to "give us the best chance of unlocking domestically" by June 21.
He said Portugal has seen a doubling of infection rates since the previous travel review.
There is also "a sort of Nepal mutation of the so-called Indian variant which has been detected, and we just don't know the potential for that to be a vaccine defeating mutation," Shapps added.
In the wake of the news, British Airways said it is "incredibly disappointing and confusing", suggesting that with high levels of vaccinations both in the UK and overseas the government should be "adding destinations to 'green' as soon as possible".
Virgin Atlantic boss Shai Weiss said: "Its [the government's] own evidence shows the US and Caribbean are low risk and should be added to the green list now."
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren added: "This shock decision to add Portugal to the amber list is a huge blow to those who are currently in Portugal and those who have booked to be reunited with loved ones, or take a well-deserved break this summer."
Are green list destinations open to all visitors?
The 12 countries on the green list indicate the places you can visit without having to quarantine when you reach the UK.
It’s more likely to be the places people will travel to, however it is still subject to Covid tests and more importantly, while it may be on the UK’s green list, some countries may not be allowing Brits in – so check before you book.
For example, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore – are not allowing British visitors right now. You can only reach them only by going through an amber list nation, which would require you to quarantine when you return to the UK.
UK travellers cannot visit an area on the red list
The information provided from the government is guidance on the safest places to visit based on rising variants, vaccination targets and agreements between nations.
However the ban on international travel was lifted on May 17 so you can, in theory, visit red list countries if you really need to. Bear in mind you will need to self-isolate in a quarantine hotel - which costs £1,750 per person - if you choose to do so.
My travel insurance is protected if I visit a green list destination
Travel insurers are going on the Foreign Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) advice and where it is warning against travel to.
That means if a country moves from green to amber, but is not on the FCO's list of places to avoid, your insurance will most likely still be valid. If it moves to red and goes on the FCO's list of placed to avoid, your insurance will likely be written off.
Remember to pack your EHIC or GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) wherever you go.
EHIC’s that have not yet expired are still valid, even though Britain has now left the EU.
I won’t need a Covid test if I visit a green list country
Unfortunately you probably will need a test as this all depends on where you are visiting and that country’s entry requirements.
Everyone returning to the UK regardless of where they have visited, will need a test before flying.
PCR tests are compulsory
This is true. Anyone coming back from a green list location will need to pre-book a private PCR test to be taken within two days of arrival to the UK.
From amber and red list places, the rule is two pre-booked PCR tests on days two and eight.
You will forfeit your travel insurance if you visit a red country
Standard travel insurance policies reflect the Foreign Office’s guidance.
That advice is different from the traffic light categorisation, which is decided by the Department for Transport (DfT).
At present the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to the Greek islands of Corfu, Crete, Kos, Rhodes or Zakynthos, or Spain’s Canary Islands, but warns against other parts of those countries “based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks”.
Travel companies can continue to sell holidays to places on the amber list that have no Foreign Office warning, but customers are not entitled to travel insurance cover or full refunds.
If your country goes from amber to green you no longer have to quarantine
If you’re in the middle of self-isolating and your destination is updated to the green list, you must continue to self-isolate unfortunately.
However, whether you have to quarantine when you arrive back to the UK will depend on the status on the day you return home.
You cannot break quarantine to return home
You can break your quarantine to go back home provided you go straight to the airport/ferry port/international rail station.
In addition, in England you can pay for an additional test on or after day five. If it is negative, you can immediately leave self-isolation under the “test to release” scheme.
The day you arrive back in the UK is counted as the first day of quarantine
The 10 days begin the following day. That is why for red list arrivals, you must pre-book 11 nights of hotel quarantine.
You can change planes in a red or amber list country without it counting
Any time spent in any location in the past 10 days must be declared; if you change planes in Paris coming back from Portugal, you must follow the rules for amber arrivals.
I am free to travel anywhere because I have been vaccinated
This is incorrect. People who have been vaccinated currently get no special treatment worldwide.
The latest green list updates will kick in immediately
No. The change will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday, June 8.
Will more countries be added to the green list in three weeks?
The transport secretary says he does not yet know what the summer holds in terms of foreign travel although today's speech he did make several references to Britain fully unlocking around June 21.
"We have done wonders with our vaccination programme and the rest of the world will catch up - Europe is probably 10 weeks behind but they will catch up," he said.
"I don't know exactly what that will mean in terms of the summer but the decisive action today is designed to protect the future to make sure we can do a domestic unlock."
When asked if more countries will be added to the green list when it is reviewed again in three weeks time he said: "We will always act the moment we have information which is relevant."
But he says the news of a mutation of the so-called Indian variant in Portugal came as part of the regular three-week review process.
He says: "We would expect in the ordinary course of events for there to be now a three-week period. Obviously... if something dramatic comes up, we would of course need to make changes elsewhere. And we have to reserve the right to do that to protect the population at home."
