BRITS will find out later today where they can go on holiday abroad this summer.
The government is set to announce any changes to the green, amber and red lists, along with plans to allow double vaccinated Brits to holiday in amber list countries this August without quarantining on their return.
But as foreign holidays finally appear within grasp for millions, concern is growing on the continent about the high rate of daily Covid cases here in the UK.
Just yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged all EU nations to make UK visitors quarantine to halt the spreading Delta variant.
She said: “In our country, if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine. That’s not the case in every European country and that’s what I’d like to see.”
"What I regret is we have not yet been able to achieve a uniform behaviour among the Member States in terms of travel restrictions.
"That is backfiring. We now have a situation in Portugal that could perhaps have been avoided, and that's why we have to work even harder on this."
Greece, Spain and Portugal, who are keen to make the most of the summer holiday season, are likely to resist the calls for blanket quarantine but a number of countries already have restrictions on Brits.
Here are the top holiday destinations on the green and amber lists and their entry requirements for travellers from the UK:
Spain
According to the Foreign Office, before travel to Spain, all passengers must complete an online Health Control Form up to 48 hours before travel, declaring any known history of exposure to COVID-19 and giving contact details.
From May 24, arrivals from the UK are no longer subject to testing requirements unless they have travelled to a country on Spain’s list of ‘risk’ countries in the 14 days prior to travel to Spain.
In some parts of Spain, regardless of your country of origin, tourist accommodation providers may require you to present evidence either of a negative test, of being fully vaccinated or of having had and recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. This currently applies in the Canary Islands. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from testing.
Italy
According to the Foreign Office, from 21 June to 30 July, travellers who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days must self-isolate for 5 days, at the end of which they must take a rapid antigenic or molecular swab test for COVID-19 and test negative for release.
Children under the age of 6 do not need to test but must still self-isolate.
If you wish to fly, you must present the airline with a negative COVID-19 rapid antigenic or molecular swab test taken no more than 48 hours before travel.
Travellers arriving without a negative test will need to self-isolate for 10 days and undertake a test at the end of the isolation period.
Before travel, you must complete an online digital form. This will generate a QR code, which should be presented to your travel provider and Border Police if requested.
Everyone arriving in Italy must also call the COVID-19 helpline for the region you are travelling within 48 hours, to inform them of your visit.
France
According to the Foreign Office, those who are not fully vaccinated will only be permitted to travel to France for essential reasons and will need to provide a completed International Travel Certificate, a ‘sworn statement’ form and (if over 11 years old) a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will also 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.
But they do need a completed ‘sworn statement’ form and (if over 11 years old) a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure.
Greece
According to the Foreign Office, travellers must fill in a Passenger Locator Form no later than 11:59pm (local time Greece) the day before arriving in Greece.
Unvaccinated arrivals from the UK must provide either: proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, undertaken within the 72 hour period before arrival into Greece or proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test from an authorised laboratory, undertaken within the 48 hour period before the scheduled flight.
Vaccinated travellers must provide proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations completed at least 14 days before travel. Travellers with proof of either are exempted from the need to self-isolate on arrival to Greece.
These requirements are compulsory for all travellers above the age of 12.
Portugal
According to the Foreign Office, with the exception of children up to the age of 12, you must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to or through Portugal. The test can be:
a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), including RT-PCR, taken within 72 hours of travel, or
an Antigen test that meets the performance standards set out in the EU common list of Rapid Antigen Tests, taken within 48 hours of travel.
If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, or have had both doses of the vaccine at least 15 days prior to travel, you will be exempt from showing a RT-PCR test on entry.
Madeira
According to the Foreign Office, with the exception of children up to the age of 12, all travellers to Madeira must:
Complete and submit a traveller questionnaire. If you are travelling with a child aged 12 or under, include their details in your questionnaire
Take a RT-PCR test 72 hours before travel and upload the test result.
If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, or have had both doses of the vaccine at least 15 days prior to travel, you will be exempt from showing a RT-PCR test on entry.
US
According to the Foreign Office, since 16 March 2020, it is not possible for most British nationals to enter the USA if they have been in the UK, Ireland, Schengen zone, Iran, Brazil, or China within the previous 14 days.
US citizens and permanent residents of the USA, certain specified close family members and certain other limited categories of visas holders are exempt.
Croatia
According to the Foreign Office, unvaccinated Brits must carry evidence of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result taken up to 48 hours before arrival in Croatia, or a certificate of recovery following a positive test result between 11 and 180 days prior.
In the case of a rapid antigen test, and a stay longer than 10 days in Croatia, a test must be repeated within ten days from the date of issuing the first test.
Vaccinated Brits will need proof of their vaccination status.
Malta
According to the Foreign Office, all passengers, aged 5 and above, travelling to Malta from the UK need evidence of a negative PCR test, dated within 72 hours prior to arrival, before boarding flights to Malta.
Passengers holding a Maltese issued certificate of vaccination are exempt from prior testing.
Passengers are also required to complete a Public Health Travel Declaration Form and Passenger Locator Form.
Cyprus
According to the Foreign Office, passengers coming from the UK are required to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure and provide proof of a negative result.
All permitted travellers must complete a Cyprus Flight Pass before their journey, available on the Cyprus Flight Pass website.
Travellers with proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations completed within a specified timeframe before travel will not be required to take a pre-departure PCR test.
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