The ‘green list’ holiday booking guide: Everything you need to know
Our summer holiday horizons have just expanded, with the announcement of the much-anticipated "green list" and traffic light system, meaning holidays to certain destinations will be permitted, without quarantine or self-isolation on your return, from May 17.
Destinations have been categorised as “green” (testing requirements, but no self-isolation), “amber” (testing and up to 10 days of self-isolation at home on return to the UK) and “red” (direct flights banned, returning Britons subject to 10 days quarantine in an approved hotel at a cost of up to £1,750).
Only a handful of countries have been included on the initial green list, including Gibraltar, Portugal, Israel and Iceland will feature.
We look at the key questions to consider before you book a trip to one of the featured destinations.
What does a “green” category mean?
The traffic light categories apply to the rules for your return to the UK. If you return from a green-listed destination you will have to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of departure to the UK, followed by a PCR test on or before the second day of their return. You will not be required to self-isolate on your return.
What are the entry rules for “green” destinations?
These will vary. Both before booking a foreign holiday, and in the weeks ahead of travel, you should check that your chosen destination is permitting entry to UK travellers and what its testing and quarantine requirements are for arrivals. Much of Europe requires a negative PCR test result for entry, for example. Other countries that are on our green list, such as Australia and New Zealand, are closed to most arrivals.
Where do I get a test for my holiday, and when should I book?
Travellers must book private PCR tests (the NHS testing service should not be used for travel). There are two options: ordering a home test kit or booking an appointment at a clinic or drive-through test centre. Most home kits will arrive within 24 hours and should be sent back the same day. They will then be analysed in a lab and you should receive your results within 48 hours – various companies have different guarantees.
Test providers are expecting a surge in custom when travel opens up, so if you need a test for your destination, book as soon as possible. Note: some destinations offer free tests on arrival (such as Madeira, which may be green-listed).
Destinations typically require tests to have been taken within a specific time frame of your arrival, so bear this in mind when booking your test. See more information in our guide on how to get a Covid test for your summer holiday.
Where can I get a return test, and when should I book it?
Holidaymakers returning from “green list” destinations will be required to take a test within the 72 hours before they arrive back in the UK and be able to provide proof of a negative result, which can be a printed document or an email or text shown on your phone. Please see the gov.uk website for the specific requirements this test needs to meet. Passengers who fail to do so, you will be denied boarding, or risk a fine of up to £500 on arrival back in the UK.
You will then need to take a PCR test on or before the second day of your return. These should be booked as soon as possible once you have reserved your holiday.
Private PCR tests are now more widely available at around £60. This adds £480 to a trip for a family of four with two children over the age of 11. However, some providers are bringing test costs down. The tour operator Tui announced on May 6 that it was partnering with a government-authorised provider to offer test packages starting from £20 for holidays to “green” destinations. This package will include a pre-departure lateral flow test and one inbound PCR test. Other government-approved providers have reduced testing prices to £45.
Ministers want to rework the gov.uk list of registered test providers to rank or filter them to make it easier for holidaymakers to find the best deals.
What will I have to do when I reach my holiday destination?
This will depend on the rules in that specific country – note that the “green list” only refers to rules on return to the UK.
Gibraltar, for example, confirmed on May 5 that Britons arriving from May 17 would NOT be required to present evidence of a negative Covid test or to take one on arrival in the territory.
Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar’s chief minister, said on May 5: "Gibraltar has an open frontier with Spain and the rest of the European Union, and we don't require PCR testing for those who come across our land frontier.
"We therefore don't think it would be appropriate for us to require PCR testing of those who are coming from the United Kingdom, which has a higher vaccinated population and a lower incidence of Covid than the rest of the European Union.”
Most other destinations in Europe require visitors to show proof of a negative Covid test taken within a specific time frame before departure or arrival.
You should also take a look at local restrictions in your holiday destination before you travel, such as requirements to wear a face mask in public, social distancing guidelines and curfew requirements. See the FCDO advice for your destination (gov.uk). The tourism board website of your destination may provide further detail.
How do I get my vaccine passport?
The NHS app might not be ready in time for the restart of travel on May 17, Downing Street has admitted. Despite Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, announcing on April 28 that the app would form part of an “internationally recognised” system, a Government spokesperson said on May 4 that it is now preparing for “another approach”.
It is not yet certain what that will entail. A senior industry source, who is involved in discussions on the technology, told The Telegraph: "I suspect they will take whatever evidence we have in the short term, whether it is another private app solution, a paper certificate, a letter from your GP or a negative PCR test."
Holidays are to resume in less than two weeks, so the paper vaccine certification looks like the easiest option to begin with. Greece is the only country to have so far specified that it is prepared to accept the handwritten NHS vaccine card as proof of immunisation.
Harry Theoharis, the Greek tourism minister, told The Times: "Until the UK has a digital passport, we have seen the paper cards that are provided with the two vaccine appointment dates and we are recognising them. They can be used on the ground and at the borders.”
However, a spokesperson for Mr Theoharis later stated to Sky News: "We accept only official documents issued by the competent British authorities that prove the vaccination particulars. If someone has documents that are not issued by anyone, we mandate a negative test."
Whether the NHS card currently in circulation across Britain, which is stamped by a nurse or doctor, amounts to an 'official document' issued by 'competent authority' or not remains unclear. The spokesperson also said: "Our understanding is that a health pass will be forthcoming."
Those who have been vaccinated should look after their NHS cards and keep them at hand if travelling overseas after May 17.
Do I need to declare my “reason for travel”?
No, this requirement will end when the Government lifts its ban on foreign holidays.
Do I need to fill out any other paperwork?
Yes, all arrivals to the UK will be required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form.
What happens if your pre-departure test is positive?
All passengers need a negative test to travel to the UK. As such, if someone tested positive for Covid-19 before your departure, you would need to wait out your self-isolation period in your holiday destination, while following the local rules for those who test positive. Furthermore, you would need to take another test (and receive a negative result) before you can board a return flight to the UK.
Will I be required to quarantine or self-isolate on return to the UK?
No. “Green” destinations are categorised as low risk and (Covid-negative) travellers returning from them will not be subject to self-isolation or quarantine.
Could my destination change from “green” to “amber” or red?
Which countries are on which list will be reviewed about every three weeks. This could mean that destinations will move from “green” to “amber”. The traffic light ratings are based on a destination’s vaccination rates, Covid-19 infection rate, the prevalence of variants of concern and the capacity to sequence genomes – or access to genome sequencing.
The Government is also planning to implement a “green watchlist” as an additional measure to provide warning as to which countries are at risk of moving from “green” to “amber”. The report from the Global Travel Taskforce on the resumption of travel (published on April 9) explains that “allocations will inevitably change” and that the “green watchlist” will “give travellers more certainty” and “support them as they book” trips overseas.
A review of the traffic light system is also expected at the end of June ahead of the main summer holiday season. This is expected to create a path for vaccinated people to potentially avoid self-isolation and take fewer or no tests.
Can you return to the UK from a red-list country via a green-list country and avoid quarantine and test requirements?
Technically, yes. The hotel quarantine rules apply to Britons who have been in a red-listed country in the 10 days prior to their arrival in the UK. If a UK traveller is able to board a flight from the red list destination to a green list destination, then they could carry out their isolation period in the latter. You would still be subject to the test requirements for arrivals from "green list" countries on your return home.
Will these rules be the same for return to all nations in the UK?
Following the announcement, it is still unclear. There were differing travel corridor decisions among the UK nations when holidays resumed in summer 2020. The travel industry has called for an aligned approach from the four nations this summer.
Alan Glen, from the Scottish Passenger Agents Association, said there was “no way” it would work if Scotland had a different system to England.
The ban on non-essential travel abroad will be lifted in England from May 17. The Scottish government has yet to confirm if the rules for Scotland will change on this date.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said that she would prefer a four-nations approach. However, when she was asked if she backed the idea of the “traffic light system”, she said: “Yes, but with some scepticism and some concern that we have to be aware of the weaknesses in that.”
What does the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) mean for my trip?
Most travel insurance policies will only be valid if the Foreign Office does NOT advise against all travel or non-essential travel to your destination. The Foreign Office has dropped its advice against non-essential travel to a number of popular holiday destinations in the last week, including Portugal and the Greek island of Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Corfu and Crete (though the Greek destinations are on the 'amber' list).
If you have booked a foreign holiday through a tour operator and the Foreign Office is advising against all travel, or against all but essential travel, to your destination then you should be offered a full refund.
Will my travel insurance cover a change in traffic light ratings?
This will depend on your insurance policy: check with your current insurer or before you pay for a new policy. A handful of insurers offer cover for travel to destinations against FCDO advice.
How do I protect my booking?
Our consumer expert Nick Trend suggests the following:
Keep a watch on the news: The regular review dates and the soon-to-come “green watchlist” will help guide your booking, or cancellation, decisions
Wait to book: The latter part of summer could offer greater choice and clarity, under both UK and international restrictions (the EU plans to open borders to Britons in time for the summer holiday season, for example).
Stay flexible: If you can book as soon as a country changes its status – and travel soon afterwards – then that will be the best way to be sure of restriction-free travel as well the best value deals
Check local restrictions: see above
Book a package holiday: This will give more security if you do and if there are negative changes to the status of your destination, then you will have much more protection from a financial point of view.
Be careful with independent bookings: Look for low deposits, free cancellations and book with a credit card
Book with an airline or operator allowing flexibility: Some – British Airways for example – allow you to cancel as late as the day of departure
