Vaccinated holidaymakers, it’s time to rev your engines. For if you glance up through the windscreen to our holiday traffic lights, you’ll see a distinctly green hue to the ‘amber list’.
Four months after Ryanair met criticism for its misleading ‘Jab and Go’ advert, that sentiment will soon become the reality. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that, from July 19, anyone who has received a full course of the vaccine will be able to sidestep quarantine after returning home from amber destinations, with some testing measures still in place, including before returning to the UK and on or before day two.
Children under 18 who have not been vaccinated will also be exempt if they are travelling with someone who has been fully vaccinated but most of them will still have to undergo PCR tests on their return to the UK.
This is the silver bullet for the travel industry, effectively opening up holidays for tens of millions of Britons to our favourite destinations such as Portugal, Spain and Greece. Our recently announced, flimsy green list – comprising newly-added Malta, Madeira, Iceland, Gibraltar and (thank the lord) the Sandwich Islands – will be sidelined to obscurity.
There are snags, of course. By the time this rule comes into effect – on July 19 – most but not all Britons will have received a full course of the vaccine. 40 million or so will be double dosed. Where does this leave those who have received a single jab, or no jab at all? That is, presumably, the biggest scribble on the Government’s white board brainstorm.
Then there’s the consideration of insurance. Grant Shapps has confirmed that the Government is lifting its blanket recommendation that people should not travel to amber countries although the Foreign Office may still advise against non-essential trips to some of the 140-plus destinations on the amber list, as they do at the moment. This means your green-hued ‘amber’ countries may still come slapped with an FCDO travel advisory, meaning your insurance could be void. This is a gamble many would take, I’m sure.
But let’s focus on the positives here. Removing the prohibitive 10-day quarantine flips an amber list holiday from impossible to viable. So where in the world can you go if you have received a full course of the vaccine? Where is available with a single dose? And what if you have not received a jab at all? Here’s your ultimate vaccination travel guide.
Where is on the amber list, again?
You’ll be forgiven for asking this question. After a year of travel corridors, air bridges, holiday tunnels and vacation vortexes, it can be tricky to keep up. At this moment in time, there is a traffic light system to get your head around.
To refresh: green means zero quarantine on return to the UK, but with a single test before you fly home; amber means 10 days of quarantine at home, with two tests and the option to ‘release’ after an additional test on day five. And as for red? Pack your favourite tea bags. It’s a rather unglamorous £1,750 10-night stay at a quarantine hotel, but plans are afoot to scrap this fee for travellers who cannot afford it.
Here’s the good news. The Government has confirmed it will waive quarantine for vaccinated travellers arriving back from amber destinations from July 19, this will make the process of arriving into the UK from no fewer than 167 countries and territories a whole lot easier.
Not that you can get into all of those countries, of course. China for example is classified as ‘amber’, but British arrivals won’t get in without a very good reason indeed. North Korea is also ‘amber’, despite there being no way into the country by air or rail (if you do, somehow, get in, a breezy 30-day detention awaits).
But there are plenty of amber destinations to get excited about. All 10 of our favourite travel destinations back in the heady pre-pandemic days, in fact – Spain, France, Italy, the USA, Ireland, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Portugal and Poland – plus most Caribbean islands and swathes of Asia.
What does the ‘Indian variant’ vaccine mean for holidaymakers?
The Telegraph revealed that up to five million AstraZeneca shots administered in the UK fell foul of the EU’s new vaccine passport scheme and could result in holidaying Britons being turned back at Europe’s borders.
The jabs, which were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and quietly cleared for use by British regulators, have not been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and therefore do not qualify for the EU’s vaccine passport scheme under its current rules.
However, the positive news is that some European countries, including Spain (amber list), Madeira (green list), Greece (amber list) and Switzerland (amber list), have bowed to pressure and unilaterally said they will accept the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca jab at their borders amid mounting anger from Britons who unknowingly received the vaccine.
Find out what it means for my holidays if you have had the Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine here.
Two jabs? These amber destinations will let you in, hassle free
A whole host of countries have announced they will welcome British holidaymakers with proof of full vaccination – that is, two doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna – which can be presented via the NHS app. If you haven’t received both jabs, then you will need to present a negative PCR result, usually taken 72 hours before travel, to be allowed in.
However, it’s not quite as straightforward as that (it never is). To get into France, for example, full vaccination status means you do not need to prove an essential reason for your visit (fantastique). Vaccinated arrivals from the UK do, however, still need to take a PCR test 72 hours before travel to avoid a mandatory seven-day quarantine on arrival (sacre bleu).
Currently on the green list, Gibraltar is one of the few viable holiday options available to us
Credit: Getty
Likewise, in Gibraltar, proof of full vaccination will get British arrivals in without needing to take a test before travel. But you will still need to take a lateral flow test 24 hours after arrival, and then again on day five if you are lucky enough to be staying for seven days or more. And in Iceland, evidence of a full course of the vaccine means you only need to take one PCR test on arrival, rather than one before travel and two on arrival.
So where does double vaccination status remove all hassle before arrival? A number of our favourite holiday destinations, that’s where.
Portugal
Status: Amber (excluding green-listed Madeira)
FCDO advice: OK for non-essential travel
The fall guy of the UK’s topsy-turvy travel policies over the past 12 months, Portugal may have been demoted to amber just weeks after turning green at the last announcement, but the country is doing everything it can to welcome us in with minimal hassle. Everyone with two doses of the vaccine at least 15 days prior to travel will be exempt from quarantine on arrival, but under new rules everyone does need to have proof of a negative PCR test. Mainland Portugal is following the EU’s lead and will not accept the Covishield dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, however Madeira will.
Greece
Status: Amber
FCDO advice: OK for non-essential travel
Greece is straining to get on the UK’s green list, chiefly by racing against the clock to get its 6,000 islanders vaccinated by the end of June. In the meantime, it’s welcoming jabbed-up Britons with open arms, including those with the Indian-made AstraZeneca dose. Proof of double vaccination at least 14 days before travel will get you in with no further tests (however random rapid Covid-19 test are being carried out in arrivals) or quarantine; you’ll just need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form before travel.
The Greek government is hurriedly vaccinating its island populations in an effort to kickstart tourism
Credit: Getty
Croatia
Status: Amber
FCDO advice: Essential travel only
Croatia was one of the first EU countries to welcome vaccinated arrivals. The FCDO states: “If you live in England, Croatia will accept the NHS COVID Pass or your NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status. If you live in Scotland or Wales, Croatia will accept your respective NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status.” You’ll just need to fill in an online entry form before you go. Croatia is yet to break rank and currently does not accept the Covishield vaccine as proof of inoculation.
Malta
Status: Green
FCDO advice: OK for non-essential travel
Arrivals from the UK in Malta are required to present proof of full vaccination. The FCDO states: “From 30 June 2021, the Maltese authorities require all arrivals from the United Kingdom to present proof of full vaccination. This must show that you received a full course of vaccination at least 14 days prior to your arrival. If you live in England, Malta will accept the NHS COVID Pass (both the Digital App and letter versions) as proof of your vaccination status.” The island will accept AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine, the Transport Secretary has confirmed. Proof of vaccination will exempt travellers from self-isolation.
Vaccinated visitors to Malta need not take costly PCR tests
Credit: Getty
Spain
Status: Amber
FCDO advice: OK for non-essential travel
Since July 2, all arrivals to Spain from the UK have had to present one of the following: a negative COVID-19 test; or proof of vaccination, to enter Spain without restriction. This rules also applies in the Canary and Balearic Islands.
Where else?
This is only the tip of the double jab holiday iceberg. A number of countries are accepting vaccine certificates to ease testing and quarantine requirements for arrivals, including Estonia, Belize, Ecuador, Georgia (the country, not the US state), Hungary, Lebanon, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, the Seychelles, Slovenia (is accepting the Covishield dose of the AstraZeneca) and Thailand. Many more have joined that list since the EU introduced its new policy on vaccine passports on July 1. To get up to speed with full entry requirements, check the FCDO website for each country.
One jab? You’re stuck in holiday limbo
Sadly, having one shot in the arm won’t do much for your holiday prospects. All of the destinations that do waive restrictions for inoculated arrivals demand two doses, or nothing. So with one jab, your status is effectively the same as having no jabs. You are, however, on your way to the Babylon of double vaccination status and the destinations that open up accordingly (see above), which is something. As it stands, around 87 per cent of the British population have had a single jab and await their second.
No jabs? These countries will let you in, hassle-free
Around 10 million British adults are yet to have received a first dose of the vaccine, although as of last month everyone over the age of 18 can register for their first dose, meaning the number of unjabbed will continue to shrink over the coming weeks.
For now, for the unjabbed (and single-jabbed) there are a handful of countries going against the grain and welcoming UK arrivals regardless of vaccination status, with no testing requirements or quarantine on arrival, either. The promise lands of pandemic travel, if you will.
North Macedonia
Status: Amber
FCDO advice: OK for non-essential travel
Everyone’s favourite Euro 2020 underdog, North Macedonia (known as Macedonia until 2019) simply says anyone with symptoms should self isolate. Otherwise, it’s free entry. No PCR tests, no proof of vaccination. We’ll see you for a glass of rakija in Skopje.
Mexico
Status: Amber
FCDO advice: Essential travel only
You will not need to flash your vaccine passport, nor proof of a negative test result, to get into Mexico. The FCDO simply advises: “If you present symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival at an airport in Mexico, you should ask for the International Health Team (“Sanidad Internacional”).” Fill in a health questionnaire, and you’re off. Vamos.
Costa Rica
Status: Red
FCDO advice: Essential travel only
Costa Rica has open doors. All you need to do to get in is prove that you have bullet-proof travel insurance with specific cover requirements (including health cover up to US$50,000) in case you contract Covid-19, and you must fill in an electronic form known as ‘Pase de Salud’ or ‘Health Pass’ to enter. After that, it’s a beeline to the jungle. The snag? Costa Rica is categorised as ‘red’, meaning you will have to enter hotel quarantine on your return.
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