Amendments to the UK’s safe list for travel took effect from 4am today. The Balearic Islands, Madeira, Malta, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, are all now on the green list.

However, the majority of these destinations are also on the government’s ‘green watchlist’, meaning there is a risk they will be moved back to the amber list.

Anyone arriving back in England from a green list country will need to take a pre-departure test up to 72 hours before their return travel, and a single PCR test on or before day two of arrival into England. However, they will not need to quarantine.

People arriving in the UK from amber countries need to quarantine at home for 10 days and take PCR Covid-19 tests on or before day two and on or after day eight after returning home.

Local restrictions

Although more countries on the green list is, theoretically, good news for Brits wanting to go on holiday, an increasing number of countries are introducing restrictions for arrivals.

Travellers from the UK will need to be fully vaccinated to be allowed into Malta. Those travelling to the Balearics will have to prove vaccination status or a negative Covid test result to be allowed onto any of the islands.

British travellers to Portugal – which is on the amber list – who are not fully vaccinated against coronavirus must quarantine for 14 days on arrival from today.

People who are not fully vaccinated are only allowed to travel from the UK to France if they can prove it is essential. Those who are fully vaccinated don’t need to quarantine, but must prove their vaccination status. Non-vaccinated people must prove they have tested negative for the virus and isolate for seven days on arrival.

Rory Boland, Which? Travel editor, said: “Changes to entry requirements for UK travellers to Malta, Portugal and Spain over the past few days demonstrate just how volatile international travel rules are at the moment. The cost of these changes will once again mostly fall at the feet of consumers, many of whom will either have to pay to rebook their flight or holiday or pay extra for tests to gain entry to their destination.

“Booking travel currently carries considerable risk, and anyone booking a holiday should look for a good package holiday provider with a flexible booking policy that covers changes to traffic light statuses and entry requirements.”