Huge change to travel rules TODAY as green and amber lists scrapped – everything you need to know
THE UK'S travel rules have had a huge shake-up today.
Pre-arrival tests have been ditched for vaccinated Brits and the government has decided to scrap the traffic light system for a simpler go / no-go list.
There are, however, still some rules in place. Here's everything you need to know.
NO GO LIST
From today, ministers have simplified the messy traffic light system to a simple go/no-go list.
It sees the current amber and green lists merge into one Covid safe list and a Covid unsafe list, where red list rules remain.
It is expected the government will slash the number of countries on the red list over the coming weeks.
Turkey, Egypt, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kenya were already struck off the red list last month.
Egypt and Turkey have seen booming demand from Brits who have been unable to visit for months, with deals from £343 for an all-inclusive break.
But more than 50 countries remain on the list - including Thailand, Costa Rica and the Philippines.
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NEW TESTING RULES
New rules have been put in place for vaccinated travellers.
Pre-arrival testing - which had to be a lateral flow or PCR test taken before returning to the UK - is no longer required.
Instead, holidaymakers will just need a day two Covid test, PCR only.
The day two PCR test requirement will then be swapped for a simpler lateral flow test later this month.
It is hoped this will be enforced in time for the October half-term, but the government is yet to confirm a date.
Here are some of the cheapest places to buy a PCR test for your holiday, as the free NHS tests are not allowed.
And we've also rounded up the tour operators and companies selling lateral flow tests, from just £20.
Unvaccinated Brits will still need to provide a pre-arrival lateral flow test, as well as a day two and day 8 PCR test.
ACROSS THE POND
Not part of the travel changes today, but nonetheless, Brits will be delighted to hear that holidays to the US are due to be given the green light within weeks.
Double jabbed visitors from the UK and EU have the thumbs up to enter the US from November, with all foreign travellers required to show proof of their vaccination before boarding the plane.
Travellers will also need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test - which has to be taken within three days of flight.
According to White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients, passengers who are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine.
The UK has been on the US travel ban list since March 2020.
Exemptions have been made solely for US citizens and permanent residents, as well as certain close family members and other limited categories of visa holders like diplomats and UN staff.
The US is a hugely popular holiday destination for tourists from the UK, and prior to the pandemic, more than five million Brits visited the US every year.
'UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES'
Last month, Downing Street warned that the freedoms could be snatched back if a mutant variant threatens the Covid road to recovery.
An official spokesperson for Boris Johnson said: "We are aware that the pandemic is still ongoing and there is always a chance of unexpected challenges such as an even more transmissible or more deadly variant emerging.
"That said, because of the success of our vaccine programme, it is enabling us to move steadily and remove restrictions as we saw as we came out of Step 4.
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He added "while we have seen the slow easing of restrictions on travel" it would be "wrong to rule anything out in the future".
