Traffic light system explained - what is it and how does it work?

You've probably heard a lot about the Traffic Light system for holidays but perhaps have been a little bamboozled by the rules, guidelines and government advice.

WIth that in mind, we've answered as many questions as we can about it so you can feel confident when booking your next holiday without any nasty surprises.

Scroll down for more information.

Details

What is the traffic light system?

The government has assigned all international destinations a colour - green, amber or red - with each colour meaning different rules around testing and quarantining when returning.

What you need to do when arriving from a:

• green-list country: pre-departure test in origin country with proof of negative result, booked and paid for PCR test to be taken on or before day 2 after arriving back in the UK

• amber-list country if fully vaccinated: same as if arriving from a green-list country

• amber-list country if not vaccinated: pre-departure test in origin country with proof of negative result, quarantine at home or hotel for 10 days when you arrive back and PCR tests on days two and eight. Early release possible with an extra test on day 5

• red-list country: pre-departure test in origin country, followed by a 10-day mandatory hotel quarantine on return to the UK that needs to be booked before departure and at your own cost

How does the government decide which countries go on the green, amber or red list?

Destinations have been assigned a colour based on a variety of factors including vaccination numbers, infection rates, prevalence of variants, quality of healthcare and the ability to identify and sequence new variants.

The different colours indicate the associated risks with visiting each destination.

So while a country may seem to have quite low Covid numbers, they may also not have the infrastructure or ability to cope with a potent new variant.

How often will the countries change colours?

The restrictions will be reviewed again every three weeks meaning some countries could be moved up or down the lists in time for high summer.

However, the government has said it will not ‘hesitate to act immediately should data show countries’ risk ratings have changed’ meaning travellers could also face disruption this year.

What is the watch list?

For the first time, the government will be publishing a watch list to identify the countries at risk of moving from one colour to another so holidaymakers can plan accordingly.

As an example, if a country moves from the green list to the green watch list, it implies there is a stronger likelihood of the destination moving to the amber list.

What about vaccine passports?

People in England can use the NHS app to prove they have been vaccinated although this does not guarantee that your arrival country will accept it as proof.

If your jabs do not show up on the app, you can't download the app or do not have a smartphone, you can call the NHS on 119 and request a written letter confirming your vaccination status.