BRITS currently on holiday in Portugal were thrown into chaos after the Government demoted the country to its amber list.
The announcement was made on June 3 with the change coming into effect next week.
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When does Portugal move to the amber list?
The change officially takes place at 4am on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, meaning anyone returning after that date will have to self-isolate for 10 days.
Brits are now rushing to book flights home in order to beat the deadline.
Travellers returning from Portugal and other amber list countries will be required to take a pre-departure PCR Covid test and provide a negative result.
They will then have to pay for a further two tests on days two and eight of their 10-day quarantine.
Brits can opt for private Covid test providers, which can cost between £120 and £300 per person – or slightly cheaper options are available from Boots and Superdrug.
Why has Portugal been removed from the green list?
Portugal was today relegated from its green status after ministers sounded the alarm about a worrying new "Nepal mutation" of the Indian variant detected in the holiday hotspot.
Confirming Britain's "difficult but decisive decision" – first revealed by The Sun – Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned 68 cases of the Indian "Delta" variant had been identified in Portugal.
They include cases of the emerging Nepal mutation – and the minister said it was currently unclear if vaccines were effective against the strain.
Portugal’s foreign and tourism ministers have said it's hard to grasp the logic behind the demotion, describing it as "unfair and completely inadequate".
Portugal's Ministry for Foreign Affairs tweeted: "We take note of the British decision to remove Portugal from its ‘green’ travel list, a decision whose logic is difficult to grasp.
"Portugal continues to carry out its prudent and gradual deconfinement plan, with clear rules for the safety of those who live here or visit us."
What should I do if I have a holiday booked?
Whether or not you're entitled to a refund for your Portugal holiday depends on the advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Government's traffic light system indicates what countries it deems safe for Brits to travel to and what processes must be followed upon return.
But the assessed risk factors for travel are different to those of the FCDO – sometimes the FCDO will deem a country safe, even though it's on the amber list.
And it's the FCDO advice that holiday firms use to assess whether a holiday can go ahead.
Although the FCDO advice hasn't changed yet, if it does advise against travel to Portugal, then you will be entitled to your money back from a package holiday provider.
You aren't entitled to your money back if the the Government simply moves it to the amber list.
If you need to cancel your trip because you aren't able to self-isolate when you're home the you should expect to forfeit the full or part of the cost of the trip.
This is because you've decided not to go on holiday not because the trip has been cancelled by circumstances beyond your control.
What are the rules for travel to amber list countries?
Most countries, including most of Europe, are on the UK's amber list – and are currently not advised for travelling to on holiday.
People travelling to the UK from amber list countries have to quarantine for 10 days at home.
All amber list arrivals will also need a pre-arrival Covid test, as well as tests on day two and day eight of quarantine.
However, Brits can pay for a fourth test as part of the Test to Release scheme, meaning they can leave the self-isolation earlier.
While travelling to amber list countries is not banned – unlike red list countries – the government has warned against holidays to them.
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