Italy, Germany, Canada and Austria could be added to green travel list

Another ten countries including Italy, Germany, Canada and Austria could be added to the green travel list from next week in a boost to summer holiday hopes, a leading travel expert predicted today. 

Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, a travel consultancy, screens destinations for quarantine-free travel based on current infection and vaccination rates, as well as information from 'official sources from various governments'.

He gave Austria, Bosnia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia and Slovenia as likely greens in the next government review, expected next Wednesday. 

On the green watch list, he placed Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Finland, Egypt, Estonia, French Polynesia, Jamaica, Japan, North Macedonia, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Sweden.

Mr Charles said: 'Our analysis shows at least 10 countries will be added to the UK Government green list next week - of course it should be many more. But usual government caution will prevail.'

Other reports last night suggested as many as 77 countries could be rated green, with government scientists said to be reviewing the countries before ministers decide on which to move when changes are announced next week.

Government sources told the Telegraph the number of countries added to the green list may narrow considerably from the 77, but the list offers insight into countries considered 'possibles'.      

Meanwhile, the newspaper also reported that ministers are preparing to ease travel rules for expats returning to the UK from Sunday.

The government will formally recognise jabs administered overseas from August 1. 

That means that Brits living abroad who are fully vaccinated will be able to avoid a 10 day stay in self-isolation when returning from an amber list country. 

Meanwhile, ministers are also considering plans which would allow double-jabbed foreign nationals to be allowed into the UK without having to quarantine. 

The government is hoping to strike reciprocal deals with dozens of nations to recognise each other's vaccinations and vaccine apps. 

That could pave the way for the return of much easier travel to and from many popular holiday destinations. 

It will also inevitably spark optimism of a deal being done between the US and the UK as the two sides continue talks on setting up a travel corridor.  

The government currently only recognises NHS administered vaccinations when it comes to international travel rules. 

As a result, British expats who live in amber list nations have faced the barrier of quarantine even when they have had both doses.

Ministers are now reportedly planning to change the rules to allow Brits to register a foreign jab with their GP.