Covid-19: UK eases entry restrictions from India

August 5, 2021 43 Views No Comment

New Delhi, August 5 (Agencies) Fully vaccinated Indian passengers flying to the United Kingdom will no longer be put through a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine as the UK moved the country from its “red” to “amber” list.

The shift in lists will directly impact thousands of India families, students looking to travel to the UK.

Indian nationals can now quarantine at a location of their choice for 10 days post their arrival in the UK. They will retain the option to “test to release” after five days of their quarantine period.

Under Britain’s traffic light system for international travel, returning from amber list countries means a 10-day quarantining at home.

The change, announced by the Department for Transport, comes into effect from 4 am local time on Sunday.

“The UAE, Qatar, India and Bahrain will be moved from the red list to the amber list. All changes come into effect Sun 8th August at 4am (sic),” UK Transport Secretary tweeted.

“While it’s right we continue our cautious approach, it’s great news to open more destinations for people wanting to connect with families, friends and businesses across the globe, all thanks to our successful domestic vaccination programme,” he said.

The decision has come as a relief for the Indians in the UK, who had been demanding the easing of travel norms between India and Britain.

Under the legal rules for countries on the amber list, passengers must take a Covid test three days before departure and book in advance for two Covid tests to be taken upon arrival in England as well as complete a passenger locator form on arrival.

On arrival in England, passengers must quarantine at home or in the place they have confirmed as their location for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight.

Under-18 and those fully vaccinated in the UK are exempt from the home quarantine, as well as those who have received two doses of Covid vaccine in the EU and US.

Also exempt are those “fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the UK or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the UK and part of a UK-approved vaccine trial”.