In a big relief to students and professionals, the United Kingdom Government has moved India from the “red list” to “amber list”, meaning that travellers who are fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 will no longer be subject to mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine in the UK.
The change by the United Kingdom’s Department of Transport comes into effect from August 8 (Sunday). The decision comes as a relief for the Indian diaspora demanding relaxation in travel norms in the country. The shift from red to amber status will directly impact thousands of Indian families, students looking to travel to the UK.
“The UK Government has announced an update to the ‘Red-Amber-Green’ traffic light ratings for arrivals into England. From 4am (BST) on Sunday 8 August, India will move from the red to the amber list,” the British High Commission in New Delhi said in a statement.
Apart from India, other countries that have been shifted to the “amber” list are — Bahrain, Georgia, Mexico, the UAE, and Qatar, and the French overseas territories of Reunion and Mayotte.
“You must take the test in 3 days before you travel to England. On your arrival in England, you must quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days. Also, you must take a Covid-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8,” it said.
Under the UK rules for passengers from amber list countries, travellers must take Covid-19 test three days before travel to the country and book another test within three days of arrival in the country. Such passengers are also required to complete a passenger locator form on arrival in the country.
Upon arrival in England, such passengers are required to quarantine at home or in a place that they have confirmed as their location for 10 days and take a Covid test on or before day two and on after day eight.
However, those under 18 and those “fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day of arrival 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”.