U.K Eases Restrictions. India Moves from 'Red' to 'Amber' List
August 2021
In 2020, as the global pandemic of Covid 19 crippled countries across the globe, the world shut down. This resulted in almost every country shutting its borders to international travel. While there were many industries that suffered, education was greatly affected, with numerous international students having to either return to their home countries or postpone their study abroad plans. But with the introduction of online learning, remote learning and hybrid learning by universities abroad, there was some relief for aspiring students.
As the pandemic raged on, the United Kingdom (UK) was one of the worst affected countries. The UK was forced to announce a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of a UK variant of Covid 19. Most universities in UK shifted their operations online so as to not disrupt the administration of its courses.
As India faced a very brutal second wave of infections, the UK put India on a 'Red List', which is a traffic light system for international travel. According to guidelines of the 'Red List', only citizens and those with residential rights were allowed to enter the country with a mandatory 10 day institutional quarantine clause, which at the time cost around £1,750. As a Tier 4 (student visa) has residential rights, aspiring Indian students enrolled at universities in UK were met with a sigh of relief for their education abroad as they could travel to the country, but however the cost of quarantine proved to cause financial strain.
On August 5, 2021, the U.K. Transport Secretary tweeted, "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 4 a.m."
The guidelines set by the UK Government for countries on the 'Amber List' for arriving passengers are mentioned here:
With effect from August 8, 2021, for India:
- Arriving passengers have to take a COVID-19 test, a minimum of three days before departure, and book two Covid tests in advance, which will be taken upon arrival in the UK and present a complete Passenger Locator Form on arrival.
- Arriving passengers will have to home quarantine at the address mentioned on their Passenger Location Form. They will be required to take a COVID-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantine.
- Highlighting relief for fully vaccinated passengers, the UK Government also stated "fully vaccinated in the U.K. or under the U.K. vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the U.K. or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the U.K. and part of a U.K.-approved vaccine trial".
- Covishield, the India-manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, is likely to be covered under this exemption.
This relaxation announced by the UK is a big win for students who want to travel for their study in UK. We strongly advise students to be fully vaccinated before they travel with vaccines approved by the respective study destination as this will exempt them from mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
Students can still apply to courses in UK and achieve their study abroad dreams. For further assistance or queries students can contact us, Edwise International, and avail for our wide range of services for students on destinations like Universities in USA, study in Germany, study in Canada, study in Australia, study in New-Zealand, Study in USA, study in Singapore and many other countries.
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