India moved from UK's red to amber list, COVID travel restrictions relaxed for Indians
Those travelling from India will need to take a Covid test within three days before their flight and book in advance for two Covid tests to be taken on arrival in England.
In good news for Indian travellers, fully vaccinated individuals flying to the United Kingdom will no longer need the mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine as India has been removed from the country's 'red' to 'amber' list. Under Britain's system for international travel, returning from amber list countries means 10-day quarantining at home or any place of one's choice.
So now, Indian nationals can quarantine at a location of their choice for ten days after arriving in the UK. They will retain the option to "Test to Release" after five days of quarantine.
Those travelling from India will need to take a Covid test within three days before their flight and book in advance for two Covid tests to be taken on arrival in England.
Post the arrival, passengers must quarantine, be it home or any other place they have confirmed as their location for ten days. The passengers need to get a coronavirus test done on or before day two and on or after day eight.
To end quarantine early, an Indian national can pay for private est through a "test to release" scheme. If the test result is negative on day five, then the quarantine can end. The option can't be taken unless the traveller has been in England for five full days.
Those below 18 and those fully vaccinated in the UK are exempt from home quarantine. Â The shift from red to amber status will directly impact thousands of Indian families, students looking to travel to the UK.
The change, announced by the Department for Transport, comes into effect from 4 am local time on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "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 am (sic)."