The UK government announced on August 5 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.
This decision means as following:
- Visit Visas for the UK from India are open (in addition to other visa long-term visas that have remained open).
- Travellers arriving in England can complete a 10-day quarantine at home or in the place they are staying (not mandatorily quarantine in a managed hotel)
- Under the voluntary Test to Release scheme, they can choose to pay for a private Covid-19 test on day 5 of the quarantine. If the result is negative, they can end their quarantine.
Amber list rules
What you must do if you have been in a country or territory on the amber list in the 10 days before you arrive in England.
Before travel to England
Before you travel to England you must:
- take a COVID-19 test – you must take the test in the 3 days before you travel to England
- book and pay for COVID-19 tests – to be taken after arrival in England
- complete a passenger locator form
On arrival in England you must:
- quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
- take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8
Fully UK vaccinated and people under the age of 18 – amber rules
- You do not need to quarantine or take a day 8 test after you arrive in England if you are either:
- 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
- part of a UK-approved vaccine trial
- You must have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 whole days before the date you arrive in England. You still need to book and take a day 2 test.
Amber list rules if fully vaccinated in Europe or the USA
If you’ve been fully vaccinated in the USA or many European countries, you will not need to quarantine when you arrive in England or take a day 8 test. You still need to book and take a day 2 test.
France
- If you have been in France in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must:
- quarantine for 10 days on arrival in England
- book and take both day 2 and day 8 Covid-19 tests
If you will be in England for less than 10 days
- If you’re travelling to England for less than 10 days, you will need to quarantine for the whole of your stay.
- You must still book your day 2 and day 8 travel tests, even if you will no longer be in England on the dates of the tests. You only need to take the tests if you’re still in the country on those dates.
- You do not need to quarantine or take a day 8 test if you are fully vaccinated in the UK, Europe or USA.
Test to Release scheme
You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.