As India remains in UK’s ‘red list’ of countries, here’s all you need to know about travel restrictions and exceptions for those travelling to England.
If you are planning to travel to the UK, your ride isn’t going to be a smooth one. As India remains in UK’s ‘red list’ of countries, here’s all you need to know about travel restrictions and exceptions for those travelling to England.
As of now, visas for travel to London have been on hold until further notice and no Indians are being issued fresh travel visas. In this case, those who want to travel to the UK must have a long-term visa.
But even if one has a long-term visa, the person cannot directly travel to the country and have to take a flight from a country which is in UK’s green list. Secondly, the traveller should have stayed for at least ten days in a “green list” country.
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Iceland
Israel and Jerusalem
New Zealand
Singapore
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
None of the countries mentioned in UK’s green list are allowing travellers from India. As of now, Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, Russia and Nepal are the countries that have relaxed travel restrictions for passengers from India.
In a rare occasion that you find a country, flying from Delhi to that place might be near impossible given the flight options and routes.
England has categorised countries in three different lists that have different set of norms to be followed in order to arrive in country.
If you have been in a country or territory on the:
Green list – you must take a coronavirus (Covid-19) test on or before day 2
Amber list – you must quarantine in the place you’re staying and take 2 Covid-19 tests
Red list – you must quarantine in a hotel and take 2 Covid-19 tests
You cannot currently enter the UK if you’ve been in or through a country on the red list unless you’re British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK, including students and skilled labour.
London’s Heathrow Airport has opened a dedicated new terminal on June 1 for arrivals from countries designated as “red list”, as reported by PTI. Travellers on direct flights from such destinations will now go through Terminal 3 and then move directly to a government-approved quarantine facility booked at the passengers’ own expense.
“Red List routes will likely be a feature of the UK travel for the foreseeable future as countries vaccinate their population at different rates,” a Heathrow Airport Spokesperson said. There’s no confirmation on the airport’s plan from the UK government.
And since the UK government is not issuing any fresh visas and allowing only British, Irish and long-term visa holders, from green countries, it is nearly impossible to enter the London.
So even for long-term visa holders, travelling to the UK might not be possible unless London reverses rules and relaxes travel restriction.
