UK Updates Travel Rules For British Visitors After India Imposes Reciprocal Curbs

This follows India’s decision to impose reciprocal curbs on the British visitors from Monday.

New Delhi: The UK government on Saturday updated its official advisory for its nationals travelling to India.

An additional Covid-19 test on day eight and a 10-day mandatory quarantine for all travellers going to India from Britain from Monday, noted the updated travel advisory by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

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This follows India’s decision to impose reciprocal curbs on the British visitors from Monday.

As part of a reciprocal action against the UK’s new international travel rules with similar measures for the Indians, New Delhi had earlier announced that all British nationals arriving in India from the UK will have to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine from Monday irrespective of their vaccination status.

A UK government spokesperson said the Indian authorities are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry into India.

He said the UK is in close contact with them, adding FCDO Travel Advice will be updated on GOV.UK with the latest information on any changes to the rules.

All travellers irrespective of their vaccination status arriving in India must undertake a Covid-19 RT-PCR test on arrival at airport and on day eight after arrival, at their own cost, as per the updated FCDO advisory.

The advisory also states that all travellers will have to undergo mandatory quarantine at home or at the destination address for 10 days.

The advisory noted that all such passengers under isolation/quarantine shall be regularly monitored by the state/district health Authorities.

This follows India’s vaccine certification not yet being officially recognised by the UK, requiring vaccinated Indian travellers to Britain to undergo the same level of PCR tests and quarantine restrictions as unvaccinated travellers from Monday when England’s new travel norms come into force.

The extension of vaccine certification to additional countries will be reviewed approximately every three weeks, sources in the UK government said on Saturday, adding that it continues to engage with the Indian government on the issue, PTI reported.

Sources said the UK is continuing to work on expanding the policy to countries and territories across the globe in a phased approach.

Sources added the UK is continuing to engage with the Indian government on technical cooperation to expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to the people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India.

Sources further said the UK is working with an array of international partners and look forward to continuing the expansion of the policy to nations and territories across the globe in a phased approach.

Sources added the extension of vaccine certification will be reviewed approximately every three weeks.

The decisions on vaccine recognition are made by the ministers while taking into account public health factors, the UK officials said.

The officials added the UK is looking at expanding the role that vaccination can play more widely for those who have been fully vaccinated elsewhere to enter the UK.

England’s traffic light system of red, amber and green countries based on levels of Covid-19 risk officially ends from Monday.

In spite of India-manufactured Covishield recognised within the UK’s eligible vaccine formulations and being the predominant vaccine used in India, it would, however, not offer any advantage to vaccinated Indian travellers planning a UK visit.

Expressing its strong condemnation of such a move, New Delhi had earlier warned of reciprocal measures if the vaccinated travellers from India continued to be treated in a “discriminatory” way.