The United Kingdom has moved India to the ‘Amber’ category, reopening travel visas for Indian citizens.
The U.K. had placed India under the ‘Red’ category in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases that came along with a stringent quarantine requirement, which too will be relaxed under the new set of rules.
A statement from the British High Commission informed that as part of the ‘Amber’ list, visitor visas will be available to Indian travellers, along with “other long-term visas that have remained open”.
In the new system, “travellers arriving in England can complete a 10-day quarantine at home or in the place they are staying”.
The relaxation of the quarantine rules has come as a relief to Indian travellers as under ‘Red’ category rules, the mandatory quarantine had to be spent in a hotel at the personal expense of travellers.
In addition, travellers can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test on Day 5 of the quarantine and end their quarantine if the result turns out negative.
The ‘Amber’ category rules, however, demand that travellers “must take a COVID-19 test in the three days before travelling to England” and book and pay for COVID-19 tests to be taken after arrival in England. That apart, they are also expected to complete a passenger locator form.