Changes to Green, Amber and Red List

Further changes (and relaxation) of #travel rules are in motion following the announcement last week for those travelling from an amber list country and those who have been fully vaccinated (https://www.shoreslegal.com/post/fully-vaccinated-travellers-welcome-to-the-england).

From 4 am, Sunday 8 August, the amber list rules will apply for those who have travelled to or from France, meaning that there will be no need to self-isolate on arrival or take a day eight post-arrival COVID test if:

• the traveller has been fully vaccinated in Europe (including France) or the USA or named countries (Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City); and

• the vaccine has been authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Europe, Swissmedic for Switzerland and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the UKA; and

• the final dose of the vaccine has been taken at least 14 days before the traveller's arrival to the UK.

The announcement signals the end of the so-called "amber+ list", with France being the only country on that list.

At the same time, the following countries, after months of battling red list restrictions, are being moved to the amber list:

• Bahrain

• India

• Qatar

• United Arab Emirates

This will mean that whilst travellers will still need to self-isolate, they will no longer need to be quarantined for the ten days at a quarantine hotel and will be able to participate under the test-and-release scheme.

Finally, the following countries will be moved to the Green List from 4 am on 8 August 2021.

• Austria

• Germany

• Latvia

• Norway

• Romania

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

This will mean that travelling from those countries in the past ten days before arriving in England (and not having spent time in a red-list or amber list within the last ten days of arriving in England) will only need to:

• take a COVID-19 test – children aged ten and under do not need to take this test

• book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test

• complete a passenger locator form but will not need to self-isolate (even if the individual is not fully vaccinated)

The latest changes are anticipated but much appreciated as the high of summer leisure and business travels are in demand.

We are expecting further changes in the coming weeks as vaccination programmes worldwide and the data of COVID-19 infections continue to progress.

Shores & Legal are experienced and expert immigration partners for your business and personal immigration requirements. We have years of experience in helping Indian companies identify their immigration requirements and strategy to the UK. If you wish to discuss your UK immigration requirements, contact us at +44 (0) 207 097 6778 or info@shoreslegal.com.