Covid-19 travel ban: India added to UK’s red list but international students could be exempt
The UK has banned almost all travel from India, but what does the announcement mean for international students?
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The UK government has announced that India will join the Covid-19 red list due to fears of a new virus variant spreading, but there are some exemptions for international students.
The red list details countries from which there are strict restrictions on travel to Britain. From 23 April 2021, no one travelling from India will be granted entry into the UK, unless they have residence rights. Pakistan and Bangladesh are already on the red list.
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The UK government website states that the biometric residence permits required for Indian students in the UK grant them residence rights in the country, meaning Indian students enrolled in British universities should still be able to enter the country even though it’s on the red list.
Everyone who arrives in England from India must now quarantine for 10 days in a government-approved hotel. At the cost of £1,750 for the hotel stay plus two Covid-19 tests, this rule has caused financial worry among some Indian students.
Universities UK International has since confirmed that it is discussions with the UK government to see if Indian students may be able to quarantine in university accommodation instead of in an approved hotel. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) has also written to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, calling for the government to waive or reduce the quarantine costs for international students.
The University of Edinburgh has now announced that it would “support hotel quarantine costs”, to a maximum of £1,750, for some Indian students and it is possible that other institutions will follow suit.
Northern Ireland has similar travel restrictions in place. In Scotland, all international arrivals must quarantine in a government-approved hotel, no matter which country they’re travelling from. Wales has banned international flights for the time being.
Meanwhile, other countries are also treating travel from India with caution. Although there is no formal ban, the US is currently advising against travel to and from India.
This article was first published on 21 April 2021. We will be updating this article as guidance changes.
