Travelling to UK From India: The Latest Rules and Regulations You Need to Know

 This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Last updated 2 June 2021

Although the case count in India is now on a downward trajectory, governments around the world are still wary of opening their borders to Indian travellers. Amongst the 40 countries to have put a travel ban on India is the United Kingdom. The island nation has strictly suspended all leisure travel from India till further notice, granting exemption to only a select few passengers with the stipulation of coronavirus testing and quarantine.

Are you allowed to travel to the UK? Will you need to get tested? Do you need to quarantine? Read along to find out.

Can I travel from India to the UK?

In most cases, no.

India has been put on the UK’s red list, which means only exempted individuals will be allowed in. Other passengers will be denied entry to the UK if they been in India in the 10 days preceding travel.

England and Northern Ireland

Only the following people have been left out of the scope of the travel ban:

  • British nationals
  • Irish nationals
  • Those who have residence rights in the UK

Scotland

Only the following people have been left out of the scope of the travel ban:

  • British nationals
  • Irish nationals
  • Those who have the right to remain in the UK- this includes work and study visas
  • Those who are travelling to Scotland because of a certain type of job or for essential medical treatment

Wales

Travellers coming from red-listed countries (not even those exempted in other parts of the UK) can directly enter Wales.

Wales doesn’t have a designated port of entry. As a result, those who wish to come to the country need to enter via England or Scotland, complete the quarantine and testing (read below) there, and then transit to Wales.

Testing and quarantine regulations

The following rules must be strictly followed by all arrivals, irrespective of vaccination status. Violation of these rules will attract heavy fines and penalties.

Note that, there are exemptions for certain jobs. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have their own rules regarding these.

Pre-departure testing requirements

If you fall in the exempt categories and are travelling to the UK from India, you first need to get tested in the 3 days preceding your departure and carry the negative results.

This could include tests such as:

  • a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests
  • an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

The test certificate must include the following information:

  • your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
  • your date of birth or age
  • the result of the test
  • the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider
  • the name of the test provider and their contact details
  • confirmation of the device used for the test, or that the test was a PCR test

The results should only be in English, Spanish or French; translations are not accepted. They can be shown in either print or electronic form.

Children below 11 years of age are exempt from testing.

Quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements

On arrival, you need to quarantine for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel. You’ll be subject to a second COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and a third test on or after day 8 of quarantine. The day you arrive counts as day 0.

The hotel quarantine must be booked within a 14-day period before arrival, along with quarantine transport and COVID-19 tests. You can check the packages and book your stay here.

Expect to pay-

  • £1750 for the first adult
  • £650 each for any other adults or children over 11
  • £325 each for any children aged between 5 to 11

Passenger locator form

All arriving and transiting passengers in the UK must fill the passenger locator form online any time in the 48 hours before scheduled arrival.

The form is free to submit.

You’ll need:

  • your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border
  • your travel details, including times and dates
  • the address where you will stay in the UK
  • booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK
  • the invoice number for your quarantine hotel booking

India to UK flight schedules

As of now, Air India flies from India only to London Heathrow Airport.

  • Delhi to Heathrow: Upto two flights are available, at least 3 days a week
  • Mumbai to Heathrow: One flight is available, 4 days a week
  • Bengaluru to Heathrow: Upto three flights are available, at least 5 days a week
  • Chennai to Heathrow: Upto three flights are available, at least 5 days a week

Similarly, Vistara, a low-cost Indian carrier, also flies exclusively to Heathrow Airport in the UK.

  • Mumbai to Heathrow: Upto five flight are available, almost every day
  • Bengaluru to Heathrow: Multiple flights are available, almost every day
  • Chennai to Heathrow: Upto three flights are available, almost every day

Apart from these, connecting flights are also available on British Airways, Air France, Sri Lankan Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways.

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