With all the talk in the news about Green, Amber and Red lists, Covid travel restrictions, PCR tests, and hotel quarantines, travelling right now can be very confusing. Especially when you just want an answer to a simple question: What do I have to do if I want to travel to London to study English? Don’t worry, we’ll make these complicated issues simple and easy to understand.
The first step you must take if you’re travelling to the UK is to find out which list your country is on: Green, Amber or Red. The British government wants to know where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive in the UK, because this will affect what you must do when you come here. To find which list your country is on, please check the official British government’s site.
Red List
If you are travelling from a country that is on the Red List you can only enter the UK if you are a British National, Irish National, or you have Residence Rights in the UK (a long-term visa with the right to live in the UK). All other people from Red List countries cannot enter the UK.
Traveller from Red List countries must:
- Take a Covid-19 test before they arrive in the UK
- Book a quarantine hotel package, including two Covid-19 tests
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form
Also, if you are travelling from a Red List Country you can only enter the UK at the following airports:
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- London City Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Farnborough Airport
- Biggin Hill Airport
These rules are the same if you have received a vaccine. These rules are different for some people, depending on your job.
Amber list
If you are travelling to the UK from a country on the Amber List these are the things you must do before you arrive in the UK:
- Take a Covid-19 test
- Book and pay for two Covid-19 tests in the UK
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form
After you arrive in the UK you must:
- Quarantine at home for 10 days
- Take Covid-19 tests on Day 2 and Day 8 of being in the UK
These rules are the same if you have received a vaccine.
Green List
If you are travelling from a country that’s on the Green List, before you arrive, you must:
- Take a Covid-19 test
- Book 1 Covid-19 test for your second day in the UK
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form
After you arrive in the UK, you must take the Covid-19 test that you booked on Day 2 of your trip. You only have to quarantine if you receive a message from NHS Test and Trace saying that you travelled to the UK on the same plane as somebody who tested positive for Covid-19.
These rules are the same if you have received a vaccine.
Test to Release
You can also choose to take an extra test on your 5th day in the UK under the Test to Release scheme. If this extra test is negative you can stop quarantining. You would still need to do the tests you booked for Day 2 and Day 8 in the UK. If you come from a country on the Red List, you cannot be a part of this scheme.
Which Covid Tests Are Accepted by the UK?
The UK does not accept every Covid-19 test. The test you take to enter the UK must have specificity above 97% and sensitivity over 80%. Your doctor will know what this means. Some acceptable tests are:
- 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
As always, if you need any help understanding this page, advice or entering the UK, or want to discuss your course booking, Ingla is always here to help. Send us an email at admin@ingla.co.uk or call our landline at 020 8889 1208.