Commencing from Monday, October 4, 2021, all UK citizens flying to India will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine, even if they are fully vaccinated. This move comes after similar restraints were forced on Indian citizens flying to the UK, which also come into effect on October 4.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated the travel advisory to reflect the new guidelines on travel to India.
"Travellers irrespective of their vaccination status, arriving in India will undertake COVID-19 RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport and on day 8 after arrival at their own cost and will undergo mandatory quarantine at home or at the destination address for 10 days after arrival in India," the FDCO said on its website.
UK nationals will now be required to undertake a pre-departure RT-PCR test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before travel. They will also be tested again upon their arrival at the airports in India, and another RT-PCR test must be taken on the eighth day after their arrival.
The British government on September 22 approved Covishield, a formulation of AstraZeneca's vaccine against COVID-19 which is manufactured in India. But Indian travellers will still be considered unvaccinated since the UK officials gave raised issues with India's vaccination certificate. Travellers from India who are considered unvaccinated will still need to quarantine for 10 days after arrival in the UK.