. New Delhi, Delhi, India
Countries ease travel curbs: What this means for Indian travellers
UK has shifted India from the red list to the amber list (Photo: Representational/Unsplash)
- UK has moved India from the red list to amber list
- UAE has allowed fully vaccinated Indian travellers to travel to the country
- Spanish authorities have also allowed full-vaccinated Indian travellers to visit
Even though the Delta variant is driving infections across Europe, USA and China, the rising rates of vaccination around the world is giving countries confidence to ease travel curbs, subject to certain conditions.
In good news for Indian travellers, several countries which had barred travel from India have now relaxed the curbs. While the UK has moved India from the red list to the amber list, UAE and Spain have also allowed travellers from India to enter their jurisdictions.
UK’s system
The United Kingdom employs a colour-coded traffic light system with countries in three categories — red, amber and green. The categorisation is done on the basis of “the risk posed by individual countries and territories”.
The red list includes countries that the UK has explicitly asked citizens to not visit. Only British and Irish nationals or those with residence rights in UK could enter the country from countries in the red list.
Upon arrival, travellers were required to quarantine for 10 days and undergo two COVID-19 tests.
India, until recently, was on the red list. Now, India has been moved to the amber list. As a result, fully vaccinated travellers from India will no longer have to quarantine in the UK upon arrival.
UAE’s relaxations
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will lift the ban on entry of passengers from India and five other countries from August 5 onwards. The relaxation will be valid only for passengers who have valid residency visa and are fully vaccinated with the final dose taken at least 14 days prior to departure.
Moreover, UAE has also lifted restrictions on flyers transiting to other destinations. Although with new standard operating procedures coming into effect, the new rules may take time to implement.
Spain’s travel curbs
Spain has added India to the list of countries from where tourists will be allowed given that they have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to travel. Spanish authorities have said that only those travellers will be allowed who have been inoculated with a vaccine either approved by the WHO or the European Medicines Agency.