Covid-19
information

Green, amber and red lists 

The requirements for passengers arriving to the UK depend on which country they have been in during the 10 days before they arrive. Each country is on the red, amber or green list. If a student has been in multiple countries in these ten days, either visiting or transiting, they will have to follow the stricter rules for the highest-risk country.

> Find out which countries are on the red, amber and green lists on GOV.UK.

The UK government will review the lists every three weeks, or more quickly if something changes. 

Summary of requirements for arriving passengers:

Covid-19 test requirements

All arrivals must take a Covid-19 test in the three days before travelling to the UK. Proof of a negative Covid test must be provided in English, French or Spanish.

All arrivals also need to book and pay for either one or two Covid travel tests to take in the UK after arrival. These test packages must be booked through an approved provider. Find an approved test provider on GOV.UK. Students need to book their test(s) before they travel and provide the booking reference on their passenger locator form.

Exemptions for young learners: Students aged 11 years and younger do not need to book a Covid-19 test package if they are arriving to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. For arrivals in England, everyone over four years old needs to book the test package.

Passenger locator form

All arrivals to the UK must complete the UK government’s online passenger locator form on GOV.UK. The form can be submitted any time within 48 hours before arrival in the UK. All arrivals will need to show their form when they check in to travel or board their plane, train or ferry to the UK. Arrivals will need to provide the following information on their form:

• passport or other travel document details
• travel details including times and dates
• address details of where they will stay in the UK
• booking reference number(s) for any Covid travel tests they must take after arriving in the UK
• quarantine hotel booking reference (red list arrivals only).

Green list

Students travelling from green list countries do not need to self-isolate unless they test positive. Before travel, they need to:

• Take a Covid test in the three days before travelling.
• Book and pay for an approved Covid travel test to take on day two of their stay in the UK.
• Complete and submit the passenger locator form on GOV.UK.

Amber list

Students from amber list countries will be in quarantine for ten days unless they pay for an additional Covid test (known as ‘test to release’) on day five (available in England only). Before travel, they need to:

• Take a Covid test in the three days before travelling.
• Book and pay for approved Covid travel tests to take on day two and day eight in the UK.
• Complete and submit the passenger locator form on GOV.UK.

From Monday 19 July, people travelling from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme will not need to quarantine on arrival in England or take a Covid test on day 8. Children under the age of 18 who are returning to the UK will also be exempt from requirements to quarantine and take the day 8 test. Read more about these changes on GOV.UK.

Arriving from France – important information

The amber list rules for fully UK vaccinated people do not apply to France. If a student has been in France in the 10 days before they arrive in the UK, they must follow the amber list rules for people who are not fully UK vaccinated.

This means they must quarantine for 10 days on arrival in England and take day 2 and day 8 Covid 19 tests.

Red list

Students from red list countries can only travel if they have residence rights in the UK. This includes students who have a Student or Child Student visa, or an 11-month Short-term study visa. Those with a six-month Standard Visitor visa are not permitted to enter the UK from a red list country.

Arrivals from red list countries must book and pay to stay in a UK government-approved quarantine hotel for ten days, unless they are children going to a registered boarding school. They will take Covid travel tests on day two and day eight.

Arrivals from red list countries are only allowed to arrive at dedicated ports of entry in the UK. This includes a limited number of airports in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. There are no designated ports of entry for red list arrivals in Wales. Students travelling to Wales from ‘red list’ countries must enter via a designated port of entry in England or Scotland and isolate for 10 days in a nearby managed quarantine hotel. If all Covid tests are negative they can then travel to Wales.

Before travel, students travelling from red list countries need to:

• Take a Covid test in the three days before travelling.
• Book an approved quarantine hotel and test package.
• Complete and submit the passenger locator form on GOV.UK.

Students travelling from a red list country to Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland can check for specific requirements regarding ports of entry and how to book the right quarantine hotel:

• entering Scotland 
• entering Wales 
• entering Northern Ireland 

Until Monday 19 July there are some restrictions in place across the UK to reduce the spread of Covid. Shops, schools and hospitality venues are open, but there are some restrictions on the number of people who can meet.

From Monday 19 July, most restrictions in England come to an end. People can meet in groups of any size and social distancing is no longer required.

In the UK’s other three nations, some restrictions will still be in place. Please check national government websites for full details for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See summaries of the upcoming changes below:

Rules in England from Monday 19 July

• The government recommends that people continue to use face-coverings in crowded areas. This will still be a legal requirement on some public transport systems including Transport for London.
• No limit on the number of people who can meet indoors or outdoors
• No requirements to keep a distance from others
• No opening restrictions for hospitality settings

Rules in Scotland from Monday 19 July

• Face-coverings must still be worn on public transport and in public indoor settings.
• People should keep a 1 metre distance from people they do not live with, in all indoor public settings and outdoors
• Up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors without physical distancing.
• 10 people from four households can meet indoors.
• Hospitality settings must close at midnight.

> See more details on the Scotland government website

Rules in Wales from Saturday 17 July

• Face-coverings must still be worn on public transport and in public indoor settings.
• Up to six people can meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation.
• No limits on the number of people who can meet outdoors.
• All restrictions aside from face-covering requirements are due to be removed on 7 August if conditions allow.

> See more details on the Welsh government website

Rules in Northern Ireland from Monday 26 July

• Face-coverings must still be worn on public transport and in public indoor settings.
• Up to ten people from no more than three households can meet indoors
• Up to 15 people can meet outdoors
• People should keep a 1 metre distance from people they do not live with, in all indoor public settings

> See more details on the Northern Ireland government website

Covid tests in the UK

Rapid Covid tests (known as lateral flow tests) are available free from local pharmacies, community testing centres, or by post. Some language schools may ask students, teachers and staff to take regular rapid tests, although this will not apply in all cases.

PCR tests are available for free for anyone experiencing Covid symptoms in the UK. Language centre staff will explain to students exactly what they should do if they notice any symptoms.

Covid Vaccinations in the UK

Any student who lives in the UK and is registered with a GP can access a Covid vaccine. All students in England can register with a GP. They do not need to provide proof of address or immigration status. The NHS will contact the student when it is their turn to have their vaccine. There are also multiple walk-in vaccination centres where eligible adults can have vaccines without an appointment. These are currently available in England , Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. There are slightly different rules and procedures for registering with a GP in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Studying in the UK

Accredited English language schools in the UK have to meet high standards of care, and centres that are members of English UK have detailed guidance to keep students as safe as possible.

Schools will conduct regular risk assessments and provide extra guidance for accommodation and social activities. Face coverings in schools and classrooms are no longer a requirement in the UK, but some schools, students and staff may feel more comfortable if they are worn.

Safety measures might change and will depend on each school setting, but may include:

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Before departure students should check the entry requirements for their home country or destination. English language centres will provide help and guidance to arrange Covid tests as necessary. If a student needs proof of a negative test to enter another country, they must use a private test provider. The NHS Test and Trace testing service cannot provide documents needed for travel.