A Country-Wise Guide on Vaccination Rules for International Students

Despite worldwide COVID-restrictions, the fervor to study abroad amongst Indian students is soaring high. According to a report released by UNESCO, 91% of Indian students have expressed interest in studying abroad. With the vaccination plans and ongoing unlocking process across the globe, students can resume their studies and make travel plans to the university of their choice. In this blog, we have gathered country-wise vaccination rules and guidelines for international students flying abroad for the upcoming intakes!

Vaccination Rules for International Students Around the World

The vaccination guidelines for international students differ based on the country. However, there are a few similarities between these rules, for instance, the Oxford AstraZeneca make Covishield the only vaccine provided in India that has received worldwide approval from countries and WHO for international travel. International students are required to be fully vaccinated before arriving on campus. Another common vaccination rule is that students are required to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate from a test taken 72 hours prior to arrival.

Let’s look at the latest country-wise vaccination rules for international students travelling abroad for the fall and winter intake:

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has retained its position as the number one destination for studying abroad among Indian students. The UK recently upgraded India’s status by removing the country from the red list. The UK has also scrapped the travel traffic light system and has replaced it with a single red list to ease travel between countries. Currently, there are 7 countries on the UK’s red list.

New Rules for Traveling to UK post-October 11

Here are the new rules and the UK eased travel restrictions for India post-October 11:

• Vaccinated Travellers: Fully vaccinated passengers above the age of 18 returning from countries administer a day 2 test after arriving. They do not have to self-isolate themselves for 10 days or take COVID tests at their expense.
• Partially or Non-Vaccinated Travellers: Other passengers who are not fully vaccinated with an authorized vaccine returning from a non-red destination must still take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 test, and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of Test to Release on day 5).

New Rules for Travel Post 4th October to UK

• International students must administer a COVID-19- test 3- days before their departure and must provide a negative certificate to board their flights.
• Travellers will be fined £500 if they arrive in the UK without proof of a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test.
• Students must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and again on day 8 after arriving in the country.
• Partially vaccinated students are allowed to travel to the UK to study, however, it is strongly recommended that travellers complete the entire vaccination program before departure.
• The UK government is also offering free vaccines to overseas students regardless of nationality.
• British Airways has also increased the number of flights between the UK and India to ensure students and travellers can arrive safely and in time for the autumn intake.

Also Read: Vaccination Camps for Students Going Abroad

Travel Traffic Light System

The UK eased travel restrictions for India and other countries by replacing its Travel Traffic Light System with a red and territories list. Presently, there are only 7 countries on the red list countries such as:

• Colombia
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Haiti
• Panama,
• Peru
• Venezuela

Red, Amber and Green Lists for Countries

Back in May 2021, the Westminister government in the UK released a new system for listing countries with respect to the novel coronavirus. This system was meant to regulate international travel and minimize the level of transmission in the country. The UK government categorized countries across the world in terms of Red, Amber, and Green colour. There are a different set of rules and requirements that each individual has to fulfil based on their country of origin, for instance:

• Vaccinated people travelling from countries listed under the red list are termed high-risk and are required to quarantine themselves in UK-administered hotels for 14 days. They are also required to submit to COVID tests before and after arrival.
• Vaccinated people from countries listed under the amber list must carry a negative COVID test [taken within 72 hours] and self-isolate themselves for 10 days. They have to submit to a test on days 3 and 10 before ending their quarantine.
• Vaccinated people coming from green list countries are required to take a test within 72 hours before boarding the flight and must take a test after arriving on day 3 and day 10.

Red List

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Burundi
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• Colombia
• Congo (Democratic Republic)
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• French Guiana
• Georgia
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Indonesia
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mayotte
• Mexico
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Réunion
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Amber List 

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia
• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Azerbaijan
• The Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Belarus
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Belize
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• China
• Comoros
• Congo
• Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Curaçao
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic (Czechia)
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Estonia
• Fiji
• France
• French Polynesia
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Greece (including islands)
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Honduras
• Hungary
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Libya
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mali
• Marshall Islands
• Martinique
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Morocco
• Nauru
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Korea
• North Macedonia
• The Occupied Palestinian Territories
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Poland
• Portugal Madeira is on the green watchlist.
• The Azores is on the green list.
• Qatar
• Russia
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• Spain, including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands
• (Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca)
• Sri Lanka
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Maarten
• St Martin and St Barthélemy
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sweden
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Timor-Leste
• Togo
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United States (USA)
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City
• Vietnam
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara
• Yemen

Green List 

• Anguilla
• Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Austria
• Australia
• The Azores
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Finland
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Israel and Jerusalem
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein .
• Lithuania
• Madeira
• Mainland Portugal is on the amber list.
• Malta
• Montserrat
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• Switzerland
• Taiwan Green
• Turks and Caicos Islands

Countries are regularly monitored by the UK government and can be shifted from one list to another based on the level of risk they pose to the country. You can check the official website to get more information about the watchlist.

Also Read: Here’s a list of European Countries that have Approved Covishield for Green Pass

United States of America

Over 55,000 Indian students and exchange visitors have been approved by the United States Visa Mission to study in the country this year. The USA government is prioritizing and easing restrictions for international students due to start their education. Fully vaccinated students can attend on-campus classes in all USA universities. International students must be vaccinated by a WHO-approved vaccine and must provide proof of vaccination to the university.

• The USA has recognized only the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield also called the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Covaxin and Sputnik V have not received WHO approval to date.
• International students have to produce a negative report of their COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to their departure to the USA.
• International students are required to take a COVID-test 3-5 days after arriving in the country.
• As per vaccination rules for students given by the government, International students are required to quarantine for a period of 7-10 days at a place of their choice.
• Flights between the USA and India are operating on a weekly basis and are likely to use frequency to accommodate the increasing number of international students traveling for the fall intake.

Also Read: Indian Government Reduces Second Jab Gap for Travel Abroad

Canada

On 7th September 2021, Canada eased travel restrictions for all fully vaccinated students and international travelers. Indian students can travel to Canada via third-country and get a test before boarding the Canadian flight. International students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a WHO-approved vaccination. Vaccines like Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) and Sputnik V have not been authorized for use by the Canadian government and international travelers are advised to administer Covishied produced by Serum Institute of India.

• International students must hold a valid CAQ and study permit or study permit approval letter from a DLI list-educational institution.
• International students must produce a negative COVID-test taken within 72 hours before boarding a flight.
• Travelers may also be selected at random to conduct a COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada.
• Fully vaccinated travelers are exempted from 14-day quarantine but can be asked to if they do not meet the requirements upon arrival.
• International students who have not been fully vaccinated are required to quarantine for a period of 14 days upon the arrival. Partially vaccinated travelers have to take a test upon arrival and on day 8 of quarantine.
• As per the vaccination rules for students, travelers who have tested positive for Covid-19 must present proof of a positive Covid-19 molecular test result taken within 14 to 90 days prior to arrival in Canada as part of the pre-arrival test requirements
• All direct flights between India and Canada are banned till the 21st of September 2021. All international students can fly to the country through a third country like Dubai, Turkey, or Abu Dabi.

Also Read: High School Students Optimistic About the Future and University Study Prospects Despite COVID

Germany 

Germany has not fully eased its travel restrictions for travelers coming from India. Indian students are allowed to enter the country if their course of study is not fully possible in the distance mode. Germany has accepted WHO-approved Covisheild and does not recognize vaccines like Covaxin and Sputnik V. Students traveling from high-risk countries are required to register on this site: https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/#/ before arrival.

• All travelers are required to submit a negative test result, a vaccination certificate, or a recovery certificate to the airline before boarding. The test is to be taken not earlier than 72 hours (PCR) or 48 hours (Antigen) prior to the scheduled arrival time in Germany
• As per the vaccination rules for students and international travelers, travelers must self-isolate themselves for 14 days if they are traveling from a risk country.

Must Read: Govt Takes Concrete Steps to Help Indian Students Studying Abroad Now Stuck-In Country

Australia 

Indian students can enter Australia on the basis of a monthly cap of 800 students. However, travel restrictions and vaccination rules for students are still in place and the country is not open for international travel. Only Australian citizens and permanent residents can travel to the country. International students who are enrolled in Australian universities have not been granted a visa to return to campus. Currently, Australian universities are working along with the government to develop plans to allow fully or partially vaccinated students to enter the country.

Must Read: Government Approves Return of International Students to South Australia

Planning to study abroad this fall but worried about the vaccination rules for international students? Connect with a Leverage Edu expert today on 1800 572 000 and clear all your doubts about studying abroad.