Immigration update: United Kingdom | Latest updates on regulations against COVID-19

Covid-19 impact on UK immigration general update

The UK government has set out its plan to return life to near normal and as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect the NHS. As UK moves into step two of the plan to rebuild, the most important thing is to stay safe.

The pandemic itself and control measures against it continue to impact on UK immigration matters as well as global immigration authorities and policies. Individual companies, including Santa Fe UK, and its employees are affected by this, as governments and other bodies react to the changing situation and advice.

We have numbered the points in this update as it covers a round-up of the latest developments across UK inbound immigration matters and consular services in the UK.

Who will be affected?

As of 10 September 2020, travellers travelling from one of the countries or territories listed below, will not need to self- isolate:

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• Cayman Islands
• the Channel Islands
• Cuba (added 4am, 29 August 2020 – if you arrived in England from Cuba before 4am 29 August you will need to self-isolate)
• Curaçao
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Estonia
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• French Polynesia
• Gibraltar
• Germany
• Greece (except the islands of Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos. If you arrive in England from any of these islands after 4am 9 September 2020 you will need to self-isolate)
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• the Isle of Man
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Macao (Macau)
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Reunion
• San Marino
• Seychelles
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• St Barthélemy
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• Vatican City State
• Vietnam

Background:

1. Relaxation of lockdown measures and life in the UK began to return to a near normal state.
2. It provides convenient access to local public services in the UK.

Impact:

1. To reduce the risk of catching or spreading coronavirus, the UK government has advised to keep at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with. Social distancing is essential to stop the spread of the virus as it is more likely to spread when people are close together. An infected person can pass on the virus even if they do not have any symptoms.
2. You must wear a face covering by law on public transport and in many indoor spaces unless you are exempt.
3. Limits on the number of people you can see socially are changing. From Monday 14 September, the new rules apply. It will be unlawful to meet more than 6 friends and family you do not live with, indoors or outdoors. There will be exceptions.
4. The UK police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits.
5. Venues following COVID-19 secure guidelines will be able to continue to host more people in total.

Next Steps (or) Actions Required:

1. You may not have to self-isolate if you are travelling from one of the countries or territories listed above.
2. You will still need to complete the passenger locator form before you enter the UK.
3. You will need to self-isolate if you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that is not on the list in the 14 days before you arrive in England.
4. Do not travel if you have coronavirus symptoms.

Santa Fe Analysis:

Santa Fe UK will be happy to assist any client in verifying or ascertaining individual queries.
We notify our clients that there may be delays in doing so as government offices and foreign consulates may act without prior notice, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.

Should you have any questions, please contact the following:

Koshi Blavo Barna
UK Head of Immigration
Santa Fe Relocation UK
Tel.: +44 0203 457 3595
Email: Koshi.BlavoBarna@SantaFeRelo.com