Important update: Changes to international travel to the UK
The UK Government has introduced a new, simplified system for international travel with the traffic light system, which lists countries as green, amber and red, being replaced. However, the red list will remain in place as a precautionary measure and countries may be added if necessary.
Covid-19 vaccination rules
If you are fully (double) vaccinated
- You no longer need to take a pre-departure test three days before you arrive in the UK
- You are not required to quarantine upon arrival in the UK for 10 days or take a Covid-19 test on day two or after day eight.
- You no longer need to take a Covid-19 test on day two of your arrival in the UK. You can take a lateral flow test instead, which is cheaper, and if the lateral flow test is positive, you will need to isolate and take another test, at no additional cost.
Showing your vaccination status
In the UK, ‘fully vaccinated' means it has been at least 14 days since you received the full course of a UK government approved vaccine, such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Janssen.
You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated with either an electronic or printed document, which has been either administered under the UK vaccination programme or produced by an approved overseas vaccination programme in a listed country. Without evidence of your fully vaccinated status, you will be required to follow the rules which apply to unvaccinated students (see below).
If you're unvaccinated or not fully (double) vaccinated
There are currently no changes to the testing or quarantine requirements. This means, if you're arriving in the UK unvaccinated you will still need to take a pre-departure test, a Covid-19 test on day two and day eight, and quarantine for 10 days.
All travellers, regardless of their vaccination status and the country they are travelling from, will still need to complete a passenger locator form up to 48 hours before they arrive in the UK.
The rules may be subject to change so please check the UK government website for the most up to date information.
It is important to check the latest government guidance about what you need to do before you travel to the UK. The guidance may change at short notice so it is important you read and understand the rules before you book your travel to the UK from overseas.
The UK Border Force will be conducting spot checks on arrival into the UK to ensure that all passengers are fully compliant. Passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of £500 if they fail to comply with the new regulations.
We want to ensure that you can arrive as safely as possible using the taxi service instead of providing a shared shuttle bus. We are heavily subsidising the cost of the taxi, meaning you will only pay a discounted rate of £20* for any journey from Heathrow and Gatwick airport, or £30** from St. Pancras International, to the Kingston area.
* Standard taxi rate from Heathrow/Gatwick airport to the Kingston area is approximately £45 depending on the time of travel.
** Standard taxi rate from St. Pancras International to the Kingston area is approximately £65 depending on the time of travel.
Details
- When: From 30 November 2021 until 31 January 2022
- Where: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport or St Pancras International
- Booking deadline: Two days before your arrival.
How to book
Please email booking@zedcarz.co.uk, quoting the code 'KingstonUni' in the subject heading of the email. Please provide:
- your name
- KU ID number
- flight number
- date and drop-off address
You must quote ‘KingstonUni' to get a discount flat rate of £20 for any journey from Heathrow or Gatwick airports to the Kingston University area or £30 from St. Pancras International train station. You can pay the driver either by credit card or cash.
If you are coming from Heathrow or Gatwick airport, upon arrival at the airport your driver should be in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name on it. If you are arriving from St. Pancras International, your taxi will arrange a pick-up spot.
Students will need to comply with the following measures before they travel and after they have arrived in the UK, depending on whether they are fully (double) vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Covid-19 tests must be booked and paid for from a list of government-approved test providers.
If you are fully (double) vaccinated
- You will no longer need to take a pre-departure test in the three days before you arrive in the UK
- You will not be required to quarantine upon arrival in the UK for 10 days or take a Covid-19 test on or after day 8.
- You no longer need to take a Covid-19 test on day two of your arrival in the UK. You will need to take a lateral flow test instead, which is cheaper, and if the lateral flow test is positive, you will need to isolate and take another test, at no additional cost.
Showing your vaccination status
In the UK, ‘fully vaccinated' means it has been at least 14 days since you received the full course of a UK government approved vaccine such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Janssen.
You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated with either an electronic or printed document, which has been either administered under the UK vaccination programme or produced by an approved overseas vaccination programme in a listed country. Without evidence of your fully vaccinated status, you will be required to follow the rules which apply to unvaccinated students (see below).
If you're unvaccinated or not fully (double) vaccinated
There are currently no changes to the testing or quarantine requirements. This means, if you travel to the UK unvaccinated, you will still need to take a pre-departure test, a Covid-19 test on day two and day eight, and quarantine on-campus or in private accommodation for 10 days.
All travellers will still need to complete a passenger locator form up to 48 hours before they arrive in the UK.
Before you travel to the UK you must:
On arrival in the UK you must:
- Immediately quarantine on-campus or in private accommodation for 10 days (only if you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated)
- Take a Covid-19 test on day 2 and on day 8 (only if you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated)
- Take a Lateral Flow test on day 2 (only if you are fully vaccinated)
- Under the Test to Release scheme you can choose to pay for a private Covid-19 test on day 5. If the result is negative (and the result of your day 2 test result was negative) you can end your quarantine but you still also need to take the compulsory test on or after day 8 (only if you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated).
