Our COVID-19 Fortnightly Update will provide you with the latest global situation regarding COVID-19 measures, vaccinations, and trends. This article will be updated every fortnight with travel and entry requirements for students when they are travelling to host countries, together with a summary of any restrictions they need to be aware of once they arrive.
The information in this article is accurate as of 26 October 2021.
Destination market summary
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales)
Entry requirements: Students with appropriate visa can enter, but may need to quarantine depending on country of origin and vaccination status. Lateral Flow Tests are now accepted as Day 2 (post arrival) tests in England. Details of entry requirements here.
Domestic situation: Cases remain high, although potentially stabilizing. Full details of the COVID-19 restrictions in the UK are here.
What this means for students: Students with appropriate visas can enter the UK to study, provided entry restrictions are observed. Details of the situation in England, Scotland, and Wales are available at our student COVID-19 update page.
United States
Entry requirements: Currently limited entry only. Non-US nationals or permanent residents are not permitted to travel to the US if they have been in Ireland, the UK, the Schengen zone, Iran, Brazil, or China during the previous 14 days. An easing of travel restrictions is scheduled from 8 November.
Domestic situation: Variable, but cases appear to be declining overall. Domestic requirements and recommendations for face coverings, etc, vary by State. State-level restrictions and regulations available here.
What this means for students: Many international students will be unable to enter the US until 8 November at the earliest. Students unable to enter the US will be able to start their course virtually from home in most cases.
Ireland
Entry requirements: Students with appropriate visa can enter the Republic of Ireland. Details of entry requirements are available here.
Domestic situation: Stable. Most remaining COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on 22 October 2021. General guidance available here.
What this means for students: Students with appropriate visas can enter Ireland to study. Under exceptional circumstances students have the opportunity to start online with the expectation that they will travel to Ireland as soon as possible. International students are being provided with vaccines as they arrive on campus.
Netherlands
Entry requirements: Entry permitted for arrivals from a ‘safe’ country. Health declaration showing vaccination and/or negative test must be completed prior to arrival. Details available here.
Domestic situation: Stable. Most restrictions now lifted. Details of Netherlands rules are available here.
What this means for students: Entry restrictions vary by country and are subject to frequent changes. Students should check regularly with the Dutch government travel website for details.
Australia
Entry requirements: Plans exist for limited return by international students in 2022. Entry otherwise severely restricted.
Domestic situation: Gradually stabilizing. Melbourne lockdown now lifted (see news link above).
What this means for students: Entry remains problematic for many students, with the availability of in-country international student places being vastly outstripped by potential demand. Students who cannot travel to Australia, or whose campus has not yet reopened, can start studies online from home. Transition plans will ensure they have a smooth transfer to Australia when they are able to do so.
New Zealand
Entry requirements: All quarantine-free flights suspended. Current information available here.
Domestic situation: Cases continue to rise. Details of current restrictions are here.
What this means for students: Students who cannot travel to New Zealand can start studies online from home. Transition plans will ensure they have a smooth transfer to New Zealand when they are able to do so.
Summary of updates
69.2% of Australians aged 16 and older are now fully vaccinated. The COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne has been lifted, and Queensland has announced plans for a limited number of international students to return, although they will need to quarantine in a Regional Quarantine Facility.
Singapore’s ‘Vaccinated Travel Lanes’ have sparked a surge in flight enquiries.
COVID-19 infections in Japan have now fallen to their lowest level in a year.
Cases appear to be in decline in the United States.
Morocco has announced a ban on direct flights between Morocco and the UK, Netherlands, and Germany.
Cases are rising steeply in Belgium and Czechia. Cases continue to be very high in Russia. New outbreaks are being reported in China.
Improved situations:
- United States
- Japan
- Australia
- Indonesia (Bali)
- Taiwan
Deteriorating situations:
- New Zealand
- Russia
- Romania
- Singapore
- Latvia
- Iran
- Czechia
- Ukraine
- Belgium
- China
