Jun 4, 2020, 5:57 am
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Mod note on thread engagement:
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
LATEST UPDATES
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-t...virus-covid-19
18 March travel to the UK changes
If you will arrive in the UK from abroad after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to:
- take any COVID-19 tests – before you travel or after you arrive
- fill in a UK passenger locator form before you travel
This will apply whether you are vaccinated or not.
You also will not need to quarantine when you arrive, in line with current rules.
Other countries still have COVID-19 entry rules in place. You should check travel advice before you travel.
If you will arrive in England before 4am, 18 March, you must follow the current rules as set out in this guidance.
*****
The following historical information is retained for the time being.
The Passenger Locator Form for passengers arriving into the UK can be found here:
https://visas-immigration.service.go...r-locator-form
This can only be completed once you are within 48 hours of arrival in the UK.
Exemption list from quarantine requirements - specific details:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...k-border-rules
England
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to England: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/582/contents (this html version is updated, but may not have the very latest updates for Statutory Instruments released in the last few days)
Test to release for England only from 15 December, see post 4776 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32841066-post4776.html
Statutory instrument for transport providers http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2.../contents/made
Scotland
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Scotland: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/169/contents (this html version is updated)
Wales
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Wales: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/574/contents (this html version is updated) &
Welsh language version: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2...0200574_we.pdf
Northern Ireland
Statutory instrument https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/99/contents (this html version is updated)
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR QUICK RELEASE FROM SELF-ISOLATION (based on November 28th updates)
[This section has been moved lower down in the wiki post following the change in self-isolation rule on 7th January 2022[
Any PCR test noted as a UK Government Day 2 test will be accepted for release from self isolation as soon as you get the negative result. If it is any other PCR test (eg "Fit to Fly") and not advertised specifically as a Day 2 test then it won't be valid.
This means that you can:[list]
- Book a suitable Day 2 PCR test before you travel and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF (Passenger Locator Form).
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
Alternatively:- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Note that you are not strictly required to have a PCR booking before arrival, but your carrier might not know that so you run the risk of being denied boarding
- On your day of arrival (or before end of Day 2) go to a walk-in test centre and take a different test to the one you booked.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
If you are leaving the UK before the end of day 2 then you do not need to take a test, but are required to self-isolate for the duration of your trip (since you do not have a negative result). Also, if you are self-isolating while waiting for a result (and hence have not been informed of a positive result and need to isolate) you may travel to leave the country.
If you take a test and it is positive for any variant of COVID you will be required to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test.
Whether you take a test or not you may be contacted by the UK Test and Trace system at any time if it becomes apparent that you have been in contact with another case. This is very unlikely to happen before day 3 if it is in relation to your flight to UK. Depending on the suspected / identified variant for that case and if you are fully-vaccinated by an accepted programme (see below for links to what this means and valid exemptions) :- Omnicron or not fully-vaccinated: You will be required to isolated for 10 days, including a bar on travel to leave the country. A negative Day 2 test does not release you from this requirement.
- Other and fully vaccinated : You will not be required to isolate.
- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
Test Providers for Day 2/8 tests & Day 5 Test to release
This section is for FTers to post their experience with specific providers (good or bad). Keep it brief and to the point. Please mention how the service is provided and your FT name.
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits arrived with me on time. Royal Mail slow for return. 5+ days for Day 2 result. #DaveS
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits both arrived on time, video of tests required, results by late evening Day 3 and Day 9. #TSE
ExpressTest Gatwick - Drive through - Tested early at 1000 a few times for TTR. Results came through in evening. #DaveS
NowTest - Postal - Day 2 kit arrived on time, day 8 did not. Will update with result arrival times when applicable. #wilsnunn
Collinson - Postal - Day 5 Test to Release kit arrived in time. Results and release by end of day 6. #tjcxx
CTM - Postal - Days 2/8 kits arrived together in time. Both sent results 2 days after posting. #tjcxx
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal -Day 2/8 kits arrived late. Results 3+ days from posting. #Gagravarr
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 and Day 8 result on Day 10 - happy customer! #EddLegll
Qured (Ocnologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 (after bedtime; ironically after my TTR result). #KSVVZ2015
Anglia DNA - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived early. (Both were labelled Day2). Results on Day 4 and Day 9. Cheapest on the list at the time, and good service/result. #tjcxx
Qured - Pre-flight test booked and bought through BA. Very efficient service. Highly recommended. #lhrsfo
Randox - Days 2 and 8. Booked two days before return, using BA discount. Kits already arrived on return. Slightly confusing instructions but manageable. Used Randox dropbox and results next day. Good. #lhrsfo
Randox - Day 2 (also used as pre departure test for a London to Milan flight). Used a drop box and results arrived at midnight the next day. #11101
Randox - Day 2 test centre - 2h30 queues outside the test centre in Waterloo. Results of antigen arrived 45 minutes later. #11101
Collinson - Test to Release at LHR T2. Good trip out! Very efficient service and well organised. Used BA discount. Results by end of day. Excellent. #lhrsfo
DAM - Test to Release in Fulham (they have many locations) - the cheapest fast turnaround TTR we have found. They promise 24 hours but in reality me, my wife, and my son (on different days) have received results inside of 12 hours. Very efficient staff as well. Princes outside of Central London as low as 99 GBP. Fulham is 129 GBP. #KSVVZ2015
Boots/Source Bioscience - days 2&8. Both packs sent in the same mail, waiting at the isolation address. Dropped off at postbox at 4pm, result back next day between 4 and 5 pm, very effective. Bought from Boots, £160, but same package sold directly bu Source Bioscience is just £120. Aaargh! Instructions said nasal and throat swabs, did only nasal and marked accordingly, no issues. #WilcoRoger
Collinsons/Stansted walkin TTR - test taken 1:30 pm, email with results 10:10 pm same day If the BA20OFF doesn't work (didn't work for us) there's another discount on the airport's site #WilcoRoger
Ordered Day-2 kit from Chronomics a week before our return for £18.99. Duly dispatched day we were returning to UK, so arrived on day following return. Reasonably simple process to do test and upload -ve result picture. Not sure where +ve result would have led to... #EsherFlyer
Hale Clinic testing centre (near Oxford Circus) - While not the least expensive, appoint schedules are accurate and results returned in promised timeframe. I've used the clinic for Day 2 tests (twice) and antigen test for US (once). I would def utilize again. #ecaarch
Halo at T5 (Sofitel) - Day 2 PCR spit test. Took the test 7pm, results arrived 7am the next day. No queues but a slightly awkward process to follow.
Useful data sources:
New cases per 100k - 7 days: https://covid19.who.int/table
New tests per 1000 - 7 days: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-testing
Vaccination doses per 100: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
Sequenced samples uploaded to GISAID: https://www.gisaid.org/index.php?id=208
NHS Track & Trace data (positivity rates for arriving passengers are published every three weeks, so if you can't find the data in the current release it will be in one of the previous two) https://www.gov.uk/government/collec...weekly-reports https://assets.publishing.service.go...ut_week_50.ods
UK daily COVID data https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/?_ga...827.1594116739
Risk assessment methodology to inform international travel traffic light system
Data informing international travel traffic-light risk assessments
Testing Terminology
Notes which may assist with understanding which tests to use and with "reuse" of UK tests for other countries regulations:
- LFT: Lateral Flow Test - A rapid antigen test using nasal / throat swab typically performed by the traveler at home, hotel, etc using simple disposable device. Usually tests the "outer shell" of the nucleus (which causes the symptoms and is reasonably stable across variants) and not the "spikes" (which allow new variants to invade more easily), so gives a positive result for many variants. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-...d_antigen_test)
- PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction - A laboratory based test which looks at the nucleus of the virus to determine which specific variant it is. After a positive LFT test ("I have some form of COVID") a PCR test ("You have the Gamma variant") allows identification and tracking of new variants to see if they are likely to become a "variant of concern". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction)
- NAAT: Nucleic Acid Amplification Test - A general class of laboratory based tests which includes PCR, LAMP, etc tests. (See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...b/naats.html)
UK arrivals - pre-departure, quarantine and post-arrival [currently no requirements]
Jun 25, 2020, 8:12 am
#1591
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Programs: KL Gold, SQ KF Gold, CX Green
Posts: 9,418
I think you are assuming too much. There is zero chance that SE Asian countries are allowing tourists from Europe and the Americas any time soon.
Jun 25, 2020, 8:20 am
#1592
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 687
You know just as much as I do. We shall see. I'm not European or American anyway so it doesn't affect me. I don't think any of us expected countries like Italy to open up as quickly as it did.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:08 am
#1593
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,480
I expect in those situations you'll need a letter from a recognised (e.g. Singaporean) company which lays out the purpose of the visit, which will need to be approved by the government before permission to travel is granted.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:12 am
#1594
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
I think the failure to mention Switzerland is likely just an oversight. It meets all the criteria, is an important business location and allows UK arrivals in with no quarantine or test.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:12 am
#1595
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Yes, I agree. Certainly countries such as Singapore which are much more business driven will relax entries for that ahead of leisure travel - they're on a very, very slow and controlled release and I don't imagine there's any appetite there to divert from that principle. Mass tourism will not be part of the plan for a while.
I expect in those situations you'll need a letter from a recognised (e.g. Singaporean) company which lays out the purpose of the visit, which will need to be approved by the government before permission to travel is granted.
I expect in those situations you'll need a letter from a recognised (e.g. Singaporean) company which lays out the purpose of the visit, which will need to be approved by the government before permission to travel is granted.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:16 am
#1596
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 52
Under current policy, is non-essential travel to the UK permitted as long as you follow all of the government's requirements (complete the passenger information form, find a location to self-isolate for 14 days or less depending on the length of stay and only leave that location for food etc.)? The situation is that my girlfriend (EU national living in the EU) and I (American living in the US) are hoping to see each other and have very limited options at the moment. We're happy to meet in the UK, rent an Airbnb for the duration of our stay and follow all self isolation requirements. We are hoping to do this next week given Airbnb's are able to be booked from 4th July. However, my concern is Border Force may deny us entry once we explain the purpose of our visit. Any thoughts on if our proposed plan is allowed? Finally, based on the scheduled announcement on Monday, is there any chance the policy could change and the UK would say all travelers coming from the US are not allowed to enter regardless of agreeing to self isolate for 14 days?
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Jun 25, 2020, 9:21 am
#1597
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,850
Experience number 3 (the previous two are upthread), today arriving in Manchester T1 from Berlin.
The system there was somewhat different. All passengers were fed down one of the corridorrs by the UK Border. The corridor would lead from one of the concourses of T1 which isn't currently in use. Along the corridor was a set of trestle tables, with Border Force agents one side, and seats for passengers on the other side. There were about 8 agents for this. I was one of the first to get to the UK Border (from long experience of T1.....) and went straight to a seat. I handed my phone over with the Passenger Locator Form PDF showing on the screen, he asked me for my passport, which he checked (not bothering to ask me to lower my mask but I guess the top half of my head is distinct enough. He then scrolled for a few seconds down the PDF and then reached for an A6 slip of paper which had the words on it "Passenger Locator Form Checked", which he initialled and handed back to me. Then I went back down that corridor to the e-gates and through in the usual way. Doors open at gate 10 for 14:43, landside at 14:51, and with that I claim the world record for T1 international arrivals. I did claim exemption again, the agent didn't comment on that, and I didn't say a word throughout the experience. I guess he was looking just for Mickey Mouse style answers.
Quite why we went through this palaver in the name of health and safety I really don't know. When I got to the final double doors someone in landside meeting their wife in the baggage hall successfully got through the double doors to airside. No alarms went off, I rang MAN security immediately, no answer. A MAG assistant turned up and seemed lost for words or what to do about the situation. So evidently some things don't matter anymore. MAN security rang me back several minutes later but the inicident was over by then.
The system there was somewhat different. All passengers were fed down one of the corridorrs by the UK Border. The corridor would lead from one of the concourses of T1 which isn't currently in use. Along the corridor was a set of trestle tables, with Border Force agents one side, and seats for passengers on the other side. There were about 8 agents for this. I was one of the first to get to the UK Border (from long experience of T1.....) and went straight to a seat. I handed my phone over with the Passenger Locator Form PDF showing on the screen, he asked me for my passport, which he checked (not bothering to ask me to lower my mask but I guess the top half of my head is distinct enough. He then scrolled for a few seconds down the PDF and then reached for an A6 slip of paper which had the words on it "Passenger Locator Form Checked", which he initialled and handed back to me. Then I went back down that corridor to the e-gates and through in the usual way. Doors open at gate 10 for 14:43, landside at 14:51, and with that I claim the world record for T1 international arrivals. I did claim exemption again, the agent didn't comment on that, and I didn't say a word throughout the experience. I guess he was looking just for Mickey Mouse style answers.
Quite why we went through this palaver in the name of health and safety I really don't know. When I got to the final double doors someone in landside meeting their wife in the baggage hall successfully got through the double doors to airside. No alarms went off, I rang MAN security immediately, no answer. A MAG assistant turned up and seemed lost for words or what to do about the situation. So evidently some things don't matter anymore. MAN security rang me back several minutes later but the inicident was over by then.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:27 am
#1598
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I think the failure to mention Switzerland is likely just an oversight. It meets all the criteria, is an important business location and allows UK arrivals in with no quarantine or test.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:41 am
#1599
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Gold 0.66MM, MR LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 740
Under current policy, is non-essential travel to the UK permitted as long as you follow all of the government's requirements (complete the passenger information form, find a location to self-isolate for 14 days or less depending on the length of stay and only leave that location for food etc.)? The situation is that my girlfriend (EU national living in the EU) and I (American living in the US) are hoping to see each other and have very limited options at the moment. We're happy to meet in the UK, rent an Airbnb for the duration of our stay and follow all self isolation requirements. We are hoping to do this next week given Airbnb's are able to be booked from 4th July. However, my concern is Border Force may deny us entry once we explain the purpose of our visit. Any thoughts on if our proposed plan is allowed? Finally, based on the scheduled announcement on Monday, is there any chance the policy could change and the UK would say all travelers coming from the US are not allowed to enter regardless of agreeing to self isolate for 14 days?
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Jun 25, 2020, 9:48 am
#1600
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,238
In all honesty, I can't blame them. It's not so much the risk of catching Covid for me, but - rather - the risk of having to deal with closing borders, rules changing every other second and so on. We called it quits on a trip to Patagonia in mid-March and the day after Argentina closed its borders; a colleague left a week before us and returned 3 weeks later than she expected and a few thousand £ lighter. I understand the feeling.
Jun 25, 2020, 9:51 am
#1601
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 52
Great. Thank you! Just curious if you or your partner have any ties to the UK (friends or family that live there)? Neither one of us do so just wondering if that will make it more difficult to enter. Thanks again!
Jun 25, 2020, 9:55 am
#1602
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 687
I think the failure to mention Switzerland is likely just an oversight. It meets all the criteria, is an important business location and allows UK arrivals in with no quarantine or test.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Regards the article saying no US or Canada till a December. I doubt that very much. Possible but unlikely, unless it's reciprocal and US/Canada are Indicating they will stay shut till then.
Jun 25, 2020, 10:27 am
#1603
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,850
Just to reiterate the point that has been already made: the self isolation measure absolutely, definitely and totally is NOT about keeping people out of the UK or Ireland. It is entirely based on permitting travel - you don't even need a good reason to travel in England and Northern Ireland - but restricting who you come in contact with after arrival in the UK. Fill in the form accurately and you will have no problem. It was suggested that anyone without residence rights would be refused admission if they didn't fill the form in, this has not actually happened to anyone and in your case presumably you are happy to comply with both the form and the restrictions. That is all they are checking. Well, not even that with much enthusiasm.
Jun 25, 2020, 10:32 am
#1604
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Gold 0.66MM, MR LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 740
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss any more specifics - glad to help however I can.
Last edited by thewayofthefuture; Jun 25, 2020 at 10:37 am
Jun 25, 2020, 10:59 am
#1605
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 52
Just to reiterate the point that has been already made: the self isolation measure absolutely, definitely and totally is NOT about keeping people out of the UK or Ireland. It is entirely based on permitting travel - you don't even need a good reason to travel in England and Northern Ireland - but restricting who you come in contact with after arrival in the UK. Fill in the form accurately and you will have no problem. It was suggested that anyone without residence rights would be refused admission if they didn't fill the form in, this has not actually happened to anyone and in your case presumably you are happy to comply with both the form and the restrictions. That is all they are checking. Well, not even that with much enthusiasm.
Nope, neither of us have any official ties to UK, just a couple of friends who live in London. We are an American citizen and an EU citizen, just like you guys. We rented a place on an Airbnb-type site for 2 weeks and have quarantined the whole time except for going to buy food in late evening hours when few people are out and about. I'm not aware of any rules that prevent you from renting an apartment before July 4, and if they do exist, they're not being entirely followed.
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss any more specifics - glad to help however I can.
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss any more specifics - glad to help however I can.