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]
Jan 6, 2021, 6:17 am
#5131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Jan 6, 2021, 6:29 am
#5132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Jan 6, 2021, 7:03 am
#5133
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 28
Still no news yet. The media went from 'eveyone needs a PCR test' to 'everybody excluding citizens/residents' and are now back to 'everybody' again. I imagine this is down to a battle ongoing in Government? Seems DfT want citizens and residents excluded which could be the issue here.
I am of the view this is just theatre. It is to look good, it will likely make no difference. All it will do is give the travel industry another kick and make the lives of some people who need to travel for essential reasons more miserable and difficult for a quick win in the newspapers.
I still think using airlines to deny your own citizens/residents passage and entry to their own country is very questionable and may not stand up in the courts. Interesting that Ireland is also facing this dilemma as is the Netherlands. Also interesting to see that Sweden exempts its own citizens but not residents (and as pointed out above this could breach aspects of the UK-EU WA).
Best thing to do is forget the whole thing however if they are desperate for some sort of media win and the need for some more limelight to announce something, then at least exempt your own citizens and residents.
Wonder if provisions in the CTA mean Ireland would have to exempt British citizens too if it decides to exempt Irish citizens/residents? I think if the UK is going to exclude citizens and residents, Irish citizens may need to be exempted too. I note the current ban on arrivals from South Africa to the UK, excludes British citizens, residents and Irish citizens too.
Another point is Irish citizens do not need a visa/permit to live or work in the UK in contrast to other EU citizens, so they will not have 'settled status' letters or the like. An Irish passport would probably be sufficient proof of residency in the UK.
I am of the view this is just theatre. It is to look good, it will likely make no difference. All it will do is give the travel industry another kick and make the lives of some people who need to travel for essential reasons more miserable and difficult for a quick win in the newspapers.
I still think using airlines to deny your own citizens/residents passage and entry to their own country is very questionable and may not stand up in the courts. Interesting that Ireland is also facing this dilemma as is the Netherlands. Also interesting to see that Sweden exempts its own citizens but not residents (and as pointed out above this could breach aspects of the UK-EU WA).
Best thing to do is forget the whole thing however if they are desperate for some sort of media win and the need for some more limelight to announce something, then at least exempt your own citizens and residents.
Here in Ireland, the requirement for a negative PCR test is currently confirmed to travellers from UK & South Africa (useless on so many levels I know) but the plan appears to be to bring in a PCR test for anyone coming from somewhere outside of the EU green list (pretty much nowhere) but there appears to be a concern on how constitutional it may be to deny an Irish citizen the right to return home
Another point is Irish citizens do not need a visa/permit to live or work in the UK in contrast to other EU citizens, so they will not have 'settled status' letters or the like. An Irish passport would probably be sufficient proof of residency in the UK.
Jan 6, 2021, 8:52 am
#5134
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
If everyone needs a negative COVID test to enter the U.K., that will kill off any hope of travel at Easter/Summer. Most families can’t afford to pay for 2 tests per person (1 to enter the foreign country and 1 to return). There will be no more ‘cheap weekends away’ and flying will just become hard work and only for the rich.
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Jan 6, 2021, 9:40 am
#5135
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
If everyone needs a negative COVID test to enter the U.K., that will kill off any hope of travel at Easter/Summer. Most families can’t afford to pay for 2 tests per person (1 to enter the foreign country and 1 to return). There will be no more ‘cheap weekends away’ and flying will just become hard work and only for the rich.
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Jan 6, 2021, 9:46 am
#5136
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
As said before, there are ways:1) stop the profiteering of companies such as Boots, selling for £120 something that Scotgov bought for £16. 2) Suspend APD, so that passengers can 'invest' that money in testing. Other countries also provide free testing but for whatever reason this doesn't. I'm 110% behind this initiative, I'd rather spend a few hundred quids and fly less than don't fly at all or, worse, join the 30,000 that are in hospital with Covid right now.
Jan 6, 2021, 9:51 am
#5137
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
The prices charged here are extortionate (remember rip-off Britain). I paid $23 in Uzbekistan, $29 in Turkey, $60 in Rwanda and $55 in Zambia in the last two months. Cheapest here is the subsidised Gatwick test at £60, or non subsidised £100. Three times that in some places in London.
Jan 6, 2021, 9:55 am
#5138
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Red, HH Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Basic, Alitalia Status Match
Posts: 1,173
If everyone needs a negative COVID test to enter the U.K., that will kill off any hope of travel at Easter/Summer. Most families can’t afford to pay for 2 tests per person (1 to enter the foreign country and 1 to return). There will be no more ‘cheap weekends away’ and flying will just become hard work and only for the rich.
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Plus, if I go to Greece for a week, while I’m there I would need to try and get PCR test to return to the UK. How practical is that? What if I can’t get a test - can I not return?
Jan 6, 2021, 10:50 am
#5139
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If the goal is public health, then every person seeking to board ought to have tested negative. Nothing is perfect and the fact that there is a 72-hour period between test and boarding allows for all manner of mischief. But, this is a statistically better way of doing things. If necessary, a short quarantine followed by a second test on arrival might be required, but that is not the immediate critical point.
If practicalities mean that some are not able to obtain a test (and result) on short notice, it is far better for those people to delay their return than to expose others.
Frankly one wishes that a complementary regime establishing air corridors had been put in place quite some time ago.
If practicalities mean that some are not able to obtain a test (and result) on short notice, it is far better for those people to delay their return than to expose others.
Frankly one wishes that a complementary regime establishing air corridors had been put in place quite some time ago.
Jan 6, 2021, 12:52 pm
#5140
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
for people who’ve had covid and are no longer contagious there’s a likelihood they test positive for up to 90 days. So in those cases you’d no longer be a risk, have antibodies, but prevented from travelling. Obviously needs to have multiple tests to demonstrate but it will impact a lot of people who may need to travel and are safe to do so.
Jan 6, 2021, 1:02 pm
#5141
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
If the goal is public health, then every person seeking to board ought to have tested negative. Nothing is perfect and the fact that there is a 72-hour period between test and boarding allows for all manner of mischief. But, this is a statistically better way of doing things. If necessary, a short quarantine followed by a second test on arrival might be required, but that is not the immediate critical point.
If practicalities mean that some are not able to obtain a test (and result) on short notice, it is far better for those people to delay their return than to expose others.
Frankly one wishes that a complementary regime establishing air corridors had been put in place quite some time ago.
If practicalities mean that some are not able to obtain a test (and result) on short notice, it is far better for those people to delay their return than to expose others.
Frankly one wishes that a complementary regime establishing air corridors had been put in place quite some time ago.
Jan 6, 2021, 1:26 pm
#5142
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: BAEC (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Hyatt (Globalist)
Posts: 447
Right, but if you still test positive, presumably it's at the discretion of the airline if they let you board?
Jan 6, 2021, 1:48 pm
#5143
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
In that situation you would pay. This is the current risk with any travel, unless you have a TI policy that'll cover it.
Jan 6, 2021, 2:15 pm
#5144
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If you are traveling on behalf of a third party such as an employer, presumably that entity pays or reimburses you.
If traveling on your own behalf whether for self-employment or leisure, that is a risk factor for which you have either insured or accepted the risk.
Yes, it's unfortunate and perhaps unfair. But, the pandemic has done much of that, e.g. unfairness.
Jan 7, 2021, 12:00 am
#5145
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: BD, DL, UA, AA, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 1,131
The prices charged here are extortionate (remember rip-off Britain). I paid $23 in Uzbekistan, $29 in Turkey, $60 in Rwanda and $55 in Zambia in the last two months. Cheapest here is the subsidised Gatwick test at £60, or non subsidised £100. Three times that in some places in London.
Over here in India it varies by state but most places it is between US $ 10 - US $ 20. Results typically come within 24 hours.
At Mumbai airport you can get test results in under 15 minutes and the cost is ~ US $ 60.
Coronavirus | Mumbai airport introduces express COVID-19 testing facility, gives results in 13 minutes - The Hindu