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]
#5596
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,937
22 countries
Hi,
Looks like the hotel quarantine plan will apply to 22 countries
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55823064
ie South Africa, South America and Portugal
plun
More details due later
Regards
TBS
PS : Ah! plunet just beat me to it
Looks like the hotel quarantine plan will apply to 22 countries
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55823064
ie South Africa, South America and Portugal
plun
More details due later
Regards
TBS
PS : Ah! plunet just beat me to it
#5597
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,025
From the BBC feed, I think maybe some extra details here, 22 countries initially, and arrivals will be met at the airport and escorted to the quarantine places.
EDIT: I am far too slow today!
Boris Johnson says the government is strengthening its border measures to protect the country against new variants.
There are 22 countries with the risk of known new variants, including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations, he says.
The PM says to reduce the risk further, anyone who cannot be refused entry to the UK - such as British citizens - travelling from this country will be provided accommodation for 10 days to isolate "without exception".
They will be met at the airport and transferred to specific places, such as hotels.
There are 22 countries with the risk of known new variants, including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations, he says.
The PM says to reduce the risk further, anyone who cannot be refused entry to the UK - such as British citizens - travelling from this country will be provided accommodation for 10 days to isolate "without exception".
They will be met at the airport and transferred to specific places, such as hotels.
#5598
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,021
Does “without exception” include crew?
#5599
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Paul Charles also saying this - no holidays then for the foreseeable :
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
#5601
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: clue is in the nym
Programs: BA Gold, TP Gold, VS Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 833
My comment was merely that we could easily deduce, from the FM's reaction, that the measures to be announced were not going to be as comprehensive and all-encompassing as they could (arguably should) be.
#5602
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 963
Paul Charles also saying this - no holidays then for the foreseeable :
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
#5603
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,025
Paul Charles also saying this - no holidays then for the foreseeable :
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
"Among the new measures to be announced, all departing passengers from the #UK will be asked by airlines and border officials if their journey is essential. Airlines will be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly."
I don't like using the word "essential" for travel tbh, as that isn't really the correct position. The rules in England are all based on reasonable excuse to leave home, and there are no additional explicit rules on whether you can travel overseas. Effectively if your reasonable excuse for leaving home involves you travelling overseas too, then that should be allowed. Making airlines try and enforce this will be very difficult though, and I think it would be reasonable for the government to actually produce a list of reasons people are allowed to travel abroad - perhaps clarifying things such as the little scam advocated on certain blogs of booking your one apartment viewing in Dubai to justify the whole holiday there for example.
#5604
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
The enforcement measures may be new, but the rules are not. There shouldn't be any "non-essential" travelling abroad anyway, and it seems lockdown 3 will last until early March from what has been said today.
I don't like using the word "essential" for travel tbh, as that isn't really the correct position. The rules in England are all based on reasonable excuse to leave home, and there are no additional explicit rules on whether you can travel overseas. Effectively if your reasonable excuse for leaving home involves you travelling overseas too, then that should be allowed. Making airlines try and enforce this will be very difficult though, and I think it would be reasonable for the government to actually produce a list of reasons people are allowed to travel abroad - perhaps clarifying things such as the little scam advocated on certain blogs of booking your one apartment viewing in Dubai to justify the whole holiday there for example.
I don't like using the word "essential" for travel tbh, as that isn't really the correct position. The rules in England are all based on reasonable excuse to leave home, and there are no additional explicit rules on whether you can travel overseas. Effectively if your reasonable excuse for leaving home involves you travelling overseas too, then that should be allowed. Making airlines try and enforce this will be very difficult though, and I think it would be reasonable for the government to actually produce a list of reasons people are allowed to travel abroad - perhaps clarifying things such as the little scam advocated on certain blogs of booking your one apartment viewing in Dubai to justify the whole holiday there for example.
#5605
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 963
The enforcement measures may be new, but the rules are not. There shouldn't be any "non-essential" travelling abroad anyway, and it seems lockdown 3 will last until early March from what has been said today.
I don't like using the word essential for travel tbh, as that isn't really the correct position. The rules in England are all based on reasonable excuse to leave home, and there are no additional rules on whether you can travel overseas. Effectively if your reasonable excuse for leaving home involves you travelling overseas too, then that should be allowed. Making airlines try and enforce this will be very difficult though, and I think it would be reasonable for the government to actually produce a list of reasons people are allowed to travel abroad - perhaps clarifying things such as the little scam advocated on certain blogs of booking your one apartment viewing in Dubai to justify the whole holiday there for example.
I don't like using the word essential for travel tbh, as that isn't really the correct position. The rules in England are all based on reasonable excuse to leave home, and there are no additional rules on whether you can travel overseas. Effectively if your reasonable excuse for leaving home involves you travelling overseas too, then that should be allowed. Making airlines try and enforce this will be very difficult though, and I think it would be reasonable for the government to actually produce a list of reasons people are allowed to travel abroad - perhaps clarifying things such as the little scam advocated on certain blogs of booking your one apartment viewing in Dubai to justify the whole holiday there for example.
FWIW - in my view, booking a property viewing in Dubai and then traveling there is not a scam - its legally permitted under the regs. You could go further to say that (i) its not the primary intention of the trip or (ii) the person has no intention to rent or buy that property. But that gets to the point - actually trying to come up with a list is nigh impossible. And as evidence by that example, every time you have a list - people can find a way to shoehorn into it.
Pretty sure that the government is just trying to drive up the rhetoric on travel to keep as close to 100% of it based on "reasonable excuse" as a reasonable person would define it. Unless you go the Australia route (applications to get out of the country), a list system would just cause heartache for everyone.
#5606
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,025
You will of course still have to navigate a path through the constantly changing testing/entry/quarantine provisions for your destination and the UK.
#5607
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Let's see whether or not UK-based crew members are subject to hotel quarantine on return to the UK from working flights to/from the blacklisted countries.
The "without exceptions" will probably come with some exceptions. Who are to be the exceptions is to be seen.
The "without exceptions" will probably come with some exceptions. Who are to be the exceptions is to be seen.
#5608
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,025
I think the problem with that is that its impossible to think of every contingency on a list. And then it could catch out some people who really need to travel.
FWIW - in my view, booking a property viewing in Dubai and then traveling there is not a scam - its legally permitted under the regs. You could go further to say that (i) its not the primary intention of the trip or (ii) the person has no intention to rent or buy that property. But that gets to the point - actually trying to come up with a list is nigh impossible. And as evidence by that example, every time you have a list - people can find a way to shoehorn into it.
Pretty sure that the government is just trying to drive up the rhetoric on travel to keep as close to 100% of it based on "reasonable excuse" as a reasonable person would define it. Unless you go the Australia route (applications to get out of the country), a list system would just cause heartache for everyone.
FWIW - in my view, booking a property viewing in Dubai and then traveling there is not a scam - its legally permitted under the regs. You could go further to say that (i) its not the primary intention of the trip or (ii) the person has no intention to rent or buy that property. But that gets to the point - actually trying to come up with a list is nigh impossible. And as evidence by that example, every time you have a list - people can find a way to shoehorn into it.
Pretty sure that the government is just trying to drive up the rhetoric on travel to keep as close to 100% of it based on "reasonable excuse" as a reasonable person would define it. Unless you go the Australia route (applications to get out of the country), a list system would just cause heartache for everyone.
By the logic you note going out to get food is one of the explicit reasons, so if I want to travel to Dubai to get some groceries I can only get there that would be allowed - you would agree that is not reasonable I assume.
#5609
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 963
It isn't really. There is an overall test of reasonableness behind it all, and I doubt it would pass muster. It is basically used by certain people to justify holiday trips, I guess the same people who will now complain about more enforcement and the introduction of hotel quarantine.
By the logic you note going out to get food is one of the explicit reasons, so if I want to travel to Dubai to get some groceries I can only get there that would be allowed - you would agree that is not reasonable I assume.
By the logic you note going out to get food is one of the explicit reasons, so if I want to travel to Dubai to get some groceries I can only get there that would be allowed - you would agree that is not reasonable I assume.
#5610
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,025
List of countries - he usually seems correct on these things so I couldn't find an official source but it should be accurate (although there seem to be more than 22?)
[EDIT: source was tweet by Paul Charles but this has been removed since, so treat the list with a little caution for now]
Botswana
Brazil
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ecuador
Eswatini (used to be Swaziland)
French Guiana
Guyana
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Portugal (incl. Madeira, the Azores)
Seychelles
South Africa
Suriname
Tanzania
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
[EDIT: source was tweet by Paul Charles but this has been removed since, so treat the list with a little caution for now]
Botswana
Brazil
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ecuador
Eswatini (used to be Swaziland)
French Guiana
Guyana
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Portugal (incl. Madeira, the Azores)
Seychelles
South Africa
Suriname
Tanzania
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Last edited by KARFA; Jan 27, 2021 at 7:54 am