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]
May 11, 2021, 7:47 am
#7756
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
sorry can I ask wisdom on one more point of detail. If I have a flight landing at say 5.00pm on a Sunday, then according to gov.uk I can take a Test to Release test on the 5th full day. That would be the Friday. The question is can I take the test on the *morning* of the Friday? Or does it have to be taken after 5.00pm on the Friday (to allow five full 24 hour days)?
May 11, 2021, 8:12 am
#7757
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LCY/DXB/MCY
Programs: BA Silver / SQ Sol PPS / KE & EK Nobody!
Posts: 387
basil_fawlty I'd get all above-5s tested and chance the child being followed-up by the police - I doubt they'd have much of a case prosecuting you for it - if they're not required to get tested on day's 2 and 8, both of which are required to be negative for a release from quarantine, why should they be required to get the day 5 test to leave quarantine early? It makes zero sense (or perhaps I'm reading it wrong - happy to be corrected - as that sounds insane.)
The vast majority of these laws haven't been tested in the Courts - it's about time some of them were, although obviously you may not be inclined to deal with the (incredibly unlikely) risk of the hassle being contacted by the police might bring, but instances like these clearly demonstrate that the legislators drafting the statutory instruments aren't even simulating the experiences of the whole variety of people who are being governed by them.
First the requirement to buy Day 2 and 8 tests if you were in the UK for a shorter period of time - now this. It's a joke and an embarrassment.
Still, at least the UK aren't hotel quarantining you on return for a fortnight and treating you like you're carrying the Black Death - and that's if you can even find a plane seat to get you there! (A shout-out to my Antipodean countrymen.)
The vast majority of these laws haven't been tested in the Courts - it's about time some of them were, although obviously you may not be inclined to deal with the (incredibly unlikely) risk of the hassle being contacted by the police might bring, but instances like these clearly demonstrate that the legislators drafting the statutory instruments aren't even simulating the experiences of the whole variety of people who are being governed by them.
First the requirement to buy Day 2 and 8 tests if you were in the UK for a shorter period of time - now this. It's a joke and an embarrassment.
Still, at least the UK aren't hotel quarantining you on return for a fortnight and treating you like you're carrying the Black Death - and that's if you can even find a plane seat to get you there! (A shout-out to my Antipodean countrymen.)
May 11, 2021, 8:27 am
#7758
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 24
basil_fawlty I'd get all above-5s tested and chance the child being followed-up by the police - I doubt they'd have much of a case prosecuting you for it - if they're not required to get tested on day's 2 and 8, both of which are required to be negative for a release from quarantine, why should they be required to get the day 5 test to leave quarantine early? It makes zero sense (or perhaps I'm reading it wrong - happy to be corrected - as that sounds insane.)
The vast majority of these laws haven't been tested in the Courts - it's about time some of them were, although obviously you may not be inclined to deal with the (incredibly unlikely) risk of the hassle being contacted by the police might bring, but instances like these clearly demonstrate that the legislators drafting the statutory instruments aren't even simulating the experiences of the whole variety of people who are being governed by them.
First the requirement to buy Day 2 and 8 tests if you were in the UK for a shorter period of time - now this. It's a joke and an embarrassment.
Still, at least the UK aren't hotel quarantining you on return for a fortnight and treating you like you're carrying the Black Death - and that's if you can even find a plane seat to get you there! (A shout-out to my Antipodean countrymen.)
The vast majority of these laws haven't been tested in the Courts - it's about time some of them were, although obviously you may not be inclined to deal with the (incredibly unlikely) risk of the hassle being contacted by the police might bring, but instances like these clearly demonstrate that the legislators drafting the statutory instruments aren't even simulating the experiences of the whole variety of people who are being governed by them.
First the requirement to buy Day 2 and 8 tests if you were in the UK for a shorter period of time - now this. It's a joke and an embarrassment.
Still, at least the UK aren't hotel quarantining you on return for a fortnight and treating you like you're carrying the Black Death - and that's if you can even find a plane seat to get you there! (A shout-out to my Antipodean countrymen.)
And on the same lines, don't want to get pulled up by passenger locator form/border agent/test & trace caller for taking the Test to Release too early ... but it looks like the requirement is the test just has to take place on the 5th full day (so morning ok in my example above), rather than having to take place 5x24=120 hours after your landing time.
May 11, 2021, 8:43 am
#7759
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LCY/DXB/MCY
Programs: BA Silver / SQ Sol PPS / KE & EK Nobody!
Posts: 387
Haha, I think I'm going to play it safe and get them all tested. I don't want a computer-says-no moment when I fill in the Passenger Locator form on the way home and it demands Test to Release booking confirmations for the children ... or a border agent pulling us up on it ... or test & trace person who calls us daily pulling us up on it.
And on the same lines, don't want to get pulled up by passenger locator form/border agent/test & trace caller for taking the Test to Release too early ... but it looks like the requirement is the test just has to take place on the 5th full day (so morning ok in my example above), rather than having to take place 5x24=120 hours after your landing time.
And on the same lines, don't want to get pulled up by passenger locator form/border agent/test & trace caller for taking the Test to Release too early ... but it looks like the requirement is the test just has to take place on the 5th full day (so morning ok in my example above), rather than having to take place 5x24=120 hours after your landing time.
I'd be looking forward to a call on Day 5 - maybe 3 or 4 if you're lucky!
And yes, Day 5 TTR test is done on the 5th day of quarantine, not the 5th day that you're physically present on UK soil. They chuck that in there to trip you up - not that anyone seems to want to enforce any of this!
Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
May 11, 2021, 8:50 am
#7760
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
I don't blame you for wanting to dispense with the unnecessary conflict - it's not for everyone! Also - based at least on my experience of dealing with them four times - don't expect a daily call from T&T. On all four occasions where we were in quarantine, they started calling us after we'd received our TTR results and were flummoxed to hear that we were freely roaming about - there clearly isn't either enough people to call everyone from the beginning, or they're being fed the wrong information by the PLFs/Border Force.
I'd be looking forward to a call on Day 5 - maybe 3 or 4 if you're lucky!
And yes, Day 5 TTR test is done on the 5th day of quarantine, not the 5th day that you're physically present on UK soil. They chuck that in there to trip you up - not that anyone seems to want to enforce any of this!
Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
I'd be looking forward to a call on Day 5 - maybe 3 or 4 if you're lucky!
And yes, Day 5 TTR test is done on the 5th day of quarantine, not the 5th day that you're physically present on UK soil. They chuck that in there to trip you up - not that anyone seems to want to enforce any of this!
Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
I got a call on Days 1 and 2, missed 2 calls on Day 3 and one on Day 4 and I haven't been troubled since. The first caller I spoke to sounded human and could even have been sentient, but the second was clueless and i got the distinct impression that he didn't even understand what he was asking. And both asked if I knew that I was meant to be at home, not whether I was at home. I was, but I find it incredible that they don't even ask the key question.
May 11, 2021, 9:08 am
#7761
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
I got call on day 0, day 1 & day 2, then a visit day 3.
Then nothing.
Then nothing.
May 11, 2021, 9:10 am
#7762
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 963
I think I recall you saying you got the visit after you corrected something the guy on the phone said and then he got frazzled and disconnected? Or was that a different trip?
Last edited by KSVVZ2015; May 11, 2021 at 9:25 am
May 11, 2021, 9:38 am
#7763
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
Yes my last trip was bit of a mess with me having 3 different PLFs, 2 for 1 day 1 for the next. I don’t think they ever picked up on the third, hence the call on day 0 & the day 2 guy getting in a twist because I corrected him on the day I actually entered. He apparently could deal with the fact my entry details were different.from the PLF he had. I believe the visit was part of the random checks they now have subbed out to a security company. I was outside in the garden at the time & the guy just wanted to see ID & was on his way. No uniform or official vehicle.
May 11, 2021, 9:49 am
#7764
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 963
Yes my last trip was bit of a mess with me having 3 different PLFs, 2 for 1 day 1 for the next. I don’t think they ever picked up on the third, hence the call on day 0 & the day 2 guy getting in a twist because I corrected him on the day I actually entered. He apparently could deal with the fact my entry details were different.from the PLF he had. I believe the visit was part of the random checks they now have subbed out to a security company. I was outside in the garden at the time & the guy just wanted to see ID & was on his way. No uniform or official vehicle.
Did he state your name before asking for ID? I was reading the guidance for those visit and it seems that one of the key things is they are supposed to know your name.
May 11, 2021, 9:57 am
#7765
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
Yes he did. Introduced himself as being from Quaantine Enforcement & he said he was looking for somebody called DorsetKnob, confirmed it was me, then he asked for ID, which I got & he was on his way.
May 11, 2021, 10:12 am
#7766
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LCY/DXB/MCY
Programs: BA Silver / SQ Sol PPS / KE & EK Nobody!
Posts: 387
Well, judging by the above experience then, it looks like you might get calls for the first half and then nothing the second half and, if you're really lucky, you might even get a visit!
Why they haven't started doing GPS quarantine bracelets like Hong Kong did more than a year ago now, I will never know. Until then, so many will view it as a voluntary process - amber will simply become an expensive version of green, particularly when the person picking up the phone has no way of verifying your details beyond your name, quarantine location and DoB - my siblings and partner know all of those details (and according to one T&T person, many were getting their family to answer for them!)
I now doubt the system is this intelligent, but I thought for a (very short) time that perhaps the rigorousness of enforcement was determined by nationality/arrival country - this was my explanation as an Aussie for having dealt with them minimally, although we were often arriving from places with high infection rates, so I then quickly dismissed that idea!
YMMV...
Why they haven't started doing GPS quarantine bracelets like Hong Kong did more than a year ago now, I will never know. Until then, so many will view it as a voluntary process - amber will simply become an expensive version of green, particularly when the person picking up the phone has no way of verifying your details beyond your name, quarantine location and DoB - my siblings and partner know all of those details (and according to one T&T person, many were getting their family to answer for them!)
I now doubt the system is this intelligent, but I thought for a (very short) time that perhaps the rigorousness of enforcement was determined by nationality/arrival country - this was my explanation as an Aussie for having dealt with them minimally, although we were often arriving from places with high infection rates, so I then quickly dismissed that idea!
YMMV...
May 11, 2021, 1:10 pm
#7767
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Gold, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 921
I know this is arrivals but..
If if an get a connecting flight there, am I legally allowed to depart the U.K. for a red list country for non essential reasons?
If if an get a connecting flight there, am I legally allowed to depart the U.K. for a red list country for non essential reasons?
May 11, 2021, 1:16 pm
#7768
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,959
Do you mean if you arrive from a non-red country to connect on to a flight departing to a red country? Yes you can do that subject to having done a PLF and presenting a pre-arrival test result.
If you are connecting and don't live in the UK, your reasons for travel won't be relevant. If you live in and originate from the UK there is still a restriction on departing for non-essential reasons, but that should be dropped from Monday.
If you are connecting and don't live in the UK, your reasons for travel won't be relevant. If you live in and originate from the UK there is still a restriction on departing for non-essential reasons, but that should be dropped from Monday.
May 11, 2021, 1:17 pm
#7769
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: 63,803
Yes, if there are flights. I don't think there are any controls on the UK side, there may of course be some for the arriving Red List country or the airline in question.
May 11, 2021, 1:21 pm
#7770
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 524
Is there any data to suggest that the current convoluted system serves any aim but to enrich test providers? Would say a test before flying and 1 test on day 2 for example identify materially less cases? I can't imagine there's a statistically significant difference.