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, Ł160, but same package sold directly bu Source Bioscience is just Ł120. 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 Ł18.99. 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]
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EP, MUCCI, Proudly BA Blue,.
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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If logic is anything to go by, it should remain as it's been since the outset: You're entering the UK in England, so you're subject to English law. Only when you enter Scotland, you're subject to Scottish law. Remember when all international arrivals in Scotland had to go into hotel quarantine? People would just fly via England (or Ireland) to avoid that.
EDI released a statement saying they are concerned that people will just fly into MAN and NCL and then take the train up: I don't see any difference between taking a train or a plane from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
EDI released a statement saying they are concerned that people will just fly into MAN and NCL and then take the train up: I don't see any difference between taking a train or a plane from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Why is so little sequencing of PCR tests being done?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/58176249
For arrivals from red-list countries between 1 and 21 July, they show
* Bangladesh - fewer than three of 54 positive tests sequenced
* India - five of 49 positive tests sequenced
* Pakistan - nine of 67 positive tests sequenced
* South Africa - fewer than three of 45 positive tests sequenced.
Last edited by shorthauldad; Sep 18, 2021 at 12:44 pm
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
If I've had Pfizer vaccine, but administered in the UAE, I'm guessing I still have to self quarantine for 10 days + PCR.
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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yes. Under both current and new rules UAE administered vaccines aren’t recognised - although I saw some tweets the other day suggesting the government is working on this so it might change in the near future.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,751
Bit of a missing of the point here, I think.
The point was the government makes a big show of ignoring many countries' vaccinations, yet the vaccination doesn't prevent transmission and the US vaccination cards are inherently vulnerable to fraud in a way that many of the rejected countries are not. There are also many exemptions to the rules, holes in the system, etc.
It's no like we are New Zealand - we have close to a million active covid infections at any one time, but they are making a big show of saying that vaccine A is not good enough, or that some country's card is not valid. It's useless theatre with no benefit to the population of the UK. If you could use a vaccine to get out of the massively expensive hotel quarantine then it would make sense to be tight on it. But as it is all it means is that you have to stay home and they might check on you, as opposed to not having to stay home. So the level of scrutiny over the vaccinations isn't really in proportion to what they are gatekeeping, and then they just completely overlook the inherent crappiness of the US vaccination cards for purely political, not health, reasons.
Join Date: Apr 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 45
I agree, it’s not rampant, people who don’t vaccinate usually do not like to travel, they tend to live in rural areas. One reason I got vaccinated is for travel reason only. I normally don’t do flu shots ever, I rarely get sick during flu season.
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,647
Arrived into Belfast on Friday from Spain with Jet2. Only wanted to see passport, nothing else.
I noticed at Alicante that Jet2 went through the documents in some detail and seemed to record everything. Is this why we weren’t asked for any documents on our UK arrival this time round? Does it depend on the airline?
The last time I travelled was the same route in June and they wanted to see our PLF at the border, so just wondering what has changed.
I noticed at Alicante that Jet2 went through the documents in some detail and seemed to record everything. Is this why we weren’t asked for any documents on our UK arrival this time round? Does it depend on the airline?
The last time I travelled was the same route in June and they wanted to see our PLF at the border, so just wondering what has changed.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Border checks cut on people returning from green and amber list countries
Officials at English ports and airports instructed not to do full examinations on passengers’ paperwork
https://www.ft.com/content/e6be9e9c-...3-5c4959262d1b
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Marriott Titanium (Lifetime Gold), Caesars Diamond
Posts: 1,392
I’m trying to plan this and think it will work.
Arrival London by air 4 October, fully vaccinated traveler from a (current) green list country
- per the new rules no pre departure test required
25 hour layover to another international destination, leaving from London
- per https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...hrough-england this is called
‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)
- since this is a transit I don’t need a Day 2 test
I tried to fill out the PLF online and “Transiting landside in UK and departing through England (England only) - Travel evidence required” is a valid reason for not having a Day 2 test.
Slightly worried that a 25 hour layover is too long, but should I be? If the immigration queue is long it will be less than 24 hours
The PLF allows entry of arrival date and arrival time and departure date but not departure time.
Arrival London by air 4 October, fully vaccinated traveler from a (current) green list country
- per the new rules no pre departure test required
25 hour layover to another international destination, leaving from London
- per https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...hrough-england this is called
‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)
- since this is a transit I don’t need a Day 2 test
I tried to fill out the PLF online and “Transiting landside in UK and departing through England (England only) - Travel evidence required” is a valid reason for not having a Day 2 test.
Slightly worried that a 25 hour layover is too long, but should I be? If the immigration queue is long it will be less than 24 hours
The PLF allows entry of arrival date and arrival time and departure date but not departure time.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,751
I’m trying to plan this and think it will work.
Arrival London by air 4 October, fully vaccinated traveler from a (current) green list country
- per the new rules no pre departure test required
25 hour layover to another international destination, leaving from London
- per https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...hrough-england this is called
‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)
- since this is a transit I don’t need a Day 2 test
I tried to fill out the PLF online and “Transiting landside in UK and departing through England (England only) - Travel evidence required” is a valid reason for not having a Day 2 test.
Slightly worried that a 25 hour layover is too long, but should I be? If the immigration queue is long it will be less than 24 hours
The PLF allows entry of arrival date and arrival time and departure date but not departure time.
Arrival London by air 4 October, fully vaccinated traveler from a (current) green list country
- per the new rules no pre departure test required
25 hour layover to another international destination, leaving from London
- per https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...hrough-england this is called
‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)
- since this is a transit I don’t need a Day 2 test
I tried to fill out the PLF online and “Transiting landside in UK and departing through England (England only) - Travel evidence required” is a valid reason for not having a Day 2 test.
Slightly worried that a 25 hour layover is too long, but should I be? If the immigration queue is long it will be less than 24 hours
The PLF allows entry of arrival date and arrival time and departure date but not departure time.
The law is (mostly) clear unlike a lot of the rubbish they print on the guidance pages.
There is no difference in law between airside and landside (although landside can be denied entry under unrelated immigration rules, if subject to immigration control).
You are a transit passenger if you enter the UK for the SOLE purpose of continuing a journey outside of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. This should be obvious in most cases.
The 24 hour guidance is obviously not a hard rule, because if you arrive at Heathrow at 7pm and your onward flight from Gatwick is daily at 8pm, then you can't hope to catch that flight the same day and if you took that flight the next day then your purpose would be clear and obvious.
If otoh you were connecting to Amsterdam or somewhere with many daily flights then a 25 hour connection would look rather dubious.
Presumably there are longer transits that might occur but they would start to look increasingly dicey, even if the flight is genuinely only once a week or something.....
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: EGYJ/UMMG
Posts: 47
I've read through the (circularly referencing) gov guidance pages, and couldn't find any specific mention of the day 2 test (under current rules) having to be PCR. Is this a legal requirement that was left out?
Looking at testing options, they are somewhat more expensive than I was expecting, and I am wondering if some of it is simply price gouging.
No easy way of finding local on-site testing providers either..
Looking at testing options, they are somewhat more expensive than I was expecting, and I am wondering if some of it is simply price gouging.
No easy way of finding local on-site testing providers either..
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Marriott Titanium (Lifetime Gold), Caesars Diamond
Posts: 1,392
The stuff on the guidance website is only guidance.
The law is (mostly) clear unlike a lot of the rubbish they print on the guidance pages.
There is no difference in law between airside and landside (although landside can be denied entry under unrelated immigration rules, if subject to immigration control).
You are a transit passenger if you enter the UK for the SOLE purpose of continuing a journey outside of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. This should be obvious in most cases.
The 24 hour guidance is obviously not a hard rule, because if you arrive at Heathrow at 7pm and your onward flight from Gatwick is daily at 8pm, then you can't hope to catch that flight the same day and if you took that flight the next day then your purpose would be clear and obvious.
If otoh you were connecting to Amsterdam or somewhere with many daily flights then a 25 hour connection would look rather dubious.
Presumably there are longer transits that might occur but they would start to look increasingly dicey, even if the flight is genuinely only once a week or something.....
The law is (mostly) clear unlike a lot of the rubbish they print on the guidance pages.
There is no difference in law between airside and landside (although landside can be denied entry under unrelated immigration rules, if subject to immigration control).
You are a transit passenger if you enter the UK for the SOLE purpose of continuing a journey outside of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. This should be obvious in most cases.
The 24 hour guidance is obviously not a hard rule, because if you arrive at Heathrow at 7pm and your onward flight from Gatwick is daily at 8pm, then you can't hope to catch that flight the same day and if you took that flight the next day then your purpose would be clear and obvious.
If otoh you were connecting to Amsterdam or somewhere with many daily flights then a 25 hour connection would look rather dubious.
Presumably there are longer transits that might occur but they would start to look increasingly dicey, even if the flight is genuinely only once a week or something.....
There are several daily flights to the next destination; it is in Europe.
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: 63,739
I've read through the (circularly referencing) gov guidance pages, and couldn't find any specific mention of the day 2 test (under current rules) having to be PCR. Is this a legal requirement that was left out?
Looking at testing options, they are somewhat more expensive than I was expecting, and I am wondering if some of it is simply price gouging.
No easy way of finding local on-site testing providers either..
Looking at testing options, they are somewhat more expensive than I was expecting, and I am wondering if some of it is simply price gouging.
No easy way of finding local on-site testing providers either..
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: 63,739
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/.../contents/made
Here is a summary I did earlier, but still seems correct. Actually the law does require you to have a test booked if you stay overnight AND do a landside transfer, however it is not enforced on bona fide transits. Note, as mentioned in the post, some airline need you to have a through ticket to avoid the day2 test requirement, having separate tickets for example could be problematic.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/coro...l#post33332423