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]
Dec 6, 2021, 10:41 am
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is that self-performed QuickVue test acceptable for “return to the US”? It is $45 using the American Airlines link
Dec 6, 2021, 10:45 am
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The link is also upthread ...
https://www.haloverify.com/heathrow-t5/
The test completed entirely on-site at Sofitel T5 is just £59 (more if you do it off site, I guess because of the courier required).
I did this as a Day 2 arrival test on Saturday morning and the result was emailed 2h45m after I provided the sample, it's not a swab, you just spit in the tube following the instructions but the cert clearly shows PCR test. There was no queue to take the test, it was clearly signed where to go. Best to set up the account on their web app or iphone app beforehand and do not eat or drink anything even water in the 30 mins before providing the sample.
https://www.haloverify.com/heathrow-t5/
The test completed entirely on-site at Sofitel T5 is just £59 (more if you do it off site, I guess because of the courier required).
I did this as a Day 2 arrival test on Saturday morning and the result was emailed 2h45m after I provided the sample, it's not a swab, you just spit in the tube following the instructions but the cert clearly shows PCR test. There was no queue to take the test, it was clearly signed where to go. Best to set up the account on their web app or iphone app beforehand and do not eat or drink anything even water in the 30 mins before providing the sample.
Dec 6, 2021, 10:49 am
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Some easy solutions for UK residents and others, trying to comply with the new requirement to test before flying.
1) Buy before travel from SimplyTestMe - £15 and £19 options depending on postal service. So long as you are a week or so before departure you will get a standard LFD through the post. Photo upload.
2) Testing For All - similar but with video supervision (not expected to be a requirement here) - £29
3) Obtain Lateral Flow pack whereever you are - in Europe they typically costs €1 or €2 each and are available from newspaper kiosks, pharmacies, supermarkets. Some places they are free. Then use Klarity to get a certificate after uploading a photo.
For 1 and 3, as soon as you have paid for your order then you get access to the mechanism to upload the test result. For 2 then there is a booking system involved.
You are not allowed to use NHS LFDs for these purposes but the NHST&T FlowFlex tests are now identical to the kits used in 1, 2 and 3, so this aspect is, in my view, unenforceable. The certificate producers in 1,2 and 3 cannot distinguish between their own kits and the NHS ones.
1) Buy before travel from SimplyTestMe - £15 and £19 options depending on postal service. So long as you are a week or so before departure you will get a standard LFD through the post. Photo upload.
2) Testing For All - similar but with video supervision (not expected to be a requirement here) - £29
3) Obtain Lateral Flow pack whereever you are - in Europe they typically costs €1 or €2 each and are available from newspaper kiosks, pharmacies, supermarkets. Some places they are free. Then use Klarity to get a certificate after uploading a photo.
For 1 and 3, as soon as you have paid for your order then you get access to the mechanism to upload the test result. For 2 then there is a booking system involved.
You are not allowed to use NHS LFDs for these purposes but the NHST&T FlowFlex tests are now identical to the kits used in 1, 2 and 3, so this aspect is, in my view, unenforceable. The certificate producers in 1,2 and 3 cannot distinguish between their own kits and the NHS ones.
https://klarity.health/uk-government...-lateral-flow/
Dec 6, 2021, 11:03 am
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When booking it asks for flight # and arrival time. Does the arrival time mean arrival time of the flight or expected arrival time at the testing location? I am assuming arrival time of the flight... Do I get an option to book an appointment time at the testing site for Halo? So far, I'm not seeing that option.
FYI, the turnaround time sometimes takes longer than advertised. My own test took closer to 7 hours to return. That is still good IMHO but obviously not ideal if you’d been relying on a 3 hour test.
Dec 6, 2021, 11:11 am
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Well I can't believe I didn't realise this until now.The amending SI for Wales has just published, and this is far more simple and obvious than I assumed. Pre arrival tests and requirements still exist in the current law and still apply to anyone not fully jabbed - all that happened a few months ago is that they added an exemption to this for those fully jabbed. All the amending SI does is basically remove that exemption - and I would be surprised if they didn't follow the same template in England and Scotland. So basically we had the answers to the questions on requirements all along!
Assuming the above, and pending the amending SI for England, it should mean the following:
- anyone starting their journey outside the CTA must have a pre departure lateral flow negative test result
- the transitional provisions will be this applies to anyone arriving in England once the changes take effect, which will be 0400 on Tuesday, so regardless of when your flight departed you need to have a pre departure test if you arrive in England from 0400 tomororow
- transit is not currently an exemption for requiring a pre departure test if not jabbed, so unless they amend this as well and add it in, anyone in transit including those doing same day airside transit will need one
I will update when the England amending SI publishes which must be soon.
EDIT:
Scottish SI now published - "test sample is taken from the person no more than 2 days before"
Assuming the above, and pending the amending SI for England, it should mean the following:
- anyone starting their journey outside the CTA must have a pre departure lateral flow negative test result
- the transitional provisions will be this applies to anyone arriving in England once the changes take effect, which will be 0400 on Tuesday, so regardless of when your flight departed you need to have a pre departure test if you arrive in England from 0400 tomororow
- transit is not currently an exemption for requiring a pre departure test if not jabbed, so unless they amend this as well and add it in, anyone in transit including those doing same day airside transit will need one
I will update when the England amending SI publishes which must be soon.
EDIT:
Scottish SI now published - "test sample is taken from the person no more than 2 days before"
Last edited by KARFA; Dec 6, 2021 at 11:34 am
Dec 6, 2021, 11:22 am
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Just to add apparently the requirement for Wales has always been 72 hours before, and is being amended to 48 hours before. It is explicitly in the hours format.
The equivalent section in the English law has always been expressed in terms of days, and is currently "the test sample is taken from the person no more than three days before" , so I assume they will change this to "two days" and not 48 hours.
The equivalent section in the English law has always been expressed in terms of days, and is currently "the test sample is taken from the person no more than three days before" , so I assume they will change this to "two days" and not 48 hours.
Dec 6, 2021, 11:32 am
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Dec 6, 2021, 11:37 am
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The current UK NHS Free tests are FLOWFLEX so would be compatible with Klarity.
Dec 6, 2021, 11:55 am
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Amending law for England now published https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/...0211371_en.pdf
- in force from 0400 tomorrow, apply to anyone arriving in England from that point onwards
- applies to anyone arriving in England from outside the CTA for anyone aged 12 or over
- transit is not exempt, so applies to everyone transiting including those not actually entering the UK (note for the PLF that remains not required for airside transits where you don't enter the UK)
- the test sample is taken from the person no more than two days before (sticks with expressing this in days)
- time limit is two days before your flight to England departs, or if your journey involves you transiting through another country the scheduled time of departure of the first part of the service
- the transit noted above is defined as when you transit a country for the sole purpose of continuing your journey to England
- it must not be a test administered or provided by the NHS
- digital copy is fine, it does not have to be a hard copy of the test result notification
- in force from 0400 tomorrow, apply to anyone arriving in England from that point onwards
- applies to anyone arriving in England from outside the CTA for anyone aged 12 or over
- transit is not exempt, so applies to everyone transiting including those not actually entering the UK (note for the PLF that remains not required for airside transits where you don't enter the UK)
- the test sample is taken from the person no more than two days before (sticks with expressing this in days)
- time limit is two days before your flight to England departs, or if your journey involves you transiting through another country the scheduled time of departure of the first part of the service
- the transit noted above is defined as when you transit a country for the sole purpose of continuing your journey to England
- it must not be a test administered or provided by the NHS
- digital copy is fine, it does not have to be a hard copy of the test result notification
Last edited by KARFA; Dec 6, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Dec 6, 2021, 12:15 pm
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Thanks for that précis. I know some people find this aspect confusing, so I will put the wording slightly differently to help this.
Two days is not the same as 48 hours, it is more generous. Take 48 hours off your departure time to England, and you can have a test anytime that calendar day.
So for example, you leave New York JFK on Thursday evening 19:00 hrs, this lands in London LHR on Friday morning. The Friday isn't relevant, the Thursday is relevant. So you need to take the test - and have a certificate ready for check-in - on Tuesday morning onwards. So Thursday 19:00 minus 48 hours = Tuesday 19:00 hrs, but 19:00 doesn't matter, any time Tuesday will be fine to take the test.
Two days is not the same as 48 hours, it is more generous. Take 48 hours off your departure time to England, and you can have a test anytime that calendar day.
So for example, you leave New York JFK on Thursday evening 19:00 hrs, this lands in London LHR on Friday morning. The Friday isn't relevant, the Thursday is relevant. So you need to take the test - and have a certificate ready for check-in - on Tuesday morning onwards. So Thursday 19:00 minus 48 hours = Tuesday 19:00 hrs, but 19:00 doesn't matter, any time Tuesday will be fine to take the test.
Dec 6, 2021, 12:19 pm
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Airside transit
Airside transit is when you do not pass through UK border control. You remain ‘airside’ before you leave the UK on your connecting journey.If you transit airside, you do not need to take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England if you:
- qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England
- have not been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England
is this due to be changed?
Dec 6, 2021, 12:20 pm
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Hang on... the FCO website is saying the following though:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...irside-transit
is this due to be changed?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...irside-transit
is this due to be changed?
Dec 6, 2021, 12:23 pm
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I can’t believe the rules still reply to transiting passengers. This is now stricter than before in this respect.
Dec 6, 2021, 12:24 pm
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Just to add on this point of transit, this is taken from Timatic which is what check in agents for your flight to the UK will see and will be checking you against. This seems deliberate, not merely an oversight of not exempting transit.
3. Effective 7 December 2021, 4:00 GMT, passengers entering or transiting through the United Kingdom must have a negative COVID-19 antigen, NAAT, PCR, LAMP or LFD test, taken at most 2 days before departure from the first embarkation point.
Dec 6, 2021, 12:28 pm
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