Can UK citizen normally resident abroad use free pcr testing centres in uk?

[christinarossetti19]

I've tried Googling to find this out, but thought that MN might know more!

My dsis is a UK citizen who lives in Australia. She's coming over for compassionate reasons (dm very ill) and has to book and pay for a covid test to be done within two days of arriving in the UK.

Can she use one of the free walk-in centres (we've loads around here with tons of appointments) or does she have to book/pay at chemist?

TIA

I’m no expert but pretty sure you cannot use the nhs ones for travel testing, no.

If she needed to test whilst she was over here because she had symptoms then possibly, I’m not sure, but I think it asks for info online to find you on the nhs system.

No you can't use NHS for these tests even if you are British. You have to show you have booked the tests before you are allowed in the county. You get a code and you have to add the code to your passenger locator form and show the paperwork that it's booked. If she can afford a plane ticket she can afford a Covid test - the country is on its knees and non-taxpayers are trying to use country resources to pay for their tests. Unbelievable

If you go in the government website it gives you a list of the approved providers of the two day tests. You can do a walk in but most of them post it to you and you post it back

The day 2 tests need to be booked and paid for before flying to the U.K. She will have to fill out a passenger locator form before travel and this requires a reference number from the pre-booked test. Day 2 tests can now be a lateral flow rather than PCR so have reduced in price recently, there is a list of approved providers on the gov website. NHS tests are not permitted to use for travel purposes.

And also you get a call every day to check you are isolating. They also reitterate that it is an offence to not send the tests back. I have been travelling a lot - once the police turned up to check on me but the other times I have just had phone calls

Travel tests must be private, for anyone. There’s a list of approved suppliers on the fco web page

Also nationality is irrelevant to the right to access NHS services. If your sister resides in Australia she’s not eligible for free NHS care.

You cannot use the NHS, post arrival test must be booked and paid for before travel, the reference number you get when booking the test has to be entered on the Passenger Locator Form,

it’s all detailed here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

I see somebody has mentioned isolating..I’m not certain about Aus now but that may no longer be a requirement - the definitive answer to that should be found via the link above.

You have to have a non NHS test booked and paid for before travel as you need the code for your pre travel forms

Thanks so much.

I knew the wisdom would be on here!

Sorry, another one...

There are so many providers with wildly differing costs.

Can anyone recommend one which is reasonable priced with quick results?

TIA (again)

@Donotgogentle

Also nationality is irrelevant to the right to access NHS services. If your sister resides in Australia she’s not eligible for free NHS care.

That's not quite true.

A&E and GP services remain free for all.

We used Randox for our PCR tests. They were £43 with a voucher code and process was straightforward.
Although have the rules not changed recently and only a lateral flow is now required?

Thanks Bichette.

From what I can make out, the rules have indeed changed and only a lateral flow is required from countries on the 'accepted vaccination list'.

We've used Randox too. In fact, I just order the Day 2 LFT test for DH, who is travelling next week, and it came in less than 24 hours.

As soon as you've ordered the test you get the ref. no in an email for your passenger locator form.

Fabulous.

Thanks so much - you have saved me a lot of Googling.