Test to enter the UK

[Florelei]

Hello, does anyone know if the new rules on having to take a pre departure test mean you have to take a PCR test or an antigen before you fly to the U.K.?

I’m due to fly to Spain in the next few days and need some clarity. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

I need to travel to Ireland. I understand the requirements for flying from England to Ireland, but not for the return journey. I'd be really grateful if anyone knows

FWIW the best way to get to a definitive answer to a lot of questions Is to start with this link..

www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

However it has not yet been updated to reflect tonight’s announcement…

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Is this instead of, or as well as the Day 2 test?

As well as, the way I understand it, and unless they changed it in the last few days, Day 2 must now be a PCR. When I arrived a few weeks ago LFT was enough for Day 2.

I’m due to go abroad for Christmas and we’re starting to make plans in case that doesn’t get to happen

@NotSoJollyChristmas - in case? Do you mean with the current tests you're thinking of cancelling, or if they bring any more measures in?

Just wondering as we are in the same situation.

I’m taking my daughter on a day trip to Lapland, I’ve now got to test before we go for entry back into the uk and a day two when we are back after flying there and back in a day, an extra £200 or so for a day out! I hope it’s worth it! 🙈

@WinnerofDecember in case they bring in further restrictions

@NotSoJollyChristmas

I’m due to go abroad for Christmas and we’re starting to make plans in case that doesn’t get to happen

We are hoping to get my MIL over here from France for the first time since March 2020 (she was on one of rne last flights out) and every new restriction that comes in seems like a nail in rne coffin to that 😢

More so restrictions from the country were going to I.e whether we get put on their version fo the red list

@Iamanicepersonreally @WhatHaveIFound the gov uk website says the requirements for PCR before coming to uk and 2 day test don’t apply to those coming from Ireland and Channel Islands unless you’ve also been in another country within 10 days of arrival

They have now updated all the guidance on entering the UK here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

Arrrrrrgh am flying tomorrow morning and don’t know how to organise this in Italy to come back!

I’ve been really stressed over the admin in organising what’s meant to be a relaxing city break and this is the second time they’ve changed the bloody rules in a week 😭
I may ask the people at the fit to fly airport drive thru tomorrow if they can sell me one to take with - is that how it works?!

The government website says you can do a lateral flow test before departure. We are due to go on holiday next weekend so will be ordering a test to take along with us to do whilst we’re out there.

Has anyone done a pre departure test before? How do they know if you’ve taken it in the correct time frame? I.E, what if you did it before the 72 hours?

@FabricedeSauveterre you can get them in italian airports. It's called a 'tampone' (swab) here in Italy. Most pharmacies do them too

@FabricedeSauveterre www.faiuntestevai.it/en/

[quote Mifacagare]@FabricedeSauveterre you can get them in italian airports. It's called a 'tampone' (swab) here in Italy. Most pharmacies do them too[/quote]
Thank you so much!

@Iamanicepersonreally

I need to travel to Ireland. I understand the requirements for flying from England to Ireland, but not for the return journey. I'd be really grateful if anyone knows

*@Iamanicepersonreally* Just updated: You do not need to take a test if you began your journey to England from:

Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
St Helena or Ascension
This applies even if you do not qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England.

Checking as my parents are due to travel from ireland in two weeks.

Has anyone done a pre departure test before? How do they know if you’ve taken it in the correct time frame? I.E, what if you did it before the 72 hours?

I wonder this about lateral flow tests. Given the taking isn't supervised, what's to stop people doing a vague waft of the swab, taking it before they leave the U.K. or getting a family member to take it. Then uploading a photo of their negative test to get the certificate.

Appreciate this would be highly unethical but people have to isolate on their return until their negative day 0-2 PCR which should be less open to abuse. (Understand they don't want positive people spreading it on the plane home).

I'm (maybe) flying to UK from Australian in two weeks. This has always been a requirement. Stresses that some sort of quarantine or lockdown will be imposed here or there. Should I change flights to Easter? Any thoughts?

@Ringonrighthand

I’m taking my daughter on a day trip to Lapland, I’ve now got to test before we go for entry back into the uk and a day two when we are back after flying there and back in a day, an extra £200 or so for a day out! I hope it’s worth it! 🙈

This updated Govt Guidance bit probably applies to you but it makes no sense to me whatsoever!!

"Taking your test in the UK before travel -

If you are returning to the UK within 3 days, you can use the result of a COVID-19 test that you take in the UK before you travel. You must use a private test provider for the test and not an NHS test.

The service on which you will arrive back in the UK must set off for the UK within 3 days of when you took the test."

@Gib1 - you manually enter the date and time you took it and then you upload it which obviously has a time that you do it. But yes anyone could fake the test

If it makes anyone feel better about their own situation my parents are currently abroad visiting family for the first time since all this kicked off. They flew out Friday and are flying home Tuesday so need to take a test tomorrow! If I hadn’t text them they wouldn’t have even known about the new requirements and god knows if they’ll actually be able to easily sort a test in a country they don’t know, staying rurally, on a Sunday 🤷‍♀️ - it’s such a shit show.

[quote Cantstandsmugness]@Gib1 - you manually enter the date and time you took it and then you upload it which obviously has a time that you do it. But yes anyone could fake the test[/quote]
I don't think that's true because you can't just take an NHS lateral flow test, do it and use that for proof of travel into the UK. You need to find an approved private provider and do a supervised one I think.

The unsupervised NHS ones are only for domestic covid passports and are pretty easily faked.

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england#nhs-tests

See the section on NHS tests here.

V grateful for this thread.

I was due to fly to Canada in Jan to visit my brother who I haven't seen in 4 years...

But from what I understand above and the gov website, I'd now need a negative covid test before departing Canada to reenter the UK.

If on the off chance I caught covid in Canada I'd be stuck there until all clear, my travel insurance covers cancellation due to contracting covid but I'd still be trying to rebook a flight etc and quarantining in my brother's.

It seems like to great a risk, just checking I've interpreted this right? Apologies for asking but could someone could check over my workings

I think you’re right@buddhasbelly we’re just about to cancel a week skiing due back on17 December because we can’t risk testing positive and being stuck in a quarantine hotel abroad for 10 days with a 5 year old over Christmas