Requirements for entry to UK - can anyone clarify?

[everythingbackbutyou]

I am hoping to make a trip back to the UK from North America. I have read news articles from October saying that for fully vaccinated travellers, PCR day 2 testing was going to be scrapped in favour of lateral flow tests. Official government advice states very clearly that a day 2 PCR test is necessary. Was the LFT idea scrapped? Can anyone please clarify.

We have Omicron now so you need to test before your flight to the UK and do a PCR by day 2 after you arrive. You isolate until you get your results.

This only applies to fully vaccinated traveller; rules are different for unvaccinated/partially vaccinated

Thanks, @dementedpixie. So before Omicron, did a LFT suffice?

@everythingbackbutyou

Thanks, *@dementedpixie*. So before Omicron, did a LFT suffice?

You can do a LTF/antigen but you have to do a proper one where you have proper results, you can't just do a LTF at home unfortunately

No you can't do an LFT on entry to the UK @Keke94LND; You need to book a PCR. I dont know if it was LFT before or not.

The test you take before you travel can be an LFT but its a PCR you need to book in the UK before you travel.

I'm confused because it seemed like a LFT was ok according to the news article, but all the official guidance I can find says it must be a PCR. What is a proper one with proper results?

@dementedpixie, thank you.

Googling suggests it was LFT for about a month (end of October until end of November) and then it changed back to PCR.

www.which.co.uk/news/2021/11/pcr-tests-scrapped-for-vaccinated-holidaymakers-what-does-it-mean-for-holidays/

Book your 'by day 2' test to be taken at the airport so that you can actually do stuff. My OH has had one yesterday to fly, one later today when he gets to the UK, his dad's funeral on friday and then another on Saturday to fly back on Sunday. His brother travelling from USA is the same.

The problem arises if they test positive as it means they cant get home.

Has to be a private one not the NHS ones, and the details all have to be submitted on your passenger locator form.

Yes, between October and November an LFT (bought privately) was enough.

Now it’s changed again, and you need a pre-flight test (LFT/antigen or PCR, whatever is easier to get where you currently are). And then you need to book a ‘day 2 PCR’ which can be taken at any point between arrival and the end of day 2. Arrival date is day 0. You must stay in isolation until you’ve received your results for this day 2 PCR - which is why most people take it as soon as they land, so they can get results and go out ASAP.

Don’t read online articles from October, go by the official guidance on the gov.uk website which will be the most up-to-date one.

I doubt you'll get a PCR test appointment at airport now. There was only one appointment when DD booked, 40 mins after her flight lands!

It also depends which airport the OP lands at. I check the LHR testing sites regularly and there are always dozens of appointments.

Before omicron it was nothing before and LFT by day 2. Now post omicron it's LFT before and PCR by day 2. Also now need to isolate before PCR results.

PS try Expresstest, Randox or Halo for day 2 on arrival to make it faster. Halo is a spit PCR so better for kids.

I think there is a confusion on the definition of LFT. You can take one to travel back to the UK but it has to be one of those coming with a certification (those you send a picture of to the provider and they send you the results in writing). It's not the LFT you take at home, free.

You can take a private LFT/PCR before you get on the plane to the UK but need to have booked a private PCR test for you to take within 2 days of arrival in the UK

Info is all on the government website if you're flying into England www.gov.uk/coronavirus

I came back from the US in November and an Antigen/LFT was OK, but the rules have since changed to a PCR and isolate till you get results. You can test on or before day 2 so technically you can test when you land to shorten isolation

The PCR can be done on arrival (has to be done before, not on, day 2). So you should be out of isolation the next day if you book to do it at the airport on arrival (it is more expensive though).

Just got back from Finland, no tests available at the airport and still waiting for results of private PCR 3 days later now 🙄

@dementedpixie

No you can't do an LFT on entry to the UK *@Keke94LND*; You need to book a PCR. I dont know if it was LFT before or not.

Oh sorry I was thinking of the test you take before travelling to the uk

Yep PCR by day two, isolate until you get the results. FIL lands at LHR from USA on the 27th, he's booked one of the rapid PCRs at Heathrow - it wasn't cheap and his appointment is three hours after landing but he should have the results within 4.

Thanks so much everyone. @itwasntaparty, that's great to hear - I didn't realise PCR test would have results so quickly. I thought I would be isolating with my kids for at least 2 days.