What about returning to the UK?
For passengers returning to the UK, the Government have a two-tier status. It is not our intention to operate to any country on the government red list. You are currently unable to travel to these countries from the United Kingdom. Anyone returning from these countries that are a British or Irish resident, will need to stay in hotel quarantine on arrival into the UK at their own expense for 10 days. Pre-departure and arrival Covid-19 testing requirements also apply. Here’s a current directory of the red list countries.
From 4.00am on Tuesday 30 November, when returning to England from non-red list countries, if you have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days under an approved vaccination programme, you must:
- book and pay for a PCR Covid-19 test – to be taken before the end of day 2 after arrival in England. The day you arrive is day 0.
- self-isolate at home until your PCR test is confirmed as negative.
- complete your passenger locator form – any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in England. When completing your Passenger Locator Form it will be necessary to provide the booking reference for your pre-booked PCR test. UK Passenger Locator forms can be filled out on-line here.
You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated (plus 14 days) with a document (digital or paper-based) from a national or state-level public health body that includes, as a minimum:
- forename and surname(s)
- date of birth
- vaccine brand and manufacturer
- date of vaccination for every dose
- country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer
From 4.00am on Tuesday 07 December, when returning to England from non-red list countries, you must also take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before travel to England.
- You must take the test within the 2 days before you travel to England.
- This will apply whether you qualify as fully vaccinated or not.
- If your test result is positive, you must not travel. You must follow local rules and guidance for positive coronavirus cases.
- If your test result is inconclusive, you must take another test.
- NHS tests cannot be used for the purpose of pre-departure testing before travel to England
Type of test
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
This could include tests such as:
- a nucleic acid test, including a PCR test
- a LAMP test
- an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test
You must check with your test provider that the test meets the standards. You may not be able to travel if it does not.
If you have recently had Covid
If you have recently recovered from COVID but are no longer infectious, you should use a lateral flow device (LFD) test. LFD tests have a lower sensitivity than PCR or LAMP tests, so they are less likely to return a positive result from a historic infection. The LFD test must meet the minimum performance standards as set out above.
How to provide proof of a negative test result
You must provide the original test result notification. Your test result must be in either English, French or Spanish. Translations will not be accepted.
Your test result can be provided as:
- a printed document
- an email or text message you can show on your phone - make sure your device is charged
It must include the following information:
- your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
- your date of birth or age
- the result of the test
- the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider
- the name of the test provider and their contact details
- confirmation of the device used for the test, or that the test was a PCR test
If you do not have proof of a negative test result
If you do not present proof you tested negative, you may not be able to board your transport to England.
If you arrive in England without proof you tested negative, you could be fined £500.
We will endeavour to keep this information up-to-date but would emphasise that you should also check with official sources before booking and again regularly prior to travel as the requirements continue to evolve.
The Information shown in the table below for test providers is accurate to the best of our knowledge and is provided as guidance only. Randox, C-19 and Qured all offer appropriate Covid-19 testing, but please ensure these meet the needs of your holiday, destination country and your pre departure schedule before any purchase is made.
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