As a result of the Omicron variant, the United Kingdom now requires testing upon arrival, but depending on where you are coming from, you might also require a test to return to your home country. It can be an antigen or a PCR test, but you must complete it within 48 hours of departure back home. The most common country that requires UK pre departure testing is the USA.
International Pre-departure Tests
You do not need to take the COVID-19 test before travelling to the UK if you are entirely vaccinated or under the age of 18.
If you haven't been wholly vaccinated, you'll need to show confirmation of a COVID-19 PCR or lateral flow test while flying to Scotland from another country. Your evidence must demonstrate that:
- You completed your COVID-19 exam within two days of your flight.
- Your trial resulted in a negative result.
Travel Within the UK and the CTA
No COVID-19 test is needed if you have only travelled to these nations in the last ten days:
- Ireland
- England
- Wales
- Manx
- Jersey
- Guernsey
It includes a few UK foreign territories:
- Ascension
- Falkland Islands
- Helena
The Type of Test You Must Take
At viral loads of more than 100,000 copies/ml, the test you use must fulfil 97 percent specificity and 80 percent sensitivity requirements.
Tests that are appropriate include:
- a nucleic acid test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, or derivative technologies, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) testing
- An antigen test, such as a quick lateral flow test, may fall short of the required criteria, albeit many lateral flow devices. At viral loads of more than 100,000 copies/ml, you must ensure that the test you buy fulfils 97 percent specificity and 80 percent sensitivity criteria.
- If the exam you buy does not match these requirements, you may be unable to travel.
If you are travelling from another country, the international travel advice sections on gov.uk will have the most up-to-date information on where you can acquire COVID-19 tests in your destination country.
The Test Result Must Contain
Your test results must be in one of three languages: English, French, or Spanish.
You must bring your original UK pre-departure testing result certificate with you. It might be a paper test result or an actual result from an email or text message.
It must include the following details in the test result:
- your name, which must correspond to the name on your travel papers
- your birth date or age
- the test's negative result
- date on which the test sample was collected or received by the firm or business that performed the test
- the name of the company or firm that performed the test, as well as their contact details
- your test device's name
You may be unable to go to the United Kingdom if your test results do not include all of these items.
Positive Test Results
If your test results are positive, you are not permitted to travel. When dealing with positive COVID-19 instances, you must adhere to local regulations and guidelines.
Results of Previous Tests
Suppose you recently tested positive for coronavirus and it has been more than 10 days after your positive test. In that case, you may be afraid that you may try positive again before departure, preventing you from travelling. Evidence of past infection does not exempt you from providing a negative UK pre-departure testing to travel. It is done to reduce the possibility of re-infection with a different coronavirus variant.
A Test in the Nation You’re Travelling
When you board a flight to the UK, you will be required to show your test results. If you do not have a test result since you could not obtain one in a nation through which you travelled and are thus unable to enter the country, you will be permitted to board your conveyance to the UK.
Travelling With Medical Reasons
Even if you are not completely vaccinated, you do not need to take a test if you meet the following:
- Are you going to the UK for emergency medical care, or are you accompanying somebody who is going for urgent medical treatment, and you won't be able to complete a COVID-19 test within three days of your trip?
- Have a medical problem that prevents you from taking a test - When you arrive, you must have a note from a doctor or other healthcare practitioner in English or has been translated into English.
- Have a medical problem that prevents you from taking the COVID-19 test
