COVID-19 travel testing rules are changing for travel into England from abroad.
The traffic light system is being scrapped today, leaving just a red list of countries and ‘the rest of the world’, meaning the COVID tests you need to take will be more dependent on your vaccination status.
Here, Kirkby Lonsdale-headquartered Better2Know, one of the firms which carries out COVID tests for holiday makers, takes a look at some of the key changes.
Before you go
Previously, anyone entering the UK from a green or amber list country had to take a test before they travelled.
From October 4, this changed in England with fully vaccinated UK residents (two jabs, with the last one taken at least 14 days before arrival) no longer needing to take a pre-departure test as long as they are not coming from a country on the red list. It is not certain if Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland will go along with this change.
By the end of October (date to be confirmed) Day 2 PCR tests will be replaced by cheaper lateral flow tests in England for those people who are fully vaccinated.
Those testing positive will still need to isolate and follow up with a confirmatory PCR test.
Non-vaccinated adults entering England
Adults who have not been fully vaccinated will still need to quarantine and take COVID tests on day two and day eight as part of the changing rules in England from October 4, even if travelling from non-red list country.
Day five Test to Release will still be in place for these travellers to England.
Children who are UK residents travelling from non-red list countries can follow the same rules as fully vaccinated adults, irrespective of their parents’ status.
Red list countries
The rules for red list countries will remain the same, even after October 4. You must take a pre-departure test before travelling to the UK then quarantine in an approved hotel at your own cost, as well as taking day 2 and day 8 tests.
Recognised vaccination countries
From October 4, adults vaccinated in the following countries or regions under an approved vaccination programme will be treated the same as anyone vaccinated in the UK:
- Europe
- USA
- Australia
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Bahrain
- Brunei
- Canada
- Dominica
- Israel
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
Children residing in these territories will also be treated the same way as fully vaccinated adults. All those travelling to the UK will still need to fill in a passenger locator form and rules are subject to change, so always double check before departure.
This information has been provided by Better2Know, a private testing firm which has its headquarters in Kirkby Lonsdale.
