Every traveller coming to the UK will now have to have a negative pre-departure Covid test in order to enter the country.
The change for the UK will come in at 04:00 on Tuesday 07th December, if you are entering the UK from a foreign country (apart from Ireland), all travellers will have to take a pre-departure test irrespective of vaccinated status within 48 hours prior to departure to the UK, children aged 11 and under are exempt from testing.
As well as the lateral flow or PCR test before departure, arrivals into GB will also need to take a PCR test before the end of their second day and have to self-isolate at least until their negative result comes back.
Key changes
- If you are entering the UK from a foreign country (apart from Ireland), upon arrival you must also take a day 2 PCR test – a lateral flow test will no longer be accepted.
- The PCR test must be booked before you travel and bought privately from a government-approved list of providers.
- While you are waiting for a result, you must self-isolate – whether or not you have been vaccinated. You can stop self-isolating if your test is negative.
- All travellers coming to the UK must fill in a passenger locator form – even if they are just passing through – which they need to fill in 48 hours or less before their journey.
- Restrictions for travelling within the common travel area remain unchanged.
- Please see the full list of requirements here
We are working and speaking with our business clients who have been impacted, we offer a full range of testing solutions to ensure this change will not affect your business trip.