The requirements for entering the UK depend on whether the country visited is on the red list or not, and your vaccination status. This guide tells you all you need to know.
If you are fully-vaccinated* at the time of travel you no longer need to take a COVID test prior to entry or after arrival in the UK and you no longer need to self-isolate after arrival.
You must complete the UK passenger locator form (PLF) in the 48 hours prior to arrival in the UK (see below for details).
* Fully vaccinated currently means means two doses of an approved vaccine, or one dose if it's a Janssen vaccine.
If you are not fully-vaccinated, the requirements for entering the UK from countries not on the red list are:
Whether fully-vaccinated or not, the requirements for entering the UK if you have been in a red list country in the 14 days prior to arrival are the same:
Note that ‘Day 2’, ‘Day 8’ tests and red-list hotel quarantine packages must be purchased from an authorised UK government provider before you complete the UK Passenger Locator Form (PLF), as the booking reference must be entered on the PLF.
If you need to take a pre-travel COVID test to enter the UK details can be found here.
This test can be taken at a COVID test centre aboard (as long as a certificate is issued for the result) or you can purchase a self-test kit from selected government-approved providers prior to leaving the UK.
You will receive a lateral flow/rapid antigen test kit that you take with you. Then simply take a picture of the result and email it to the test provider and within a couple of hours they will send a ‘fit-to-fly’ type certificate if your test is negative.
There are several providers offering this service - QURED, ExpressTest and The Collinson Group:
Book your test package with QURED
If you are flying with British Airways enter the code ‘BATRAVEL15’ for a 15% discount.
If you need to take any tests after you return to the UK you'll need to have pre-booked the appropriate test packages, details of which you can find here.
There are several providers offering these test packages and the UK government has a list of approved providers. These include our recommended testing partners, QURED, The Collinson Group and ExpressTest by Cignpost.
Book your test package with QURED
if you are flying with British Airways enter the code ‘BATRAVEL15’ for a 15% discount.
Book your test package with The Collinson Group
Enter ‘WEXL20’ for a 20% discount
Book your test package with ExpressTest
Enter 'TLHC21' for a discounted rate
You can find more details of the ‘Test and Release’ scheme here.
If you're returning to the UK from a red list country, you'll need to book a quarantine hotel. Packages can only be booked from the UK government provider. These packages also include the ‘Day 2’ and ‘Day 8’ tests.
Before departing for the UK, you'll need to provide details of your journey via a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). You can find this form here.
Please note that the Republic of Ireland is part of the Common Travel area, along with the four UK nations, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. None of the requirements above apply if travel is wholly within the Common Travel Area.
From the ins and outs of PCR testing to our travel information hub and destination-specific advice, the following articles are designed to help you plan your return to international travel.
