New Covid rules for travelling to the UK and if you need to take a PCR test

Changes to the UK’s travel rules are being put in place to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus and the Omicron variant. From Covid tests to isolating, here’s what you need to know before your holiday

New changes to UK travel rules are coming into effect due to concerns over the coronavirus.

Concerns have been raised over the new Omicron variant, which is beginning to spread more rapidly among people in the UK.

It has not yet been confirmed if the virus is more easily transmitted, if symptoms are more severe or if it is more resistant to vaccines, but prime minister Boris Johnson and health secretary Sajid Javid deemed the risk to be unacceptable based on scientific advice that mass transmissions could overwhelm the NHS.

It caused the government to reintroduce mandatory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport as well as other outlets and now travel rule changes are being put in place too.

So what are the new rules?

Do I need a PCR test to travel?

You need to take a PCR test or a lateral flow test when travelling back to the UK and then a PCR test upon arrival.

These tests need to be purchased from a government-approved retailer, which you can find on the government website. They will make your holiday pricier, and you will need to isolate at home for two days, or until your PCR test results come back as negative.

If you have a positive test, the NHS website states you must self-isolate: “The self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.”

The rules come into effect at 4am on Tuesday, December 7, and require that everyone over the age of 12 take a pre-departure test a maximum of 48 hours before leaving.

Each country has its own set of rules for travel and you should not make the mistake of assuming the UK’s rules apply abroad.

You should check the requirements for the country you’re travelling to before booking this test, which you can check on the government website here.

France, for example, requires people to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test result (PCR or antigen) before departure. This applies to all travellers whether they are fully vaccinated or not.

How long does a PCR test take to come back?

PCR tests are required upon arrival into the UK and you must isolate until receiving a negative result.

According to the NHS: “Most people get their result the next day, but it may take up to three days.”

If you do not receive any word of your result by day six, you should call 119, where lines are open from 7am until 11pm.

It is unlikely that a PCR test will take this long to come back, however.

You will usually receive word of your test result through either a text message or via email. Some people can also view their test result through the NHS COVID-19 app.

How much do PCR tests cost?

The price of a PCR test varies by a large amount. Some, according to the government website, can be bought for as little as £15, while others may set you back by as much as £395.

Some airlines offer discounts on tests and the government PCR tests do not have this option, so check before booking one provided by the authorities.

Travel companies are worried that passengers will be put off by the extra costs of travelling to a particular country. The industry was hit particularly hard by the pandemic.

British Airways CEO Sean Doyle said to the BBC : “Our customers will now be faced with uncertainty and chaos and yet again this a devastating blow for everyone who works in the travel industry.”

What are the UK’s new travel rules?

The government has now said that travellers heading into the UK will need to take a Covid test before their departure to try and limit the spread of the virus upon people’s arrival into the country.

This can be either a lateral flow or PCR test.

Travel from so-called ‘red list’ countries where Covid rates are high require people to isolate for 10 days. Nigeria is the most recent addition to this list.

Rules differ for fully vaccinated people and the non-vaccinated.

Travel rules for the fully vaccinated

When you have arrived in the UK, you must take a PCR test before your second day in the country and isolate until receiving a negative result.

You also need to complete a passenger locator form, which must be shown as you check in to travel on any form of transport to the UK from abroad.

Government guidance says: “You’ll need to show your form when you check in to travel or board your plane, train or ferry to the UK. You can submit the form any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK.”

Travel rules for the non-vaccinated

If you have not been vaccinated or are not fully vaccinated and you are travelling to the UK, then you will need to abide by the following rules:

• take a Covid-19 test – to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England
• book and pay for day 2 and day 8 Covid-19 PCR tests – to be taken after arrival in England
• complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England