Changes to pre-departure testing

· by · in COVID-19. ·

From 4am Friday 7 January if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, and you will arrive in England after 4am, Friday 7 January, you do not need to: 

  • take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England 
  • quarantine when you arrive in England 

From 4am Sunday 9 January if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, and you will arrive in England after 4am, Sunday 9 January, you can choose to take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR test after you arrive in England. 

If you take a lateral flow test and test positive, you will need to self-isolate and take a free confirmatory PCR test. 

You must book the test before you travel to England. You can book lateral flow tests from 4am Friday 7 January. 

You cannot use a lateral flow test until after 4am, Sunday 9 January. Before 4am Sunday 9 January, you must use a PCR test after arrival.