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As foreign travel rules ease, what is required to enter the UK?

With a range of proofs needed, the market for fake Covid test and vaccination certificates is booming

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When the UK reopens for foreign travel on Monday, a number of requirements for entry to the UK will be in force, involving a number of different types of tests and certificates.

The black market for pandemic-related products, including fake negative Covid tests and fake vaccination certificates, is booming.

Border officials have warned that an estimated 100 fake negative Covid tests were being caught each day even before the borders are opened further for foreign travel.

What is required to enter the UK?

The details are to be confirmed, but it’s expected that up to three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests will be required: one before entry showing a negative result, and up to two afterwards, depending on the country from which a traveller has arrived.

PCR tests cost an average of £120 a test for each person.

What about other countries?

Countries have differing requirements, but some, including EU states, have said a requirement involving vaccination will be required to enter them.

What do you need certificates for in the UK?

To enter the UK, certificates are needed to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test. The test result must be in either English, French or Spanish.

Depending on the country of origin, up to two more tests could be required, both of which would need a certificate to prove a negative result.

What about vaccination?

The government has suggested it will incorporate a vaccination status into the existing NHS Covid app.

However, there are currently no requirements to prove vaccination status when entering the UK. The level of vaccination progress will be taken into account when determining how countries should be classified.

What checks are there?

Border Force officers at airports and ports are responsible for checking the certificates, although no specific training is provided.

Some Border Force officers said the certificates can be easy to spot as they often have spelling mistakes or punctuation errors. But as there is no single template for a negative test, it can be challenging.

What is the scale of the use of fakes?

Border Force staff have said that by their nature it is challenging to estimate the true scale of the use of fake certificates. However, union officials have said that at least 100 fake certificates are caught each day – equal to thousands a month.

Cybersecurity researchers said there were more than 1,200 vendors on the dark web offering fake certificates, vaccines, treatment drugs and protective equipment. Individual channels on encrypted messaging apps have more than 1,000 subscribers.

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Introduction

Britain and Northern Ireland currently have no official COVID-19 restrictions in place, however there is still guidance on what to do should you catch coronavirus while here on holiday. For more information, please check the official government websites using the links below.

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UK entry requirements: How to travel to UK from green, amber and red list countries – Covid rules explained

You must have proof of a negative covid-19 test to travel to england from abroad, and complete a passenger locator form before you travel.

The summer holiday season is in full swing, and if you’re travelling to England, what you need to do depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive.

You must have proof of a negative Covid-19 test to travel to England from abroad, and complete a passenger locator form before you travel.

Here’s what you need to know about the UK entry requirements for travel.

What are the UK entry requirements for travel?

You must have proof of a negative coronavirus test to travel to England.

You must take a test even if you’ve been vaccinated, you’re travelling from a country or territory on the green list, or you’re a UK citizen.

You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.

For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.

Your test result can be provided as a printed document, an email or a text message on your phone.

If you do not present proof you tested negative, you may not be able to board your transport to England.

If you arrive in England without proof you tested negative, you could be fined £500.

Additionally, you must complete a  passenger locator form  before you travel to England.

It’s free to submit the form, and you can submit the form any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK.

You’ll need to show your form when you check in to travel or board your plane, train or ferry to the UK.

The specific entry requirements for red, amber and green list countries are as follows:

From a green list country

You must take a coronavirus test on or before day 2.

From an amber list country

You must quarantine in the place you’re staying and take 2 Covid-19 tests.

If you’re arriving from an amber list country or territory, you may be able to end quarantine early if you arrange and pay for a private Covid-19 test as part of the test to release scheme.

From a red list country

You cannot currently enter the UK if you’ve been in or through a country on the red list unless you’re British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK.

If you have come directly from a red list country, or from a red list country via a green or amber list country, you must quarantine in a hotel and take 2 Covid-19 tests.

Everyone who arrives into England and has been in a red list country must quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 full days from the point of their arrival.

The day of arrival in England will be treated as day 0.

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Covid international travel rules

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022.

Are there any rules for international travel to the UK?

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022. Testing and quarantine requirements were removed for fully vaccinated individuals and under 18s on 11 February, and then for unvaccinated individuals on 18 March, along with passenger locator forms for all arrivals. [1] Remaining restrictions were also removed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. [2]

International travel for leisure in England had first resumed in May 2021. Initially countries were given a red, amber, or green rating with different rules for testing and quarantining on return.

The government simplified this system in October 2021, with only the red list remaining, and the red list was cleared of all countries on 1 November. In late November and early December 2021, some countries were added again, amid concerns about the Omicron variant. These countries were removed again as it became clear that Omicron was circulating widely within the UK. [3]

Arrivals from red list countries were required to take a pre-departure test and book a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel with day 2 and day 8 tests, regardless of vaccination status. For countries not on the red list, arrival requirements depended on vaccination status, with vaccinated travellers subject to fewer requirements than unvaccinated arrivals by the end of 2021.  

The government has stated that it has contingency plans in place for a new variant but these have not been set out in detail. [4]

Is this in line with what other countries are doing?

A small number of countries have also removed all travel restrictions – including Ireland, Iceland, Norway. But many still have some entry requirements, particularly when it comes to testing. Others are also still restricting access for unvaccinated individuals or, in a few cases, for most non-residents. [5]

How do Covid passports for travel work?

Although travel to the UK is no longer dependent on vaccination status, many countries still require proof of vaccination.

A Covid passport for travel is incorporated into the existing NHS app (which is different from the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app). [6] The app is also available for Welsh residents, while Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own apps. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can now request an NHS Covid pass letter for travel. From 3 February 2022 children aged 13 and over will be able to access a Covid pass for travel through the app, and those 12 and over will be able to request a PDF online. [7]

What are the potential challenges ahead?

Since the spread of the Delta variant in spring 2021, with questions about whether India should have been added to the red list sooner, the government has faced a tricky balance between the pressure to open up travel and the need for continued caution about Covid transmission and the spread of new variants.

All travel restrictions when entering the UK have now been removed. However, most other countries still retain some restrictions, meaning that travel from the UK is still affected.

The major question remaining is what the government will do if a new variant emerges. It has said that contingency plans are in place to respond to any future variants but has not set out in detail what those plans would mean for travel. [8]

• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK, 14 March 2022, www.gov.uk/government/news/all-covid-19-travel-restrictions-removed-in-the-uk
• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Scottish Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel, www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine ; Welsh Government, International travel to and from Wales: coronavirus, 4 October 2021, https://gov.wales/rules-international-travel-and-wales-coronavirus ; NI Direct Government Services, Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice, www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice
• Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Travel Update: 47 countries and territories removed from red list, 7 October 2021, www.gov.uk/government/news/travel-update-47-countries-and-territories-removed-from-red-list ; Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979
• GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice,  www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• The app is available to individuals over 16 who are registered with a GP surgery in England. Individuals who cannot access the app can get a paper certificate by calling the NHS 119 helpline after 17 May. Certificates will be available from five days after a second vaccine dose: see Department of Health and Social Care, Using your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad and at venues and settings in England, 7 May 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad
• Welsh Government, Get your NHS COVID Pass,  https://gov.wales/nhs-covid-pass-prove-your-vaccination-status#section-70614 ; NI Direct Government Services, Apply for a Travel COVID vaccination certificate,  www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/coronavirus-covid-19-covid-certificate-ni-residents ; www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record-of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status ; www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass#children
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022,  www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979

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• Testing for COVID-19

Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announces temporary changes to confirmatory PCR tests.

From 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device ( LFD ) test results for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops 1 of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test – these rules have not changed.

The new approach reflects similar changes made this time last year in January 2021, when there was also a high prevalence of infection meaning it was highly likely that a positive LFD COVID-19 result was a true positive. This meant confirmatory PCRs were temporarily paused and reintroduced in March 2021 following a reduction in prevalence.

The UK’s testing programme is the biggest in Europe with over 400 million tests carried out since the start of the pandemic. Since mid-December, 100,000 more PCR booking slots have been made available per day and capacity continues to be rapidly expanded, with delivery capacity doubled to 900,000 PCR and LFD test kits a day.

Under this new approach, anyone who receives a positive LFD test result should report their result on GOV.UK and must self-isolate immediately but will not need to take a follow-up PCR test.

After reporting a positive LFD test result, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace so that their contacts can be traced and must continue to self-isolate.

There are a few exceptions to this revised approach.

First, people who are eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment ( TTSP ) will still be asked to take a confirmatory PCR if they receive a positive LFD result, to enable them to access financial support.

Second, people participating in research or surveillance programmes may still be asked to take a follow-up PCR test, according to the research or surveillance protocol.

Finally, around one million people in England who are at particular risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 have been identified by the NHS as being potentially eligible for new treatments. They will be receiving a PCR test kit at home by mid-January to use if they develop symptoms or if they get a positive LFD result, as they may be eligible for new treatments if they receive a positive PCR result. This group should use these priority PCR tests when they have symptoms as it will enable prioritised laboratory handling.

In line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on 22 December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation 7 days after the date of their initial positive test if they receive 2 negative LFD results, 24 hours apart, on days 6 and 7.

Rapid lateral flow tests are most useful at identifying COVID-19 in people without any symptoms. The tests are over 80% effective at finding people with high viral loads who are most infectious and most likely to transmit the virus to others.

Analysis by NHS Test and Trace shows LFD tests to have an estimated specificity of at least 99.97% when used in the community. This means that for every 10,000 lateral flow tests carried out, there are likely to be fewer than 3 false positive results. LFD tests identify the most infectious people. These people tend to spread the virus to many people and so identifying them remains important.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid said:

We have built a world-leading testing system and our testing capacity is the largest in Europe. This has helped save lives and protect millions of people from COVID-19. It forms a crucial line of defence alongside vaccines and antivirals. As Omicron cases continue to rise the demand for tests has grown rapidly across the globe. We’re putting plans in place to manage the demand for PCR tests in the UK so we can ensure that those who most need tests can continue to access them.

Chief Executive of UKHSA , Dr Jenny Harries, said:

While cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, this tried-and-tested approach means that LFDs can be used confidently to indicate COVID-19 infection without the need for PCR confirmation. It remains really important that anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms self-isolates immediately.  They should also order a PCR test on GOV.UK or by phoning 119. I’m really grateful to the public and all of our critical workers who continue to test regularly and self-isolate when necessary, along with other practical and important public health behaviours, as this is the most effective way of stopping the spread of the virus and keeping our friends, families and communities safe.

Yesterday the Prime Minister announced the government will provide 100,000 critical workers in England with free lateral flow tests to help keep essential services and supply chains running.

Critical workers will be able to take a test on every working day and the provision of precautionary testing will be for an initial 5 weeks.  This will help to isolate asymptomatic cases and limit the risk of outbreaks in workplaces, reducing transmission while COVID-19 cases remain high.

The full range of critical workers have been identified by the relevant departments and government will contact these organisations directly on the logistics of the scheme this week. Roll-out will start from Monday 10 January.

Tests will be separate from public sectors who already have a testing allocation with UKHSA , such as adult social care or education, and separate to those delivered to pharmacies and homes, so those channels will not be impacted by the new scheme.

We are now distributing around 600,000 packs of LFD tests (each containing 7 tests) on GOV.UK directly to homes every day (more than 50% higher than last week).

UK Health Security Agency press office

Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR

Email [email protected]

Telephone 020 7654 8400

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