Guidance
Check the COVID-19 rules for travel to England, including whether you need to take any tests.
- From:
- Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care
- Published
- 22 June 2021
- Last updated
- 5 January 2023 — See all updates
Applies to England
Travel from mainland China
There are different rules if you travel to England from mainland China.
If you’re aged 12 or older, you will need to take a COVID-19 test no more than 2 days before you travel.
You will need to show notification of a negative COVID-19 test result when you depart mainland China for England. This will be checked by your airline, and you may be required to show this to Border Force on arrival to England.
This applies to all direct and indirect flights from mainland China. An indirect flight involves one or more stops in other countries or territories before arriving in England.
This includes people travelling from mainland China through Hong Kong and Macao, but not people travelling directly to England from Hong Kong and Macao.
It applies if England is your final destination, or if you will be transiting through England.
Transit through mainland China
These rules do not apply if your journey to England started in another country and you only transit ‘airside’ through mainland China. If you transit ‘landside’ (you pass through border control), then these COVID-19 travel rules do apply.
Test results
You must provide the original test result notification. Your test result must be in either English, French or Spanish.
Your test result can be provided as:
- a printed document
- an email or text message you can show on your phone – make sure your device is charged
It must include the following information:
- your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
- your date of birth or age
- the result of the test
- the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider
- the name of the test provider and their contact details
- confirmation of the type of test taken, this can be a lateral flow or PCR
You cannot use an NHS-provided test as a pre-departure test.
You must retain your notification of a negative COVID-19 test result until you have passed through the UK border.
You may be fined if you do not follow these travel rules.
You may not need to take a pre-departure test if you have a work-related exemption or if you have a reasonable excuse.
From 8 January 2023, some passengers will be invited to take a voluntary test on arrival to monitor for potential new variants. This applies to passengers aged 18 or over who are travelling from mainland China and arriving at Heathrow Airport only.
Travel from all other countries and territories
When you travel to England, you:
- do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel
- do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
- do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
It includes people who are transiting through England.
From 5 January 2023, different rules apply to people travelling from mainland China. See the section of this guidance about travel from mainland China.
Other countries may have rules about what you need to do to leave the country to travel to England. You should check travel advice for the country you are travelling from.
How to stay safe while in the UK and on public transport
Check separate public health guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of Coronavirus while you are in the UK.
Travel provider and transport hub rules
Your travel provider, or the transport hub you travel through, may have COVID-19 rules in place. For example they may require or advise you to wear a face covering.
You should follow any COVID-19 rules and guidance from:
- your travel provider – airline, ferry, coach or train company
- the transport venue – airport, port, coach or railway station
Red list countries and territories
There are currently no red list restrictions in place for travel to England.
Travel abroad from England
Other countries have rules about what you must do to travel there from England.
Read separate guidance about what you need to do to travel abroad from England.
Published 22 June 2021
Last updated 5 January 2023 +show all updates
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New rules for travel from China come into force today.
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More information about COVID-19 testing requirements for travel from mainland China to England.
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From 5 January, people flying from mainland China to England will be asked to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test.
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When you arrive in England from abroad you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.
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If you will arrive in England after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.
(Video) Denmark among countries added to England's travel quarantine list - COVID-19 update -
If you began your journey in Russia, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.
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If you began your journey in Ukraine, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.
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From 9am Monday 28 February, you can fill in the UK passenger locator form up to 3 days before you arrive in England.
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From 24 February, there is no legal requirement to self-isolate if you get a positive day 2 test result.
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You do not need to take any COVID-19 travel tests or self-isolate on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated.
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The testing and quarantine rules for international travel to England will change 11 February 2022.
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You can now choose a lateral flow test or a PCR test as your post arrival test.
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From 4am 7 January you do not have to quarantine on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England.
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Changes to rules for fully vaccinated people travelling to England from 4am 7 January 2022.
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People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can now end self-isolation after 7 days with 2 negative lateral flow tests.
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Further information about quarantine rules for children aged 4 and under.
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People aged 12 years and over must COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.
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From 4am, Tuesday 7 December all people aged 12 years and over must also take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.
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People who qualify as fully vaccinated must quarantine and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.
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From 4am 30 November 2021, fully vaccinated people must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. They may leave self-isolation if their PCR result is negative. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.
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South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests.
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Travel to England rules for children no longer depend on their place of residence.
(Video) COVID-19 tests for China arrivals in England from January -
Clarification about unclear or inconclusive test results.
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From 4am 22 November 2021, all children aged 17 and under will not have to quarantine on arrival in England.
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People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can book a lateral flow test for use from 24 October instead of a PCR test.
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From 22 October, if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you will be able to book an antigen lateral flow device (LFD) test instead of a PCR for your ‘on arrival’ test.
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Rule changes for international travel to England for people who qualify as fully vaccinated.
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Changes to amber list rules on quarantine and testing.
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First published.
FAQs
Are there any Covid restrictions to enter England? ›
When you travel to England, you: do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel. do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive. do not need to quarantine when you arrive.
What are the latest travel restrictions in England? ›There are no coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the UK.
You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the NHS. You need to show a negative COVID-19 test if you are travelling to England from mainland China. You do not need to take a test when you arrive in the UK from any other country.
- PASSPORT VALIDITY: Must be valid for the duration of your stay in the United Kingdom (At least six months remaining validity is required for onward travel to many other countries)
- BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: Must have at least one page.
- TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays less than six months.
You must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay. You may also need a visa, depending on which country you're from.
Can US resident travel to UK? ›Entry to the UK as a Tourist
UK Tourist Visas allow American citizens to enter the UK without the need for some of the more formal routes of immigration. Tourist visas are valid for any period of time up to a maximum of 6 months.
You no longer need to take any coronavirus (COVID-19) tests when you arrive in the UK from abroad. If you have further questions, call our contact centre: 0151 676 0491 from the UK. +44 (0)151 676 0491 from outside the UK.
Can green card holders travel to UK from USA? ›Unfortunately, a Green Card does not allow the holder to enter the UK just like it does not allow them to enter the European Union. You can check whether you need a visa for the UK here, and how you can apply for a UK visa if you are in the USA here.
Can US citizen be denied entry to the UK? ›An immigration official can deny you entry to the UK at the border, even if you have valid entry clearance.
Do I need a booster to travel to UK? ›Added information about COVID-19 booster vaccinations: The NHS COVID Pass for travel does not currently include COVID-19 booster vaccinations. You do not need a COVID-19 booster vaccination to get an NHS COVID Pass for domestic use in England.
Does British Airways require COVID test? ›If you're fully vaccinated, please upload your vaccine certificate. If you're not fully vaccinated, you'll need to test for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to starting your journey and upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR certificate into the portal.
Are US Covid entry requirements changing? ›
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines.
Do US citizens need Covid test to enter US? ›Yes, this Order applies to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), unless they meet the criteria for an exception.
Do you need PCR test to enter UK? ›You no longer need to take any coronavirus (COVID-19) tests when you arrive in the UK from abroad. If you have further questions, call our contact centre: 0151 676 0491 from the UK. +44 (0)151 676 0491 from outside the UK.
Do I need a PCR test to enter Heathrow Airport? ›Arriving passengers - COVID travel information
When you arrive in the UK from abroad, you do not currently need to take any pre-departure or post-arrival COVID-19 tests. This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
Heathrow Airport COVID Certificates
Book now your COVD-19 RT – PCR + Fit to Fly & Antigen Test on your way with our professional team and clinic-based at Heathrow Airport. Our professional Team and Clinic will do your Test on your way to go.
You must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane. Only limited exceptions apply. For more information, see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.
Do you need a fit to fly test to leave the UK? ›If you have not been fully vaccinated, you need to follow the 'entry requirements' of the country you are travelling to. Entry requirements requested by other countries may include: requiring a negative COVID-19 test result before you depart from the UK.