3 Night Stay - Amber Country - Testing?

Viki2410

Hi All,

My colleague is planning a trip to Majorca on 6th August, leaving at 6:30am, arriving back Monday 9th August at 11:30pm. He and his partner are both double vaccinated so understand no quaratine is needed. The question they have is timings of the tests on the return.

The government website states that a test must be taken 3 days before returning to the UK. Does that mean that they would test prior to leaving the UK to depart to Majorca? As that seems a bit pointless, but it would mean there would be no chance of quarantine in Majorca as if the test was postive, they just wouldn't go. They;ve emailed test companies who just state that the test needs to be taken 3 days before arriving home, but do not say if that should be done in the UK or in Majorca. The government webiste is also not the most helpful.

Has anyone done this and has any advice? Or can point to any definitive legislation? 

Thanks in advance

sheramber

it doesn't need to be done on day 3

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

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.

Ben1989

They need a test three days before coming home. Yes, that means potentially taking it before leaving. This is on the gov website

"Taking your test in the UK before travel

If you are returning to the UK within 3 days, you can use the result of a COVID-19 test that you take in the UK before you travel. You must use a private test provider for the test and not an NHS test.

The service on which you will arrive back in the UK must set off for the UK within 3 days of when you took the test."

As sheramber said however, it's up to three days. You could take it four hours before your flight to the UK if you wanted.

Viki2410

sheramber said:

it doesn't need to be done on day 3

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

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.

Thanks @sheramber but that's travelling to England, not returning home, from what I can see and understand. 

Viki2410

Ben1989 said:

They need a test three days before coming home. Yes, that means potentially taking it before leaving. This is on the gov website

"Taking your test in the UK before travel

If you are returning to the UK within 3 days, you can use the result of a COVID-19 test that you take in the UK before you travel. You must use a private test provider for the test and not an NHS test.

The service on which you will arrive back in the UK must set off for the UK within 3 days of when you took the test."

As sheramber said however, it's up to three days. You could take it four hours before your flight to the UK if you wanted.

Thanks @Ben1989. Makes sense, but potentially as you say it could mean taking it before leaving. Thanks

Spendless

Viki2410 said:

sheramber said:

it doesn't need to be done on day 3

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

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.

Thanks @sheramber but that's travelling to England, not returning home, from what I can see and understand. 

Where are they returning home to if not England? Another part of the UK? 

Viki2410

Spendless said:

Viki2410 said:

sheramber said:

it doesn't need to be done on day 3

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

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.

Thanks @sheramber but that's travelling to England, not returning home, from what I can see and understand. 

Where are they returning home to if not England? Another part of the UK? 

They are coming home to England yes, but I believe there are different rules for people returning home and people visting, from what I could see on the gov website.

Ben1989

You need to be specific when you say 'home'. Where is 'home'?

Ben1989

Just to add. Anyone travelling to England must take a covid test up to three days before departing for England.

This could be on the morning of their flight to Majorca or during their trip before returning to England.

Viki2410

@Ben1989

Sorry, yes home to England. I think they were just worried that if they took their test on the morning of the flight, the test would be invalid, but it is 3 days before the flight is due. I think they wanted to do this to avoid any chance of having to quarantine in Majorca, but they also plan to do a latteral flow test each day anyway just incase. 

They would still have to do a test 2 days after being back home in England anyway, as far as my understanding, so if they did test positive then they would have to isolate, but at least that would be at home, in England, and not in Majorca.

Thanks for yoru help

Ben1989

No it won't be invalid. The test requirement for flying back to the UK don't know where it was taken, they just care about date. I can understand them seeing the confusion.

They can take the test before their flight to Majorca but are there providers which can provide that so early in the morning?

But yes. They need to concentrate on time rather than location for the tests. As has been said, they can take it in the UK.