3 day trip to spain and return testing

Cromo1

My husband and I are travelling to Benidorm Spain for a long weekend on Friday 27th August and returning on the Bank Holiday Monday 30th .  I have just ordered the Fully vaccinated Amber kit from Randox for our pre departure PCR tests and day two test.  I was about to ring a local clinic in Benidorm to book our return antigen tests then I read that our return to UK tests now have to be PCR tests! With us only being there for 3 days and will have already taken a PCR test before we fly to spain will I have to then take another PCR test three days after taking the first PCR test?  I'm so confused.  Plus is this new information about the PCR test just an advisory or is it being enforced? Ive just had to spend £198 on tests already.  Another two PCR tests is going to be extortionate.  Many thanks in advance.

Ben1989

It's an advisory not a requirement so you can take an antigen test. So it's good news on that.

Presuming your PCR test will not be taken on the day of your flight you will fall outside the allowed three days prior to your flight for a pre-UK test. However, with the good news you can take an antigen test it opens up a lot more flexibility and affordability for you.

MattMattMattUK

Cromo1 said:

My husband and I are travelling to Benidorm Spain for a long weekend on Friday 27th August and returning on the Bank Holiday Monday 30th .  I have just ordered the Fully vaccinated Amber kit from Randox for our pre departure PCR tests and day two test.  I was about to ring a local clinic in Benidorm to book our return antigen tests then I read that our return to UK tests now have to be PCR tests! With us only being there for 3 days and will have already taken a PCR test before we fly to spain will I have to then take another PCR test three days after taking the first PCR test?  I'm so confused.  Plus is this new information about the PCR test just an advisory or is it being enforced? Ive just had to spend £198 on tests already.  Another two PCR tests is going to be extortionate.  Many thanks in advance.

Yes, your pre-departure test from the UK, even if PCR will not be within the window required to re-enter the UK. You will need to complete the information, as well a potentially a day 2 and day 8 test upon your return, depending on your vaccination status. This is part of the cost of international travel at the moment, international travel is entirely your own choice and this cost, just as the costs of the flights, hotels etc. (as well as any additional costs should you test positive whilst in Spain) have to be factored in to costs and potential costs of travelling during a pandemic.

StuieUK34

For info, we fly to Lanzarote tomorrow....  Took me a few hours of reading to get my head around the rules and what u need, etc etc, and this is what i came up with:

if you are double jabbed (and use the NHS App, or can get the paper version from NHS wales),  you do NOT need to take a PCR test to get into Spain.   You can use the NHS app as proof on way out.
You will need to complete your details on the "Spain Travel Health" appp,  48hrs before u fly...

To get back into the UK, 3 days before coming home, find a local pharmacy to get a RAT test (aka: Antigen test, using the same equipment that the NHS issue for free)...   You get a certificate with this RAT test.  (30 euros )
Also, apply for "Day 2" test (we had our Randox box delivered about 10 mins ago!) which cost £43

That should be it..    Call it £80 on tests max, as long as your double jabbed / using the NHS app and going to Spain....

silvercar

On returning from Spain, the PCR test is advisory, the Antigen test is still acceptable. People who read these things tell me that the actual Statutory Instrument ie “the law” hasn’t been changed.

liamb_2

I want to go to Spain for 24 hours! If I were to get the results of a test before I left tomorrow morning, would I be able to use this as my Day 2 test? I know there is a rule that if your visit is less than three days, you can order your test before you leave the UK, but are you also allowed to get the results of that test and use them as proof you are negative when you return to the UK?

onashoestring

No the Day 2 test has to be done after you return to the UK - the earliest you can take it is the day you return- you have to buy it from a provider from the  Government list and you put the booking number on your Passenger Locator Form along with your flight details so you can’t use a test from a date earlier than when you return to UK . 

silvercar

liamb_2 said:

I want to go to Spain for 24 hours! If I were to get the results of a test before I left tomorrow morning, would I be able to use this as my Day 2 test? I know there is a rule that if your visit is less than three days, you can order your test before you leave the UK, but are you also allowed to get the results of that test and use them as proof you are negative when you return to the UK?

You can use the results of a test before you go as the test required to board the plane to come home (as it will be within 3 days of your return). You can’t use it as your day 2 test. You will need to buy your day 2 test before you come home as you have to put the code from it on the plf that must be submitted before you can board the flight home. Buy a cheap randox one with a code from the many airlines and use that to come home. Take the test once your home, if you are double vaxxed, you won’t need to isolate, so it doesn’t matter how long the result takes to reach you, provided it is negative.

jetplane

Regarding Day 2 tests one of our travellers has had Covid within the last 90 days so a CPR risks a false positive result, but we are visiting family after almost 2 years, so may have to be a risk worth taking. I read on the Citizens Advice page that you should use an antigen instead. However I can find no company or regulation that will sell an antigen for day 2. Does anyone know any more about this?

onashoestring

The Day 2 is a PCR test, however you will be back in UK then so if the individual’s test comes back postive,  they will be able to use the NHS app to show the dates  when they previously tested positive ( if necessary)

jetplane

Oh thank you so much, yes they have the details on the test and trace.