UK To Require Pre-Travel Testing Regardless of Vaccination Status

Starting December 7, the United Kingdom (U.K.) will further tighten its entry requirements for inbound foreign travelers, including those coming from non-red-listed countries, such as the United States. The policy alterations are being made in an effort to slow the importation of the Omicron variant, of which 134 cases have already been detected in the U.K.

Airlines will be responsible for checking that travelers have their negative pre-departure tests, along with their completed passenger locator forms, and no one will be permitted to board a U.K.-bound flight without one.

As recently as November 30, the U.K. also altered its rules to require that all international arrivals, regardless of their vaccination status, must take a PCR test on their second day in the country and self-isolate in their hotel rooms until receiving a negative result.

A temporary ban will be placed on all non-U.K. citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria within the previous 10 days, while U.K. and Irish citizens returning home from Nigeria will be required to isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and get two negative PCR tests during that same interval.

For the latest insight on travel to the U.K., check out this interactive guide:

For more information, visit visitbritain.com.