Regardless of their vaccination status, all travellers entering the UK must take a day 2 test. 

From 4am on January 9, this can be a lateral flow test instead of a more costly PCR test and the need to self-isolate until they receive a negative result will be scrapped from 4am on January 7.

Those who are not double jabbed still face a pre-departure test, 10-day quarantine sentence and two PCR tests. 

The ‘day 2’ might not be the only test you need to take. Certain countries still require even double-jabbed arrivals to show evidence of a recent negative Covid test on arrival, while unvaccinated must take tests to gain entry to almost all destinations. Check the Foreign Office page for your destination before you go.

Here, we break down how the respective tests work and what to look out for when booking one in the coming months.

How do I get a lateral flow or PCR test for my ‘day two’?

The Government has released a list of approved testing companies. Prices for these range from £20 to £399. The test can be taken at home or a clinic. 

When will my day two test arrive?

Most companies will deliver your home test by post within 48 hours, though some have longer guarantees. Book your test in good time before returning from your trip to avoid an extended quarantine period.

What do I do with my day two test confirmation code?

Keep this safe. You will need to put this on your Passenger Locator Form in order to travel back to the UK.

When do I need to take the day two test?

Arrival day counts as ‘day 0’, meaning ‘day two’ is the third day after arrival back. If you land on a Monday, day two is Wednesday. Misleadingly, you do not need to take the test on day two, but rather by day two. So you can take the test as soon as you land, if you wish. 

What do I do once I have taken my test?

Until 4am on Friday, January 7, all travellers must self-isolate until they receive the result of their day 2 PCR test. If negative, fully vaccinated travellers can end their self-isolation. If positive, they must isolate and register their result with the NHS. Contact your test provider for advice. 

If you are not double-vaccinated, see below. 

How long will I have to wait for my day 2 test result? 

The fastest way to receive your PCR result would be to book a rapid turnaround test. One company which promises results by 11pm on the same day for £99 is the Regenerative Clinic, which has 12 centres across the country, from Canary Wharf to Cambridge. 

A quick turnaround test at the airport is a low-hassle option. However, these are inevitably often more expensive than a home test, where results are usually only guaranteed within 48 hours. Still, Cignpost Express offers next day results (by 10pm) from Heathrow, Gatwick and other airports for a relatively reasonable £69. 

Of course delays in testing results have been known, however with the need to isolate until you receive a negative test result removed from 4am on January 7, arrivals may be more relaxed about this. 

Do children need to take tests for travel?

Different countries have varying entry rules for children. Many, including France and Greece require unvaccinated children over the age of 12 (or five in Greece) to have taken a Covid test before arrival.

In terms of returning to the UK, all children over the age of five must take the day two test. Under 18s will no longer have to take a pre-departure test from 4am on January 7.

What if I am not vaccinated?

If you are not vaccinated, you must take a PCR test for your day two and day 8 tests, and isolate for 10 days. You can either post your test back to the clinic, or take the test in a dedicated centre. 

In England, under the Test to Release scheme you can choose to pay for a private Covid test on day 5. If the result is negative (and the result of your day 2 test result was negative or inconclusive) you can end your quarantine.

Testing checklist

Vaccinated travellers will need (from 4am on Sunday, January 9):

• To complete a Passenger Locator Form before returning to the UK
• A PCR or lateral flow test, taken within two days of arriving back in the UK. 

Unvaccinated travellers need:

• A Covid test before boarding a flight home (pre-departure test)
• To complete a Passenger Locator Form before returning to the UK
• A PCR test within two days of arriving back in the UK and another Covid test on day eight
• To self-isolate for 10 days, or pay for a ‘Test to Release’ to leave quarantine early (England only)

How do I get my pre-departure test?

Unvaccinated travellers still need proof of a negative Covid-19 test to travel to England from abroad. This must be taken no more than three days before travel but can be either a LAMP, lateral flow or PCR test. 

FCDO advice pages contain information on where to find local test providers in different countries. Tour operators, airlines and hotels can also advise on how to book these tests. Some private providers offer test packages that you can take away with you and complete over video call, before a certificate if emailed to you.

How do I get a day two (and eight) PCR test when I arrive back in England?

Unvaccinated travellers must book a PCR test to take place on or before day two of their return to the UK and provide a booking reference on their passenger locator form. Unvaccinated travellers must also book a day 8 test.

Similarly to outbound tests, this must be booked through a private test provider, though the Government sets out a different list of companies that should be used for returning travellers. Providers will flag which tests should be used for returning travellers, with companies such as Randox also offering ‘test to release’ packages for unvaccinated travellers. Prices tend to be similar to any required outbound tests, for example Boots offers ‘day two’ home tests for £75. 

Arrivals can also take a test at a clinic or drive-through site. Randox, for example, has an airport centre at Manchester where arrivals can take their required test (for £60).

Do I need to take a test before I travel abroad? 

Some countries require even fully vaccinated travellers to show evidence of a recent negative test to enter. For example, the Maldives demands all those over the age of one to take a PCR test 96 hours before departure. Most Caribbean islands open to tourists also have rigorous testing requirements. 

With little regulation, private testing costs vary wildly. Among the more reasonably priced is testing giant Randox, which offers a delivered at-home PCR test for £43; click and collect options are available from £34.99. The price includes a certificate with all the relevant information on to present to authorities. Be sure to order and send back your test in good time to avoid any pre-holiday panic. 

Travellers can also opt to take a pre-departure test at a clinic, which generally have faster turnaround times but also tend to be more expensive. Vivo Clinics has 34 outposts across the country, from Glasgow to Exeter, and offers next day PCR test results from £119. 

For those leaving things to the last minute, Heathrow has launched an on-site PCR testing service with a three-hour results turnaround from £119. Its Cignpost ExpressTest facilities also offer lateral flow tests (certain countries accept rapid tests for entry) for £35.