What you need to know before travelling from the USA to the UK
Conversations about travelling at the moment can be confusing can’t they?
So we thought we’d set the record straight on the rules of travelling from the US to the UK and what you need to be aware of before venturing here.
Testing
From 3rd August, the United States was moved onto the amber list by the UK government. This means that travellers from the US can enter the United Kingdom but will be subject to stringent testing and quarantine regulations.
The testing requirements are that if you are travelling to the UK, you first need to get tested in the 3 days preceding your departure and carry the negative results, otherwise you will not be allowed to travel to the UK.
This could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests or an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device. The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml. The test certificate 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 and confirmation of the device used for the test, or that the test was a PCR test.
The results should only be in English, Spanish or French; translations are not accepted. They can be shown in either print or electronic form. Children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test.
Quarantine regulations
If you are fully vaccinated you do not need to undergo quarantine. You must take a COVID-19 PCR test on or before day 2 after you arrive. Children aged 4 and under do not need to take this test. You do not need to quarantine unless the day 2 test result is positive.
If you are not fully vaccinated upon arrival, you will need to quarantine for 10 days at your home or the place you’re staying. You will then be subject to a second COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and a third test on or after day 8. The day you arrive counts as day 0.
The two tests must be booked before you depart for the country. You can check the providers and book your tests at this website. Under the Test To Release scheme, you can take an additional test after at least 5 days of quarantine, and if confirmed negative, can end your quarantine early. Children aged 4 and under do not need to take the day 2 or day 8 test.
Passenger locator form
All arriving and transiting passengers in the UK must fill the passenger locator form online any time in the 48 hours before scheduled arrival. The form is free to submit and in order to fill it in you will need your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border; your travel details, including times and dates; the address where you will stay in the UK; booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK and the invoice number for your quarantine hotel booking.
US regulations for outbound passengers
The CDC doesn’t prohibit international travel, but advises travellers, especially unvaccinated travellers, to avoid travel at all costs. Wearings masks on all flights to, within and from the United States is mandatory. It asks unvaccinated passengers flying out of the States to take a viral test 1-3 days before their trip, even if not required by the destination country.
Flights available
Flights to the UK departing from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit and Houston can now be booked easily. American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines are only some of the airlines covering the US-UK routes.
Returning to the US
All travellers returning to the US from the UK must have a negative PCR test before departure or be able to show proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months. The CDC recommends that travelers should also take a viral test between three and five days after their arrival from the U.K., and unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for a full seven days after travel. (Vaccinated travelers don’t have to self-isolate.)
Make it Resolute
Now that you know the requirements for travelling to the UK, why not check out our website to see the amazing packages we have put together for you.
The perfect vacation is just a click away!
And as always, make it Resolute.
Sources Used:
https://blog.wego.com/usa-uk-travel/
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/england-us-eu-quarantine-lifted-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.afar.com/magazine/england-has-reopened-to-travelers-heres-what-you-need-to-know