Travellers To The UK Will Require Pre-Departure Covid Tests From December 7
Spain News
Published: 06 December 2021 13:25 CET
On Saturday, the British government announced that all travellers to the UK from Spain will be required to present a pre-departure Covid test from 4 am on December 7 before entering the country.
The move comes in an attempt to tackle the spread of the new Covid variant, Omicron which has put worldwide governments on high alert after its recent discovery in southern Africa.
The new measure will mean that anyone over the age of 12 returning to the UK from Spain or any other country on the ROW (Rest of the World) list after 4 am on December 7, will need to present a pre-departure Covid PCR or lateral flow test.
All tests must be taken no more than 48 hours prior to departing for the UK.
Until 4 am on December 7, you do not have to take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England if you qualify as fully vaccinated and you have not been to a red list country.
An update to the official UK government travel page said, “From 4am, Tuesday 7 December all people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.”
“You must take the test in the 2 days before your service to England departs. If your journey to England is a multi-leg journey, you must take the test in the 2 days before the start of the first leg.”
It’s important to note that the new requirement applies regardless of whether the traveller has been fully vaccinated or not.
Travellers will also need to complete a passenger locator form.
There are exceptions with some travellers including children under 11 which can be seen here.
It is important to note that when travelling in England from Tuesday, December 7, the wearing of face masks on public transport and in shops will be compulsory.
The Spanish government recently announced that from Wednesday, December 1, anyone over the age of 12 arriving in Spain from the UK will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid.
These rules do not affect the 300,000 British nationals who permanently reside in Spain.
The latest update from the UK government is for those arriving in England. The rules for the other UK nations may vary and can be found at the official links below.
https://gov.wales/rules-foreign-travel-and-wales-coronavirus-covid-19-html
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice
Source
https://www.thelocal.es/20211128/what-travellers-from-europe-need-to-know-about-new-covid-entry-rules-in-uk/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.facebook.com/BritsInSpain/posts/4198873690217000
https://spanishnewstoday.com/travellers_to_the_uk_from_spain_now_require_predeparture_covid_test_1693554-a.html
