How to get a Covid PCR test for travel and how much they cost

Holidays abroad are back on, but one complication remains for anyone hoping to travel overseas this summer: multiple Covid tests.

Certain countries still require even fully vaccinated arrivals to show evidence of a recent negative Covid test, while the unvaccinated must take tests to gain entry to almost all destinations.

All holidaymakers must also take tests when coming back to the UK. For green list countries, this means a pre-departure test and a PCR swab on day two of your return. Fully vaccinated arrivals from amber list countries are subject to the same rules, but those without two doses must quarantine and take another test on day eight.

The confusion creeps in when it comes to costs, timings, what type of tests are required and whether children need to take show proof they are Covid-free.

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

How do I get a PCR test to travel abroad?

With free NHS tests still reserved for those with symptoms, travellers must book private tests. There are two options: ordering a home test kit or booking an appointment at a clinic/drive-through test centre. To help simplify the process and make pricing more transparent, the Government has launched an official Covid test comparison website. The list provides travellers with information on the cheapest, quickest and most efficient Covid test companies in their region – advertised prices range from £20 to to £399 from a clinic in Mayfair. Note there are different lists of providers for outbound and inbound Government-required tests. 

For outbound travel, most home kits will arrive within 24 hours and should be sent back the same day. They will then be analysed in a lab and you should receive your results within 48 hours – various companies have different guarantees. 

If your test is negative, you should then be sent a certificate declaring you Covid-free. However, it is not always clear how much information is required in each country. Some companies, such as Corona Test Centre, whose home kits cost £129, ease fears with example certificates online, which are doctor-signed and include the name, address and telephone number of both the laboratory and company, plus the name, date of birth and passport number of the recipient. When ordering a kit, it is certainly worth clarifying what will be detailed on your certificate. Printing out a copy of your results is also a good idea, – in case technology fails at the airport. 

Among the cheaper at-home test providers for outbound travel are Randox (£48) and Eurofins (£44.90).

Otherwise tests at clinics tend to have a quicker turnaround. Harley Street Health Centre in London, which offers tests for £175, guarantees results by 8pm the next day. More broadly, DocTap has a network of clinics across London and offers a range of coronavirus tests, including a same-day option, for £124.

Beyond the capital, Boots has launched a PCR testing service in 100 stores across the country. It promises results within 48 hours and is currently priced at £85. The advice to customers is to book appointments for between 60-72 hours before their flights.

Another option is Vivo Clinics, which has PCR testing centres in 23 UK cities  and charges from £119 for its standard service, or from £144 for same-day results.

Gatwick has a drive-though test centre where PCR tests cost only £60 for passengers, though with results generally provided the next day this would mean two trips to the airport. 

What about rapid tests? 

Some countries, such as Italy, accept rapid lateral flow/antigen tests as well as ‘gold standard’ PCR tests. Boots offers a rapid testing service at more than 50 stores for £59.99, with results typically available in as little as an hour and uploaded to an online portal. Elsewhere, 15MinCovidTest has locations across England and offers antigen tests with fit-to-fly certificates for £44.98.

Be sure to check the exact entry requirements of the country you are visiting before booking a rapid test. 

Do children need to take tests for travel?

Different countries have varying entry rules for children. Many, including France, Spain, Portugal and Greece require unvaccinated children over the age of 12 to have taken an antigen or PCR test. 

In terms of returning to the UK, children under 10 do not have to take a pre-departure test and those under four are not subject to a ‘day two’ PCR test. However, children of all ages must take the tests if adults in household are taking part in the ‘test to release’ scheme.

What happens if your PCR results don’t arrive in time?

With most countries requiring certificates issued no longer than 72 hours before departure, time is of the essence. 

Most companies guarantee a 48-hour turnaround, although it’s worth checking the terms as some offer a long window. In the event that the results are delayed, there’s not a lot to be done. Test companies should (and generally do) offer full refunds, but without a certificate travel plans will have to be altered or cancelled.

That said, for late-planners and victims of laboratory bungles, a few companies do offer same-day results. The London General Practice offers test dispatch 24 hours a day, seven days a week and promises results the same day – if swabs are returned by 12pm. The service also includes a follow-up video consultation with a doctor and costs £165 (plus a hefty delivery fee). 

For a last-gasp in-person PCR test, DocTap has a four-hour results option available at London Bridge, Chelsea, Highbury and Islington and Heathrow airport. The service costs £149. 

What tests do I need when returning to the UK?

While many countries have scrapped testing requirements for fully vaccinated visitors, UK travellers are still required to take at least two Covid tests when returning home. 

1. Green countries:  A pre-departure test before returning to England and post-arrival PCR test
2. Amber countries: A pre-departure test before returning to England, two post-arrival tests and self-isolation on for up to ten days on arrival back in England (with the option to use ‘Test to Release’, which into cut the time in self-isolation). Fully vaccinated arrivals will no longer have to quarantine on return. However, they must still take a  pre-departure test before returning to England and pay for a PCR test on day two of their return. 
3. Red countries: non-residents banned entirely, compulsory hotel quarantine on return (and testing) for returning residents (direct flights are banned from some red-listed destinations).

How do I get a test before returning to England?

You must have 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. If you arrive in England without proof you tested negative, you could be fined £500. 

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.

Note that if you are travelling to England from Spain (including from its islands), you are advised to take a PCR test before returning home, though a rapid test will still be accepted. 

How do I get a day two test when I arrive back in England?

Before you arrive in England, you must book a PCR test that takes place on or before day two of your return (the day you arrive is day 0). The test booking reference needs to be filled in on your passenger locator form to prove it has been ordered. You’ll need to show your form when you check in to travel to the UK.

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 offering ‘day two’ at-home tests, plus ‘amber packages’ for unvaccinated travellers from medium-risk countries who need to take two tests. 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 has various airport centres where arrivals can take their required test (for £60).

Children aged four and under do not need to take this test.

How accurate are PCR tests?

There is some debate about the accuracy of home tests versus those performed at a clinic, as people could self-administer the test incorrectly. However, as the Government itself sends out a huge number of home tests every day, one would hope there is faith in the accuracy. 

Travel health specialist Dr Richard Dawood says that test accuracy is “very good” and suggests that potential problems with the certificate system lie elsewhere, with timings and complex flight routings.

However, with any coronavirus test there is also the possibility that your sample might prove inconclusive. Private Harley Street Clinic says: “Sample failure is rare, but if this happens, the sample needs to be repeated which takes another 24 hours. If the second repeat fails again, a brand-new collection is required.”

It remains unclear how quickly after exposure to the virus you might test positive. The NHS says the optimal time to get a test is within the first five days of symptoms, with less clarity on the pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic. It is not unthinkable, therefore, that you have your in-date coronavirus certificate, but then start showing symptoms on the way to the airport.