New entry requirement for travelers from mainland China
The new requirement applies to all travelers, whether arriving in England on direct or indirect flights originating from mainland China. It also applies if travelers will be transiting through England or if England is the final destination. This includes travelers travelling through Hong Kong or Macao.
Travelers must provide the original test result notification. The airline will check the original test result notification. Tests results must be in either English, French or Spanish.
Travelers can present their test results as:
- a printed document
- an email or text message they are able to show on their phones
It must include the following information:
- Travelers name, which should match the name on the travel documents.
- Travelers 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.
- Confirmation of the type of test taken, this can be a lateral flow or PCR.
NHS-provided tests will not be accepted as a pre-departure test.
Children that are 11 years old or younger do not have to take a COVID-19 test before travelling to England from mainland China.
From 8 January 2023, a selection of passengers, aged 18 or over who are travelling from mainland China and arriving at Heathrow Airport only, will be invited to take a voluntary test on arrival to monitor for potential new variants.
Further details regarding these changes can be obtained by reaching out to your usual contact in our Global Immigration & Mobility team.
