Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing for Travellers Arriving in England from China
12 Jan 2023
The UK Government advised as of 5 January 2023, that people flying to England from mainland China will need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test (PDT) no more than 2 days prior to travel; and carry proof of a negative COVID-19 test result which may be checked by the airline and on arrival to the UK border at an airport in England. The test result must be printed in either English, French or Spanish language.
Currently PDTs are not required for those travelling from China to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland other than if they transit via England.
- For further up-to-date information on what is required, please read the COVID-19 guidance on travel from mainland China.
Advice for Travellers
If you are travelling from the UK to China, you should review the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office foreign travel advice for China, for the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings in China, and be aware that travel advice can change at short notice.
If you are arriving in, or returning to the UK from mainland China, you should review the guidance you will need to follow when you return to the UK which includes:
- the UK Border Force rules for entering the UK from abroad
- international travel rules for the UK country your flight arrives in, even if this is different to your final destination country
You can find the latest international travel guidance here for:
Also see fitfortravel COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page for information on how to protect yourself against COVID-19 when travelling abroad.