Day 2 and Day 8 Testing for Travel Arrivals – What You Need To Know

Updated: 14th February 2022

COVID-19 tests are required of many arrivals to England in order to reduce the spread of infection and to identify variants. Here we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Day 2 and Day 8 testing, which is required of many international arrivals to the UK.

What is a Day 2 and Day 8 Test?

Requirements for Day 8 testing were removed in February 2022. Day 2 PCR tests are mandatory for partially vaccinated/unvaccinated arrivals from non-Red List countries. One test is taken – on the second day after arriving. The tests will identify whether you are infected with COVID-19 and, if infected, which strain you are infected with. This ensures the government can track COVID infections coming in to the UK.

Do I need to take a Day 2 and Day 8 Test?

The Day 2 only test is required for passengers arriving from any non-Red List countries, if they are not considered fully vaccinated. Check the latest entry requirements for your destination to find out what the current requirements are. Testing requirements may change at any time, so make sure you check them before you travel to the UK.

Fully vaccinated means you must have had a final dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 whole days before you arrive in England. The day you have your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days. You are considered unvaccinated and eligible for the mandatory Day 2 testing if you do not meet the definition of fully vaccinated.

What if I’m Fully Vaccinated?

If you are fully vaccinated, you are not required to complete Day 2 testing after arriving in the UK. From February 2022, testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers were removed. Fully vaccinated passengers must still complete a Passenger Locator Form before departing for the UK.

What if I’m Not Fully Vaccinated?

If you are not fully vaccinated, you are required to complete a Day 2 PCR test (£43) after arriving in the UK. You must book your tests with a UKAS accredited laboratory as part of your travel arrangements, and complete a Passenger Locator Form before you depart for the UK providing your test booking reference.

UKAS Accredited Laboratory

Nomad is a UKAS accredited private provider of Day 2 PCR tests (£43) for international arrivals. Order through our order portal directly from our laboratory partner Oncologica. You’ll have a self-test kit sent to you for you to complete yourself using the included simple to follow instructions. Return postage is included so you can post your Day 2 only test in COVID priority post boxes. The lab will run tests on your sample and will return your results within 24 hours from when they receive it.

Book Day 2 and Day 8 Testing

Book Day 2 PCR testing with Nomad to ensure you meet the travel regulations. While many providers are unable to meet the current testing demands for international travellers, at Nomad we work with a high-capacity laboratory partner. Our laboratory will test your swab and return your results within 24 hours of receiving your sample. They have a very high success rate and failures are rare. Through the simple online order portal, you can easily order your mandatory Day 2 PCR testing ready to complete your journey to the UK.