Travel to South Africa during Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

On your return a negative test must be taken in the 3 days (72 hours) before you depart to the UK. You will be required to show your test results before you board the return flight home.

The test must meet the performance standards of above 97% specificity and above 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies\ml. The test can be a PCR test, a LAMP test or an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device as long as they meet the performance standards

Your test result can be provided as:

• a printed document
• an email or text message you can show on your phone - make sure your device is charged

Children under the age of 11 are exempt from this testing prior to returning back to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

You will be required to take a test on your return back to the United Kingdom.  The details of which will vary as below, depending on the classification of the country you are arriving from. 

Children, under the age of 4 will be exempt from any testing on return to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Children under the age of 5 will be exempt from testing on return to Scotland.

Green list countries

If you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is on the green list then you will be required to undergo a further COVID-19 PCR test at your own expense on or before day 2 of your return into the country.  You must ensure that this test is booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  You may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form.  This need to be completed and submitted before your departure home.

Should you be arriving into Northern Ireland from either Portugal, Israel or Singapore you will also be asked to take an additional free PCR test on Day 8.

Green watch list countries

If you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is currently on the green watch list, then you will be required to undergo a further COVID-19 PCR test at your own expense on or before day 2 of your return into the country.  Please remember that countries on the green watch list are able to move to the Amber or red lists.  Therefore should the country you are travelling from move before arrival, you will need to follow the guidance below, depending on the new category.  You must ensure that the testing requirements needed are booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  You may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form.  This need to be completed and submitted before your departure home.

Amber list countries

if you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is on the Amber list then alongside your self-isolation period at home, you will be required to undergo 2 further COVID-19 PCR tests at your own expense on your return into the country, unless you are returning to England, Scotland or Wales after the 19th July and have been fully vaccinated.  These tests will need to be taken on or before day 2 and on day 8 of your 10 day isolation period.  You may also able to take advantage of the test to release scheme which will allow for a PCR test to be taken on day 5 to release you from isolation.  You must ensure that your 2 tests are booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  You may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form.  This needs to be completed and submitted before your departure home.

If you are returning back to England, Scotland or Wales from the 19th July 2021, are fully vaccinated with at least 14 days since your last dose and are able to provide proof of this through a vaccination certificate, then you will be not be required to self-isolate on your return to England, Scotland or Wales.  You will be required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test at your own expense on or before day 2 of your return, however the test on day 8 will not be needed.  You must ensure that your test is booked before returning as you may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form which needs to be submitted before your departure home.  This guidance is currently only applicable for customers returning to England, Scotland and Wales.  Customers returning to Northern Ireland should follow the original advice above.

Red list countries

If you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is on the red list then you will need to ensure you have booked yourself into government approved hotel quarantine for a 10 day period.  You will be required to undergo 2 further COVID-19 PCR tests at your own expense on your return to the country in your quarantine hotel.  These tests will need to be taken on or before day 2 and on day 8 of your 10 day quarantine period.  You must ensure that your hotel quarantine. along with your test package is booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  You will need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form.  this needs to be completed and submitted before your departure home.