COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Please note: until further notice all flights are flying from our North Terminal only.

When you need to take a test and where to get one.

Testing requirements vary depending on the country you are travelling to or from. We have all the info you need to know about when and where to get a test.

Please note that tests need to be pre-booked, and fees apply.

Make sure that you meet your destinations entry requirements before you travel.

When do I need to take a test?

Departure Testing Green List Arrivals Amber List Arrivals Red List Arrivals From 4 October

Travelling abroad from Gatwick

Make sure that you meet your destinations entry requirements before you travel.

Most countries want proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. The types of test and how long before travel you need to take it varies by country.

Check what test you need

Always follow the latest travel advice on the UK Government website. It may have changed since your last visit.

Plan plenty of time before you travel to receive your results. You may need to present them in a particular format. Make sure your destination will accept both the type of test and the test provider’s certificate. (This could be paper or digital)

Check with your airline for the latest flight information before you travel. Many airlines also offer COVID-19 testing packages.

You must not use NHS testing centres for travel related purposes. You should not use private testing centres if you are displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

Need a rapid Antigen test? ExpressTest offers tests for £35pp at their North Terminal walk-in centre. Tests must be pre-booked and receive results by email within 30 minutes.

Save £2 on your lateral flow Fit to Fly test using discount code LGWBTT2 at checkout.

Book an Antigen test with ExpressTest

Need a PCR test? ExpressTest offers PCR Fit to Fly tests for £59pp. Either at their North Terminal walk-in, or drive-through centre located on Perimeter Road South (RH6 0PQ). Tests must be pre-booked and receive results by email by 10pm the day after your test.

Book a PCR test with ExpressTest

Arriving from a Green list country

What you must do when you arrive from abroad depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive. The UK Government lists countries or territories as green, amber or red.

Check if you are arriving from a Green list country

If you arrive from a Green list country you must:

take a COVID-19 test on day 2

You do not have to quarantine when you arrive in England.

The UK Government reviews the countries on the Green list every three weeks. Countries at risk of moving to the Amber list are placed on a watch list.

Different rules apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You must follow the rules of your end destination.

Have you also visited a country on the Amber or Red list within the 10 days before you arrive? You must follow the rules of the country with the highest risk.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure. It must meet the UK Government requirements.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the UK Government website.
Pre-book a travel test that takes place on or before day 2 after you arrive from an approved provider. (The day you arrive is day 0.)

AFTER YOU ARRIVE

Take a PCR COVID-19 test up to day 2, using your pre-booked Government approved test.

You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

Need to pre-book a test? ExpressTest offer Green Arrivals tests from £69pp. You can take this test anytime up to 2 days after you arrive at the drive-through centre located on Perimeter Road South (RH6 0PQ).

Save £10 on your Day 2 Arrivals test using discount code LGWBTT10 at checkout.

Book a Green Arrivals Test with ExpressTest

Arriving from an Amber list country

What you must do when you arrive from abroad depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive. The UK Government lists countries or territories as red, amber or green.

Check if you are arriving from an Amber list country

If you arrive from an Amber list country you must:

quarantine at home for 10 days*
take a COVID-19 test before day 2 and after day 8* of quarantine

*If you have been fully vaccinated in the UK, US or EU you do not need to quarantine, or take a second test on day 8. This also includes children under the age of 18.

The UK Government reviews the countries on the Green list every three weeks. Countries at risk of moving to the Red list are placed on a watch list.

Different rules apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You must follow the rules of your end destination.

Have you also visited a country on the Amber or Red list within the 10 days before you arrive? You must follow the rules of the country with the highest risk.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure. It must meet the UK Government requirements.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the UK Government website.
Pre-book a travel test that takes place on or before day 2 and after day 8 from an approved provider. (The day you arrive is day 0.)

AFTER YOU ARRIVE

Quarantine at home for 10 days.
Take a PCR COVID-19 test up to day 2, and after day 8
Optional - Take a Test to Release COVID-19 test on day 5 to leave quarantine.

Need to pre-book a test? ExpressTest offer Amber Arrivals tests from £129pp and test to release packages from £189pp. You can take the first test anytime up to 2 days after you arrive at the drive-through centre located on Perimeter Road South (RH6 0PQ).

If you're fully vaccinated in the UK, EU or US you only need to take one PCR test up to 2 days after you arrive. ExpressTest offer Day 2 Arrivals tests from £69pp.

Save £10 on your Day 2 Arrivals test using discount code LGWBTT10 at checkout.

Book an Arrivals test with ExpresTest

Arriving from a Red list country

What you must do when you arrive from abroad depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive. The UK Government lists countries or territories as red, amber or green.

Check if you are arriving from a Red list country

You cannot travel to the UK if you’ve visited or passed through a country on the red list in the last 10 days, unless you are:

a British national
an Irish national
a UK resident

If you arrive from a Red list country you must:

Quarantine in a Government managed quarantine hotel for 10 days
Take a COVID-19 test before day 2 and after day 8 of quarantine

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure. It must meet the UK Government requirements.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the UK Government website.
Pre-book a pre-approved hotel quarantine package from the UK Government website.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Proceed as usual to Passport Control. UK Border Force will direct you to a G4S representative. They will arrange your transport to your quarantine hotel.
After your hotel quarantine ends, transport will bring you back to the airport.

The UK Government reviews the countries on the Red list every three weeks.

Different rules apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You must follow the rules of your end destination.

Arriving from a non-red list country (From 4 October)

What you must do when you arrive from abroad depends on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive. The rules also vary based on your vaccination status.

Arrivals from a country on the UK Red list must follow the rules in the Red List section of this page.

Check if you are arriving from a country on the UK Red List

If you are arriving before 4 October, you must follow the rules of the applicable traffic light.

Vaccination Criteria

To meet the UK definition of 'Fully Vaccinated' you must have been vaccinated for at least 14 days:

under an approved program in the UK (inc. overseas programmes), Europe, or the United States.
or under another approved vaccine program as detailed on the UK Government website.
you must be able to show proof of your vaccination status.

Check if you are considered 'Fully Vaccinated'

Rules for fully vaccinated arrivals

You do not need to take a test before you travel to England. You must meet the vaccine criteria outlined by the UK Government.

Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the UK Government website.
Pre-book a PCR test that takes place anytime up to day 2 after you arrive from an approved provider. (The day you arrive is day 0)

The UK Government has indicated PCR tests are likely to be replaced with privately booked lateral flow tests in late October.

Rules for other arrivals

Arrivals that do not meet the vaccination criteria must follow these rules.

Before you arrive

Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure. It must meet the UK Government requirements.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the UK Government website.
Pre-book a PCR test that takes place anytime up to day 2, and after day 8 from an approved provider. (The day you arrive is day 0)

After you arrive

Quarantine at home for 10 days.
Take your pre-booked PCR COVID-19 test up to day 2, and after day 8.
Optional - Take a Test to Release COVID-19 test on day 5 to leave quarantine.

Where can I get tested?

By clicking a booking link on this page you are leaving the Gatwick Airport website. Any bookings are made with a third party.

Testing facilities at Gatwick

There are several COVID-19 testing providers based at Gatwick including:

EXPRESSTEST - DRIVE THROUGH

This drive through centre located on Perimeter Road South (RH6 0PQ), offers a Fit to Fly PCR swab test for £59pp. Also offers PCR Day 2 Arrivals tests for £69pp. You must book in advance.

Save £10 on your Day 2 Arrivals test using discount code LGWBTT10 at checkout.

Book a test with ExpressTest
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EXPRESSTEST - WALK IN

This walk in facility in North Terminal arrivals offers a Fit to Fly PCR swab test for £59pp. Also offers lateral flow Fit to Fly tests for £35pp. You must book in advance.

Save £2 on your lateral flow Fit to Fly test using discount code LGWBTT2 at checkout.

Book a test with ExpressTest

HILTON

The Hilton London Gatwick offers a Test & Rest Package. It includes a PCR self-testing swab kit and overnight accommodation at the hotel.

Book a test with Hilton

SOFITEL

The Sofitel London Gatwick offers a Test & Rest package. It includes a PCR self-testing swab kit and overnight accommodation at the hotel.

Book a test with Sofitel

BOOTS

Get a private PCR swab test at the Boots store located in the South Terminal arrivals area. You must book in advance.

Book a test with Boots

Other COVID-19 test providers may exist in your local area and may include:

COLLINSONS

This drive through facility is located in the Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) car park. Close to Gatwick Airport, it offers a range of tests including PCR, antigen and Lamp. You must book in advance.

Find out more about Collinsons