Change in Day 2 testing options
At the moment, international travellers to Scotland must take a Day 2 PCR test upon arrival. However, with effect from 4am on31 October, people who are fully vaccinated and travelling to Scotland from a non-red list country may choose to take a cheaper lateral flow test instead, bringing the rules in line with those already in place in England and Wales. (Travellers to Northern Ireland must still take a PCR test.)
Travelling to Scotland
People aged 11 and over who are travelling to Scotland from outside the UK and the Common Travel Area must take a pre-departure COVID-19 test in the 3 days before they travel, if they’re leaving from a country on Scotland’s red list. This applies to both fully vaccinated and non- vaccinated travellers.
Those travelling from a non-red list country must also take a pre-departure COVID-19 test if they are over 18 and not fully vaccinated.
Proof of the negative test result must be shown before boarding a flight and upon arrival in Scotland.
Children under the age of 11 don’t need to take a COVID-19 test, irrespective of whether or not they’ve been to a country on Scotland’s red list within 10 days of their departure for Scotland.
Arriving in Scotland from a red list country
Travellers arriving from a country on Scotland’s red list must quarantine in their pre-booked quarantine hotel for 10 days (11 nights) upon arrival, and take a COVID-19 PCR test on Day 2 and Day 8.
Arriving in Scotland from a non-red list country
Travellers over the age of 18 who are fully vaccinated and arrive in Scotland from a non-red list country must take a COVID-19 test on Day
2 of their arrival. As of 31 October, they may choose to take a PCR or a lateral flow COVID-19 test. Travellers will not need to isolate unless the result of their Day2 test is positive.
Upon arrival in Scotland, travellers over the age of 18 who haven’t been fully vaccinated must isolate at home, or the place they are staying
at, for 10 days. They must also take a Day 2 and Day 8 COVID-19 PCR test.
Further information
The above is a summary of rules relating to PCR tests only. All travellers must ensure they are familiar with all COVID-19 related travel rules
in place at their time of travel. Further details about the rules regarding international travel to Scotland can be found on .GOV.SCOT.
For details about booking COVID-19 tests, please visit .GOV.UK.
For all other queries, please contact your ISON Travel Consultant.