Cheapest COVID-19 tests for travel

Whether you're looking for the cheapest Covid-19 tests for international travel, most convienent testing centre near you or quickest test results to end your quarentine period, you'll find it all in our complete guide to antigen or PCR testing.

Top deals & exclusive discounts
Fit-to-fly tests for leaving the UK
Pre-departure tests for UK-bound travel
Tests for UK arrivals for day 2 & 8
Test to Release for day 5 (England only)
Covid-19 testing at UK airports
On arrival tests in destination
Types of Covid-19 tests

For a full summary of Covid-19 statistics and entry regulations by country, and to compare destinations around the world, visit our interactive Covid-19 travel planner

How Covid-19 tests are helping us travel

When it comes to travel, one of the main tools health authorities around the world have employed in the fight against coronavirus is 'testing'. This includes pre-departure tests, on arrival tests at destination airports and on return tests to reduce time spent in quarantine.

COVID testing - the new reality for international travel © Patrik Hedström - Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Over 70% of countries now require proof of a negative Covid-19 test either from some or all of the people who want to cross their borders.

Some countries require everyone arriving to produce test results, others are selective about who needs a test and, occasionally, arrivals from specific parts of a country are required to take a test while others are not.

In most cases, these tests have to be performed before flying as pre-departure tests but some countries will also permit testing on arrival instead.

Please note: it is very important you understand exactly what type of test is required by the country you are travelling to and that you follow the requirements precisely.

Make sure the laboratory you choose to carry out your test can produce the results in the format required. If you do not, you may be prevented from boarding your flight or be required to quarantine on arrival.

Fit-to-fly tests for leaving the UK

Typically, travellers take a pre-departure test a few days before their flight and receive a certificate that shows they are not infected. The test involves having swab samples taken from the back of the throat and nose which are then sent to be processed.

Provider	Prices	Covid-19 testing	Location
	£20	Antigen lateral flow fit to fly test^* Results within 2 hours	At home
£6 off	£62	PCR fit to fly test^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home
40% off	£99	PCR fit to fly test^* Results 24-72 hours from receipt at lab	At home

Covid-19 test prices shown above may vary based on test type and speed of results.

There are three important things to know about Fit-to-fly pre-departure testing:

those provided by the NHS are not accepted for travel
they must be paid for and are likely to cost between £60 to over £150
tests must be carried out no more than a certain number of hours prior to departure

Tests will likely need to be performed by a certified laboratory and the easiest way to find one is to search for one online. LetsGetChecked^*, for example, provides home testing kits for £99 with a turnaround time of 24 to 72 hours.

There are also testing centres at all the major UK airports but do remember if you are taking a PCR test that these tests are not part of the boarding process; it takes a day or two to get the results.

If you decide to use a home testing kit, make sure the country you are travelling to accepts results from a home testing kit, as not all countries do.

Top tip: take your passport and flight details with you when you attend the testing centre so these can be included on your test results report.

Book fit-to-fly tests >>

Pre-departure tests for UK-bound travel

The UK government requires all travellers (except those coming from within the Common Travel Area, that is Ireland, the Channel Islands & Isle of Man) aged 12 and above to provide a negative Covid-19 test result before travelling to the UK.

This test must be taken within 48 hours of departure and can be either a PCR or antigen lateral flow test.

Some Covid-19 test providers offer testing bundles with pre-departure tests and day 2 tests (and day 8 for unvaccinated travellers).

Book pre-departure tests >>

Please note: NHS Covid-19 tests are not accepted for travel.

Tests for UK arrivals - day 2 & 8

All fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK, except those coming from within the Common Travel Area or arriving from red list countries, must take a PCR test within two days of arrival, known as a day 2 test.

Tests must be booked before travelling to the UK and travellers must isolate at home until they receive a negative day 2 test result.

Unvaccinated travellers arriving in the UK, except those coming from within the Common Travel Area or arriving from red list countries, are also required to take the day 2 test but must isolate for 10 days and take another test on day 8.

In England only, there is an option to take a day 5 Test to Release in order to shorten quarantine. However, this, along with the day 2 and day 8 tests, must be booked in advance of travel.

Provider	Prices	Covid-19 testing	Location
£6 off	£63	Fully vaccinated arrivals PCR test (day 2)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home
£6 off	£126	Unvaccinated arrivals PCR tests (day 2 & 8)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home

Covid-19 test prices shown above may vary based on test type and speed of results.

Book UK arrival tests >>

Test to Release - day 5 (England only)

The UK government requires travellers who are not fully vaccinated arriving from non-red list countries to self-isolate for 10 days when arriving in the UK with the option to take a test on day 5 for early release from quarantine. This option is only available in England.

Provider	Prices	Covid-19 testing	Location
£6 off	£68	Unvaccinated PCR test to release (day 5)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home

Covid-19 test prices shown above may vary based on test type and speed of results.

To opt in to the Test to Release scheme, travellers must book and pay for their test with an approved Covid-19 test provider before they arrive in the UK.

Book Test to Release >>

Covid-19 testing at UK airports

Find the cheapest Covid-19 testing options near UK airports including Fit-to-fly pre-departure and pre-return tests as well as testing packages for UK arrivals. Book tests at conveniently located test centres or buy home testing kits.

Covid-19 test deals >>

On arrival in destination

As well as requiring travellers to take pre-departure tests, some countries also insist on additional tests on arrival or within a few days. These are intended to screen all arrivals to the maximum to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

While, elsewhere, countries take a more relaxed approach and offer travellers the option of further tests to reduce their time in quarantine.

Please note: it's important to check the local requirements and entry rules before you travel. Below we've provided up-to-date information for popular destinations.

About bans & restrictions >>

Which destinations require a test?

The following table shows popular destinations that currently require some or all arrivals to either provide a negative COVID-19 test result or complete a test on arrival and/or during their stay. Select a country or region to see more details and links to further information.

Region	Open for tourism	Testing	On arrival in destination	On return
China	Yes	PCR test	No quarantine required	No quarantine required
Hong Kong	Yes	PCR or Antigen test	No quarantine required	No quarantine required
Japan	Yes	PCR test or Vaccination	No quarantine required	No quarantine required
Kenya	Yes	PCR test or Vaccination	No quarantine required	No quarantine required

The information provided above is updated regularly - most recently on 27 September 2024.

2 = Non-resident foreign nationals are not permitted to land
3 = Generally 14 days of self-isolation, but the number of days can vary
4 = Vaccinated arrivals and under 18s may be exempt from quarantine

Travel advice by country

Country name

Types of Covid-19 test

There are broadly two different types of test to detect a Covid-19 infection: molecular tests and antigen tests. There is also a third antibody test but this cannot tell if you're currently infected, only whether you've had it in the past.

Molecular tests, including PCR tests, are more accurate than antigen tests which is why they have become the gold-standard in testing for travel. Antigen tests, however, have a more important role to play in government-sponsored mass testing programs.

PCR & molecular tests
Antigen tests - lateral flow
Antibody tests

PCR & other molecular tests

PCR and variants of PCR, which stands for polymerase chain reaction, is the most common type of molecular test. The PCR process was developed over 30 years ago as a means of amplifying very small quantities of DNA and is very accurate.

However, it is a time-consuming process which at the moment can only be carried out in a laboratory which means that it can take 48 hours or more before the results are known.

Recent innovations in molecular amplification techniques (NAAT, RT-PCR and LAMP) have started to reduce processing times, and now there are a few that do not require a laboratory and can produce results in under 30 minutes. These may bring some big changes to testing for travel, but it is still early days.

Where to get PCR tests

Provider	Prices	Covid-19 testing	Location
£6 off	£62	PCR fit to fly test^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home
£6 off	£63	Fully vaccinated arrivals PCR test (day 2)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home
40% off	£99	PCR fit to fly test^* Results 24-72 hours from receipt at lab	At home
£6 off	£68	Unvaccinated PCR test to release (day 5)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home
£6 off	£126	Unvaccinated arrivals PCR tests (day 2 & 8)^* Results 24-36 hours from receipt at lab	At home

Covid-19 test prices shown above may vary based on test type and speed of results.

Covid testing deals >>

Antigen tests

Antigen tests employ a different method to identify the coronavirus. Instead of focusing on DNA, antigen tests search instead for Covid-19 proteins.

This is a much simpler approach and does not require a laboratory. Samples can usually be processed in less than 30 minutes and it is also a lot cheaper.

However, antigen tests are not as accurate as molecular PCR tests, so the PCR test has become the one that most countries require you to take for travel purposes, and for England's Test to Release.

This is unfortunate because it is not as if antigen tests are not accurate. They are very good at detecting coronavirus in most cases and can be used very effectively in cutting transmission (the 'R' rate) when employed in mass testing of populations.

Given that these tests can become part of the boarding process, the whole landscape of testing for travel could change if they gain wider acceptance.

Where to get antigen tests

Provider	Prices	Covid-19 testing	Location
	£20	Antigen lateral flow fit to fly test^* Results within 2 hours	At home

Covid-19 test prices shown above may vary based on test type and speed of results.

Covid testing deals >>

Antibody tests

Antibody tests cannot detect coronavirus infection, so no government requires them for travel. However, they are widely available for travellers who are interested in finding out if they have been infected in the past, and tests are easily performed at home by taking a small sample of blood with a finger prick.

Where to get antibody tests

Covid-19 antibody tests can be purchased online from many popular pharmacies. The tests are usually sent via post and carried out at home. Here is a selection of providers:

Covid testing deals >>

Travel advice: stay up-to-date with the latest Covid-19 rules, regulations and advice from countries worldwide in our travel advice section.