Since Italy has now lifted the 5 day quarantine period for UK arrivals, there will no doubt be quite a bit of movement across the channel over the
next few weeks.
However, having just travelled to the UK myself, I can sympathize with anyone
who might consider cancelling their trip once faced with the documentation required in order to arrive at their destination (and return home again!)
The first communication from my airline - with threatening headlines in red, sub-headings underlined and in bold - did little more than panic me....not to mention the endless links to navigate for up to date travel requirements, passenger locator forms etc... which just
helped to confuse me further.
The consequences of failing to produce the right documents, at the right place and at the right time gave me sleepless nights...and what no one made clear is that none of the forms can be filled in anyway until the last
minute and only once you have received a (hopefully!) negative test
result.
In Cortona that was easy – you can simply book a test 48 hours before
departure (the rapid antigen test as opposed to the more in depth PCR test) -
at the local pharmacy. Within 20 minutes
you have both your result and a certificate attesting to its negativity. Cost E.15 as a resident (E.22 as a
non-resident).
In order to book my Day 2, PCR test in the UK – details of which are
required for your outward bound passenger locator form - I was faced with an
endless list of ‘providers’ whose fees inexplicably ranged from £20 to £500.
It didn’t help that just after I’d booked, the UK government announced a
crack-down on cowboy outfits exploiting the situation. To whom, I wondered, had I just sent off my
£95 fee?
Thankfully, the test was awaiting
me on my arrival. I followed the instructions and dispatched it on Day 2 (Day 0 being
your day of travel) via a Royal Mail Priority ‘drop box’, but although the test
assured a result within 48 hours, I didn't get a result until 4 days later.
On Monday, I booked a rapid antigen test in order to meet Italy’s
requirements for my return. Cost
£65. This, at least, was done in-loco (to be specific, in a field surrounded by horses, in the middle of open countryside) and
I was given the result and a printed certificate within 5 minutes.
However, the whole 'travel experience' definitely raised my stress levels (and no doubt my blood
pressure) to new heights. If it hadn’t been for my sister’s help, I’m honestly
not sure I would ever have managed to work it all out.
Basically, there is a sequence that needs to be followed:
STEP ONE:
TESTING – You will need your outward bound testing sorted before you can
fill in any of the necessary forms which you will need to present at the
airport.
Travelling from Italy to the UK: means organizing a rapid antigen test at the
local pharmacy 48 hours before departure
AND for the moment at least
a PCR test to be done on Day 2 of your arrival in the UK (day 0 being
the day of travel).
The PCR test can be sent to you via post at any UK address and returned
via post.
Travelling from the UK to Italy: means organizing a rapid antigen test 48 hours
before departure using an authorised body who will provide you with a
certificate of negativity to be presented at the airport.
Some airports provide this service, some Boots stores, private companies
and surgeries.
STEP 2:
Travelling from Italy to the UK: Only once you have your test result – done 48
hours before departure - can you fill in the passenger locator form to which your airline will probably send you
a link.
On this form, you will need to insert a reference number given to you by
your UK test provider for your Day 2 test (hence having to set this up well
before departure).
You need to print this form out.
Travel
documents required – hard copies:
Green pass or equivalent Health pass
Certificate of negativity
Passenger locator form
Travelling from the UK to Italy -
Only once you have your test
result – done 48 hours before departure - can you fill in the passenger locator
form to which your airline will probably send you a link.
If it doesn’t you can find it here by pressing on the START button at
the top of the page -
https://app.euplf.eu/#/On this form, you may have to insert your unique bar code reference from
the negative test (haven’t done it yet!)
Travel documents required – hard
copies:
Green pass or equivalent Health pass
Certificate of negativity
Passenger locator form
Good Luck!!
