With Spain imposing the requirement for a negative coronavirus test for all arrivals from 'risk' countries, I found myself needing to get a test sorted in order to make it to Lanzarote from the UK.
All international passengers (including children) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from ‘risk’ countries (as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control) are required to present a negative PCR (swab) test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to gain access to the country.
These are the current rules and remain so, although the Canary Islands government is lobbying hard for the more rapid antigen tests to be accepted. PCR swabs have to go to a laboratory for close examination, whereas the antigen tests result in an outcome in typically about half an hour.
There are many good postal options for the PCR test but when my local Boots store became available I took the chance to have the swab taken by a professional.
The Boots service cost £120, but I believe there will be many cheaper options as the need for this becomes more widespread and in greater demand. For example, the Gatwick Airport test facility is £60 for passengers flying from there.
With the Boots service, you need an account with Recova (the third party processing the tests) and Boots itself. Your account with Recova will require you to input your passport details, which are necessary to be displayed on the negative certificate. Each person being tested will need a Recova account and order number. When setting up an account you do input your debit or credit card details to generate an order number, however you are not charged until you attend the appointment.
I took my passport, order number and Boots appointment confirmation along and had the swab taken. It was a little uncomfortable but it was over swiftly. I had my appointment at 13:30, that day the swabs were being taken from the store at 16:00 to the lab.
Pleasingly, my result arrived at 11:13 the following day. Negative! At less than 24 hours turnaround, it was a great experience for me.
You login on Recova and download your certificate. I had my certificate and QR code (via the SPTH form all passengers must fill in) with me for travel, although only the QR code was checked at Manchester Airport and on arrival in Lanzarote,
Here are a few links to testing options at the time of writing:
Biograd (in-person testing in Liverpool)
Collins Group (covering East Midlands, Heathrow, Manchester and Stanstead airports)
Express Test (Gatwick)