Entering the UK
Ending quarantine early through Test to Release
You may be able to end quarantine early through the ‘Test to Release’ scheme if you pay for a private coronavirus (COVID-19) test.
You must still take 2 COVID-19 tests when you arrive in England:
- on or before day 2 (the day you arrive is day 0)
- on or after day 8
You must take your day 8 test even if you had a negative test result through Test to Release, unless you’re exempt. Find out more about the tests you must book before you travel.’
You cannot use the Test to Release scheme if you’ve been in or through a country on the red list in the 10 full days (11 nights) before you arrive in England.
This guidance is for England. Find out what to do if you’re:
When you can take the private COVID-19 test
The earliest you can take a test is 5 days after you arrive in England. For example, if you arrive on a Monday, you can take a test from the following Saturday.
When you can stop quarantining
If the test is negative you can stop quarantining as soon as you get the result.
If the test is positive you need to quarantine for another 10 days. Count the 10 days starting from the day you took the test, or from when you first had symptoms if that is earlier.
If you’re living or staying with someone in the UK they should also self-isolate for 10 days, starting from the day you took the test.
If the test is inconclusive you also need to quarantine for another 10 days. You can stop quarantining if you take another test with an eligible private provider and the result is negative.
You may be fined up to £10,000 if you do not quarantine when you need to. You can be prosecuted if you do not pay the fine on time.
What you’ll need
Before arriving in England, you’ll need to:
- book a test with an eligible private provider
- say that you’ll be using the Test to Release scheme on the passenger locator form
You cannot take a test through NHS Test and Trace to shorten your quarantine period. You must continue to quarantine if the result from an NHS Test and Trace test is negative.
If you did not book the test before you arrived in England, you can book one after you arrive. You will need to complete another passenger locator form to opt into the scheme.