Update to Test to Release Eligibility – Last Updated 16th February 2021
From 15th February onwards, passengers allowed to enter England from outside the Common Travel Area, excluding countries on the UK Government’s Red Travel Ban list, must:
- quarantine for 10 days at their own home / stay with friends or family / a hotel or other temporary accommodation that is not a managed quarantine hotel
- take a mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) test on day 2 and day 8 of quarantining as per the travel testing package requirements using the UK Government CTM scheme
- follow the national lockdown rules
Click here for the latest updates re day 2 and day 8 testing requirements.
These passengers have the option to opt into (and pay for) an additional test at day 5 through the Test to Release scheme.
These passengers may be able to leave quarantine early if they receive a negative day 5 Test to Release result. Regardless of the Test to Release day 5 result passengers are still required to take the mandatory day 2 and day 8 travel testing package tests.
If passengers do not want to opt into the Test to Release scheme, they must self-isolate for 10 days and are still required to take the mandatory day 2 and day 8 travel testing package tests.
PASSENGERS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TEST TO RELEASE
International arrivals who have been in or through any of the countries on the UK Government’s Red Travel Ban list in the previous 10 days will be refused entry to the UK. Click here for the latest updates re Red Travel Ban countries.
British or Irish Nationals, or those with residence rights in the UK, will be able to enter if they have been in or travelled through Red Travel Ban list but must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days, and cannot use the Test to Release scheme.

SYNLAB are a Government Approved Provider for COVID-19 testing on Day 5 for the new Test to Release Scheme in England.
