Anyone who arrives in England from outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man needs to self-isolate for 10 days. Under the scheme you can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test. If the result is negative, you can stop self-isolating. You cannot take a test until you have been in England for 5 full days. The scheme is voluntary and applies to those self-isolating in England only. If you do not want to opt into the Test to Release scheme, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
You should book your test before you travel to England. This is so you can enter details of the test when you opt into the scheme on the passenger locator form. If you decide to take part in the scheme after you have arrived in England, you will need to complete another passenger locator form.