Vaccinated UK residents will no longer need to pay more than £70 per Covid test when trying to re-enter the UK after travelling.
The travel rules have relaxed for those who are fully-vaccinated since updates were made at 4am yesterday morning, and the new lateral flow tests that are required should only cost around £20.
Since the changes, people travelling from a non-red holiday destination will be able to use a rapid lateral flow test as opposed to the more expensive PCR test that had to be done on day two after a passenger's arrival in England.
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Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, said: “I’m delighted that from today eligible travellers to England, who’ve had the life-saving Covid-19 vaccine can benefit from a cheaper lateral flow test, providing faster results.
“This huge boost to the travel industry and the public will make it easier and cheaper for people to book holidays and travel abroad, and it is it is because of our incredible vaccine programme that this is possible."
However, the tests must still be purchased from a private provider. The NHS lateral flow tests that are free are not allowed for international travel.
As they are only available privately, it means that there is no set cost, but the tests should be priced between £20 to £40.
To see a full list of providers and their pricing, you can visit the government website here.
The lateral flow tests must be taken ideally on the day of arrival back into England, and definitely before the end of the traveller's second day.
The passenger then needs to send a photograph of their test result to the private provider. Failure to do so can land them with a £1,000 fine.
If the test comes back with a positive result then the passenger can then take a free NHS PCR test to confirm the result and must self-isolate.
Unvaccinated travellers and those returning from red list status countries still need to purchase a PCR coronavirus test rather than a lateral flow test. They must take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two and day eight of travel.
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