Coronavirus testing costs: how much you'll pay if you want to visit a green, amber or red country

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more expensive to go abroad as people are advised not to visit countries on amber and red lists. Here’s what you should know about coronavirus testing costs.

After over a year of COVID-related lockdowns, millions of people want to go abroad and enjoy a long-awaited holiday, but this is very difficult under the ‘traffic light’ rules.

There has been a lot of confusion over the rules. On the official Government website, it says ‘you should not travel’ to red or amber list countries or territories.

While Full Fact has clarified it is legal to travel abroad to any country, you shouldn't travel due to the risk of catching/spreading coronavirus and the extra costs you'll incur.

Before we jump in, it’s worth noting that your travel insurer might not cover you for COVID-related issues – check out our guide on what to watch out for here.

We'll now reveal the anticipated costs of coronavirus testing for a family of four when travelling abroad and what you need to watch out for.

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Coronavirus testing costs: green list country

If you go to a green list country, you must take a COVID-19 test before travelling back to the UK, complete a passenger locator form, and book a COVID test that must take place on or before the second day you arrive home.

You’ll also need proof of a negative COVID-19 test before flying out from the UK.

Sadly, you can’t use free NHS COVID-19 tests for travel purposes, and it’s recommended that you check which test is required by the country you’re visiting before departure.

Some countries might accept a rapid lateral flow test while others might require a PCR test. If you get the wrong type of test, you might not be able to board your flight so it’s best to check.

Here’s a roundup of cheap private COVID-19 tests, where some providers offer ‘fit to fly’ tests from £50 – but these only cover tests before you leave the country and might not be the cheapest option.

Before you book a private test, it’s worth checking which type of test the country you’re visiting will accept, and also asking your airline whether they offer any tests at a cheaper price.

Airlines including British Airways, easyJet and Jet2 offers discount codes for some coronavirus tests and packages, while Virgin Atlantic has a range of options that could save you money.

For example, Randox Health (listed on the BA site and on the Government approved list) offers a green travel package with a pre-departure test and day two test for £86 when you use BA’s discount code (down from £96).

You would need to pay for a coronavirus test before flying back to the UK, which you can buy in the country you’re visiting or before you go abroad. For example, Virgin offers a lateral flow antigen test for £26.

Overall a family of four would spend £344 on UK COVID-19 tests, plus £104 for tests before flying back home.

Unfortunately, this is not guaranteed to be the only costs you could incur.

If the country you’re currently in is moved to the amber or red list (and you want to avoid quarantine), you'll have to pay for earlier flights, which can come at a premium. 

If you do try and travel home at the last minute, you’ll not only lose out on money spent on unused accommodation – you’ll also be hit with higher flight prices as surge pricing will kick in.

It’s worth stressing that you must follow the Government rules for travelling, even if you have been vaccinated.

You won’t need to quarantine after visiting a green list country unless your COVID test result is positive or if Test and Trace says you travelled with someone who tested positive.

Coronavirus testing costs: amber list country

If you were concerned about the price of visiting a green list country, it is more expensive if you visit one on the amber list.

You'll have to follow the same steps for visiting a green list country, but also take a COVID-19 test on or after the eighth day of your return, plus quarantine for 10 days at home.

So, not only do you have to pay for an additional coronavirus test, but you could also lose out on income if you cannot work from home.

If you went for an amber travel pack from Randox costing £129, which includes a £15 discount if you use a BA code, it will cost £516 for tests for a family of four, plus you would need to fork out £104 for tests before flying back to the UK.

Unfortunately, this amount isn’t set in stone.

Any change in the travel list might mean that you’ll have to fork out more as you might choose to travel back earlier on a pricier flight to avoid harsh quarantine rules if the country is placed on the red list.

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Coronavirus testing costs: red list country

The cost of visiting a red list country is eye-wateringly high, and you’ll only be allowed to enter the UK from a red list country if you’re a British or Irish national or have residence rights.

Before you depart, you need to take a COVID-19 test, book a quarantine hotel package, which includes two COVID-19 tests, and complete a passenger locator form.

A quarantine hotel package costs £1,750 for one adult for 10 days, an extra £650 for another adult and £325 for children aged between five and 11 (in the same room).

Meals will be provided and there are no charges for children under the age of five. If either COVID tests are positive, you may have to stay longer in the hotel.

For a family of four (with children over the age of 11), it would cost you £3,700 to quarantine for 10 days – plus you would need to spend around £100 on pre-departure tests.

Sadly, it looks unlikely that travel rules are going to change anytime soon, so it’s likely that travelling abroad will continue to be more expensive.

At the time of writing, it’s worth considering postponing any overseas trips until the COVID-19 situation improves as travel rules are constantly changing and you could be significantly out of pocket if you’re caught out.

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