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Pre-departure Covid-19 testing will now be required for everyone travelling to the UK from 04:00 GMT on Monday.
The rules had been due to come into force early on Friday morning.
But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said via Twitter that the government wanted to give people time "to prepare".
People arriving by plane, train or boat, including UK nationals, will have to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving the country they are in.
All those arriving from places not on the government's travel corridor list must still self-isolate for 10 days.
Problems with testing availability and capacity mean some countries will initially be exempt.
For instance, the requirement will not apply to travellers from St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda until 04:00 GMT on 21 January.
Travellers from Falkland Islands, Ascension Islands and St Helena are exempted permanently.
Hauliers are exempt to allow the free flow of freight, as are air, international rail and maritime crew.
Announcing the move, Mr Shapps said: "To give international arrivals time to prepare passengers will be required to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test before departure to England from Monday 18 January at 4am."
He also reminded travellers to fill out the Passenger Locator Form used in track and trace, and added that those without proof of a negative test faced a fine of £500.
The government has said all forms of PCR test will be accepted, as will other forms of test with "97% specificity, 80% sensitivity".
The move comes as a further 1,564 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid test - the biggest figure reported in a single day since the pandemic began.
Wednesday's figure brings the total number of deaths by that measure to 84,767.
New strain in Brazil
Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said there had now been more deaths in the second wave than the first.
Speaking on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "concerned" about a new coronavirus variant that is believed to have emerged in Brazil.
He acknowledged it was not yet clear how effective existing vaccines would be against the latest new variant.
The UK is taking steps to make sure it is not brought into the country, Mr Johnson added.
A government Covid committee is meeting on Thursday to discuss the possibility of stopping flights from Brazil.
Arrivals from Brazil already have to self-isolate for 10 days.
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from Via PakapNews