Need a Covid Testing Lab at your Destination?

So, you’ve been vaccinated and are ready to travel? Hold on, because having that CDC card does not yet give you free rein to travel the world without doing some additional research. Whether or not you are vaccinated, you may need to make some additional preparations with regard to testing.

Some countries are indeed accepting CDC vaccination cards, but others still require a PCR Covid test, antigen, NAAT, Nucleic Acid, molecular, oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal from you, and not all countries have the same requirements. Some may want the testing to be done shortly before you arrive in the country; others may require it to be done upon arrival. The frustrating aspect of this is that there is no uniform requirement, even among the EU countries – every country seems to be on its own with respect to setting up its Covid requirements for incoming foreign tourists. This is required whether or not you have proof of vaccination.

And then there are countries that have implemented a QR code which can easily be scanned from your smartphone, which holds your vaccination status. So how do you find this information?

The IATA Travel Center, Traveldoc, and Sherpa are all valuable resources you can use. The airlines are even using them. Simply enter your desired destination, and get information such as Passport, Visa and Health information. Not to mention customs, currency, and airport information. These trusted websites can help you “navigate the waters” with respect to what the requirements are, such as testing types, approved testing labs, the time frame required to perform a Covid test, any forms that need to be completed before your scheduled departure, whether travel insurance is mandatory, and more. 

As the situation around Covid is constantly changing, we recommend you check more than one resource to be sure the information you receive is identical. If it is not and you are still confused about the specific requirements of your destination country, or if you have a unique situation that is not answered with these online resources, contact the embassy of that country directly and get a written confirmation that you are allowed to travel. 

In addition, it’s important to ensure you have all of the requirements in hand, whether on your smartphone or printed out, before your first embarkation point. Do not wait until you have already departed. For example, if you have a multi-destination (connection) trip planned, and a Covid test is required to be taken 48, 72, or 96 hours prior to your arrival in a certain country, do not assume that you can schedule a test via email by the time you reach your destination. You will be denied boarding from the start. The same is true with authorization forms and other required documents. Unless you have separate tickets, you will need to have them ready before you get to the departure airport, since you will be checked in all the way to your final destination.

Finding a Covid Testing Lab Near You

Once you’ve done your research and you find you need to locate a Covid testing lab near you, there are several ways to do this.

Check with your local physician or your travel insurance carrier.

The departure airport website (where you are traveling from).

The government websites of the destination you are visiting require a Covid test from approved testing labs. Examples are Turks and Caicos, Hawaii, etc. 

Websites such as Passporthealth and FindCOVIDTesting.com allow you to find a vaccine or testing facility near you.

Once you find a facility near you, you can also contribute to GISCorps, a non-profit online database of Covid facilities so that others may find them. 

Going Back to the U.S. After Your Trip

The U.S. government has mandated that, in order for U.S. citizens to return to the States from abroad, you must have an original (digital or printed) negative COVID-19 viral test result (NAAT) This can be RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA, NEAR, HDA, or Antigen: Rapid. This must be done regardless of your vaccination status. The test must be performed no more than 3 days before your first scheduled departure time in the flight itinerary. 

The Bottom Line

To summarize, here is a handy checklist of the steps you should go through before planning a trip to any foreign destination as an American traveler. 

1. Check if your destination country requires a physical or digital (with QR code) vaccination card. 

2. Whether a Covid test is required, and if so, why types of test is accepted.

3. The time frame required to perform that test before your departure, for transit, or once you arrive (4, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours, etc.)

4. Whether it is mandatory by the destination to take a test from an accredited facility or lab.

5. Whether a stamp or QR code is required for your Covid test result from your final destination.

6. Whether an authorization or health form is required, either online with a QR code, or printed and signed. 

7. Whether travel insurance is required.

8. Whether a letter of coverage is required from your travel insurance company.

9. Whether travel insurance must be purchased from a specific company.

While we are (hopefully) nearing the end of this pandemic, following these steps will prepare you well for international travel and will ease the process extremely. As a result, you will experience less stress as you go about your travels.