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[LEARN MORE](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/) - [1Latest News](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/all-articles/?tags=news) - [2What Is COVID-19? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/covid-19/) - [3What Is Long COVID? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/what-is-long-covid-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/) - [4What Is a Coronavirus?](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/) - [5How to Cope With a COVID-19 Cough](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-cough/) - [6How to Beat COVID-19 Fatigue and Get Your Energy Back](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-beat-covid-19-fatigue-and-get-your-energy-back/) [SEE MORE](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/) # COVID-19 Testing for Travel: If, When, Where, and How COVID-19 testing can make travel safer — but you need to do it right. Here, experts weigh in on strategies to follow before, during, and after a trip.  Cris Cantón/Getty Images By [Salma Abdelnour Gilman](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/salma-abdelnour-gilman/) Updated on July 7, 2022 Medically Reviewed by [Jane Yoon Scott, MD](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/jane-yoon-scott/) It’s the third summer of the pandemic, and by now we know one thing: If you’re traveling, you may need to ponder if, when, where, and how to get a test for COVID-19. If you’re an American flying to another country, you no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test (or documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19) before you can board a plane back to the United States. Still, you might need or want to get tested for COVID-19 once or multiple times while you’re away. This will depend on where you’re going, what you’re doing, whom you’ll be spending time with, and how you feel day to day. Generally speaking, the higher the COVID-19 rates at your destination, the more likely testing will be part of your travel experience. With infections on the rise in many states and other countries, it’s important to stay informed — and testing-ready. “A lot of things are changing very quickly,” says [David Banach, MD, MPH](https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Banach-David), a hospital epidemiologist at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut. “I think the key is to be alert to what’s happening right before you travel.” Here, doctors and other expert sources offer advice on how and when to test, and how to keep yourself and those around you safe no matter where you travel. ## **1\. Well Before You Leave Home, Get Up to Speed on Your Destination** Especially for international travel, you’ll want to do your research to learn the latest COVID-19 entry regulations and figure out a strategy. Many countries, such as [England](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19) and Mexico, currently have no COVID-related entry rules in effect, either involving testing or vaccination. But if you plan to travel to [France](https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/en/covid-19/international-travel) from the United States and are unvaccinated, you'll need to show proof of either a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before departure or a negative antigen (rapid) test administered less than 48 hours prior to your flight. The only way to get out of this testing requirement is to show documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19 or of a medical exemption from vaccination. ## **2\. Rules or No Rules, Consider Testing Before You Travel** Regardless of the regulations at your destination, “Generally a cautious approach would be to test before traveling,” says Dr. Banach. The [CDC advises](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/testing/index.html) anyone traveling within the United States or internationally to “consider getting tested as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than three days) before your trip.” Should you get a PCR test, or is an antigen test or at-home test just as good? “The increased sensitivity of the PCR test provides a higher level of reassurance,” says Banach. ## **3\. Pack At-Home Tests in Case You Start Feeling Sick While You’re Away** Bring a stash of at-home testing kits with you so it’s more convenient to do a quick check during your trip. “When you travel, if you develop any symptoms, you’ll want to have ready access to tests,” says [Luis Ostrosky, MD](https://www.utphysicians.com/provider/luis-z-ostrosky/), the chief of infectious diseases with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. “You should definitely test when you have the slightest symptoms,” he adds. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, ‘I thought it was just allergies.’” He explains that [FDA-authorized at-home test kits](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests) are good at detecting COVID-19 in people who have symptoms, such as sore throat or cough. If your at-home test is positive, you’ve got COVID-19. There is a higher chance of false negatives with at-home kits, meaning your test result tells you that you are not infected when in fact you are. Don’t let a negative result from a single at-home test give you a false sense of security, Dr. Ostrosky emphasizes. To increase accuracy, “We recommend retesting a couple of times,” he says. That’s why kits generally contain two tests, to be used 24 to 48 hours apart. ## **4\. Find Out Where You Can Get a PCR Test at Your Destination** If you’re experiencing symptoms but test negative on multiple home tests, it’s best to get a PCR test too. Plus, if you’re feeling perfectly fine but want to be sure you’re infection-free — because you’re planning to spend time with an elderly person at risk of severe COVID-19, for instance — you may want to get a PCR test on top of taking other precautions like masking. For domestic travelers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site can point you to a [testing location](https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/testing/index.html) near you anywhere in the United States. If you’re traveling internationally, you might want to do some digging ahead of time. A quick internet search may be all you need to find a PCR testing site, or the staff at your hotel might be able to point you to a local hospital, urgent care center, or other testing location. Make sure to find out if your insurance will cover the test, or expect to pay out of pocket. ## **5\. Consider Whether You Should Test When You Get Home** Should you test when you get back from your trip? The [CDC recommends](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/testing/index.html) you do so in certain scenarios, even if you don’t have symptoms (as long as you haven’t had COVID-19 in the past 90 days). “Get tested after travel if your trip involved situations with greater risk of exposure, such as being in crowded places while not wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator,” the agency advises. You also want to think about what you’ll be doing once you’re home, and the likelihood that if you’re infected you might spread the virus to other people. “Will you be engaging in group activities? With others at higher risk? There are a lot of factors,” says Banach. Note that any infection you may have picked up while in transit could spread to others even before virus levels rise high enough for an at-home or rapid test to detect, so plan your first few days at home accordingly. ## **6\. Practice COVID-19 Safety Throughout Your Trip, and After You Get Home** COVID-19 testing won’t keep you from getting COVID. You still need to practice other key safety measures — including staying up-to-date on your vaccines and boosters, masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene — to help keep yourself safe and lower the risk that you’ll infect others. Even though airlines no longer require masks, wearing one when you’re in the airport and [on the plane](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/should-you-still-mask-up-on-airplanes-or-anywhere/) is still a smart idea, says Banach: “I think masking during travel, particularly air travel, is still important. I encourage people to wear [a high-quality mask](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-get-the-most-protection-from-every-type-of-face-mask/) during travel, to protect yourself and others who will be on the flight with you. Also, \[wear a mask\] if you’re using another travel modality, like a train or bus.” Ostrosky adds, “The airflow in airplanes is excellent and HEPA-filtered. The problem is when you’re sitting right next to someone with COVID — the airflow won’t help you. You should be masking, either with a double surgical mask or with an N95 or KN95, and not remove it at all.” Says Ostrosky. “The best thing to keep yourself safe is to mask in high-density public settings like airports, airplanes, concerts, amusement parks — indoors or outdoors. And it’s definitely preferable to do outdoor dining versus indoor dining.” Regardless of where you’re going and how often you plan to test, keep this one tip in mind throughout your trip, says Ostrosky: “Mask, mask, and mask.” Meet Our Experts [See Our Editorial Policy](https://www.everydayhealth.com/editorial-policies/) [Meet Our Health Expert Network](https://www.everydayhealth.com/health-expert-network/)   #### Jane Yoon Scott, MD ##### Medical Reviewer Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at [Emory University](https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=JCYOON) in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health, and encouraging them to ask questions so that they can make informed and thoughtful decisions. She graduated with the highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency training and chief residency at Temple University Hospital, as well as a fellowship in infectious diseases at Emory University. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases. When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Scott works with neighboring health departments to promote public health, especially to communities that have been historically underserved. She also teaches medical trainees and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Scott appreciates a good coffee shop, weekend hikes, playing guitar, strolling through cities, sampling restaurants, and traveling to new places. [See full bio](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/jane-yoon-scott/)   #### Salma Abdelnour Gilman ##### Author Salma Abdelnour Gilman is a writer and editor focusing on travel, food, and health, among other topics. She’s been an editor at NBC News Digital, *Food & Wine*, and *O, The Oprah Magazine*, and has written for *The New York Times*, *Parents* magazine, and many other outlets. In 2022, she won a First Place award for Diversity in Digital Features from the Society for Features Journalism for her Everyday Health story, "[Too Many Doctors Are Misdiagnosing Disease on Skin of Color](https://www.everydayhealth.com/black-health/too-many-doctors-are-misdiagnosing-disease-on-skin-of-color/)." Abdelnour Gilman is the author of the travel memoir *Jasmine and Fire: A Bittersweet Year in Beirut*, and wrote a chapter about later-in-life motherhood for the anthology *Tick Tock: Essays on Becoming a Parent After 40*. She received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley, and currently works at the City University of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids. [See full bio](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/salma-abdelnour-gilman/) [See Our Editorial Policy](https://www.everydayhealth.com/editorial-policies/) [Meet Our Health Expert Network](https://www.everydayhealth.com/health-expert-network/)   Sign up for our Daily Health News Newsletter\! RELATED ARTICLES [See all in Coronavirus](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/?view=all "See all in Coronavirus") [8 Best At-Home COVID-19 Tests to Use When You’re Feeling Under the Weather](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/best-at-home-covid-tests/)  OTC Meds & Testing8 Best At-Home COVID-19 Tests to Use When You’re Feeling Under the Weather Medically Reviewed by Jamie Elmer \| Dec 16, 2025 [Is ‘Razor Blade’ Sore Throat a Symptom of the New COVID Variant?](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-sore-throat/)  CoronavirusIs ‘Razor Blade’ Sore Throat a Symptom of the New COVID Variant? 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It’s the third summer of the pandemic, and by now we know one thing: If you’re traveling, you may need to ponder if, when, where, and how to get a test for COVID-19. If you’re an American flying to another country, you no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test (or documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19) before you can board a plane back to the United States. Still, you might need or want to get tested for COVID-19 once or multiple times while you’re away. This will depend on where you’re going, what you’re doing, whom you’ll be spending time with, and how you feel day to day. Generally speaking, the higher the COVID-19 rates at your destination, the more likely testing will be part of your travel experience. With infections on the rise in many states and other countries, it’s important to stay informed — and testing-ready. “A lot of things are changing very quickly,” says [David Banach, MD, MPH](https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Banach-David), a hospital epidemiologist at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut. “I think the key is to be alert to what’s happening right before you travel.” Here, doctors and other expert sources offer advice on how and when to test, and how to keep yourself and those around you safe no matter where you travel. ## **1\. Well Before You Leave Home, Get Up to Speed on Your Destination** Especially for international travel, you’ll want to do your research to learn the latest COVID-19 entry regulations and figure out a strategy. Many countries, such as [England](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19) and Mexico, currently have no COVID-related entry rules in effect, either involving testing or vaccination. But if you plan to travel to [France](https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/en/covid-19/international-travel) from the United States and are unvaccinated, you'll need to show proof of either a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before departure or a negative antigen (rapid) test administered less than 48 hours prior to your flight. The only way to get out of this testing requirement is to show documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19 or of a medical exemption from vaccination. ## **2\. Rules or No Rules, Consider Testing Before You Travel** Regardless of the regulations at your destination, “Generally a cautious approach would be to test before traveling,” says Dr. Banach. The [CDC advises](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/testing/index.html) anyone traveling within the United States or internationally to “consider getting tested as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than three days) before your trip.” Should you get a PCR test, or is an antigen test or at-home test just as good? “The increased sensitivity of the PCR test provides a higher level of reassurance,” says Banach. ## **3\. Pack At-Home Tests in Case You Start Feeling Sick While You’re Away** Bring a stash of at-home testing kits with you so it’s more convenient to do a quick check during your trip. “When you travel, if you develop any symptoms, you’ll want to have ready access to tests,” says [Luis Ostrosky, MD](https://www.utphysicians.com/provider/luis-z-ostrosky/), the chief of infectious diseases with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. “You should definitely test when you have the slightest symptoms,” he adds. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, ‘I thought it was just allergies.’” He explains that [FDA-authorized at-home test kits](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests) are good at detecting COVID-19 in people who have symptoms, such as sore throat or cough. If your at-home test is positive, you’ve got COVID-19. There is a higher chance of false negatives with at-home kits, meaning your test result tells you that you are not infected when in fact you are. Don’t let a negative result from a single at-home test give you a false sense of security, Dr. Ostrosky emphasizes. To increase accuracy, “We recommend retesting a couple of times,” he says. That’s why kits generally contain two tests, to be used 24 to 48 hours apart. ## **4\. Find Out Where You Can Get a PCR Test at Your Destination** If you’re experiencing symptoms but test negative on multiple home tests, it’s best to get a PCR test too. Plus, if you’re feeling perfectly fine but want to be sure you’re infection-free — because you’re planning to spend time with an elderly person at risk of severe COVID-19, for instance — you may want to get a PCR test on top of taking other precautions like masking. For domestic travelers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site can point you to a [testing location](https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/testing/index.html) near you anywhere in the United States. If you’re traveling internationally, you might want to do some digging ahead of time. A quick internet search may be all you need to find a PCR testing site, or the staff at your hotel might be able to point you to a local hospital, urgent care center, or other testing location. Make sure to find out if your insurance will cover the test, or expect to pay out of pocket. ## **5\. Consider Whether You Should Test When You Get Home** Should you test when you get back from your trip? The [CDC recommends](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/testing/index.html) you do so in certain scenarios, even if you don’t have symptoms (as long as you haven’t had COVID-19 in the past 90 days). “Get tested after travel if your trip involved situations with greater risk of exposure, such as being in crowded places while not wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator,” the agency advises. You also want to think about what you’ll be doing once you’re home, and the likelihood that if you’re infected you might spread the virus to other people. “Will you be engaging in group activities? With others at higher risk? There are a lot of factors,” says Banach. Note that any infection you may have picked up while in transit could spread to others even before virus levels rise high enough for an at-home or rapid test to detect, so plan your first few days at home accordingly. ## **6\. Practice COVID-19 Safety Throughout Your Trip, and After You Get Home** COVID-19 testing won’t keep you from getting COVID. You still need to practice other key safety measures — including staying up-to-date on your vaccines and boosters, masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene — to help keep yourself safe and lower the risk that you’ll infect others. Even though airlines no longer require masks, wearing one when you’re in the airport and [on the plane](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/should-you-still-mask-up-on-airplanes-or-anywhere/) is still a smart idea, says Banach: “I think masking during travel, particularly air travel, is still important. I encourage people to wear [a high-quality mask](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-get-the-most-protection-from-every-type-of-face-mask/) during travel, to protect yourself and others who will be on the flight with you. Also, \[wear a mask\] if you’re using another travel modality, like a train or bus.” Ostrosky adds, “The airflow in airplanes is excellent and HEPA-filtered. The problem is when you’re sitting right next to someone with COVID — the airflow won’t help you. You should be masking, either with a double surgical mask or with an N95 or KN95, and not remove it at all.” Says Ostrosky. “The best thing to keep yourself safe is to mask in high-density public settings like airports, airplanes, concerts, amusement parks — indoors or outdoors. And it’s definitely preferable to do outdoor dining versus indoor dining.” Regardless of where you’re going and how often you plan to test, keep this one tip in mind throughout your trip, says Ostrosky: “Mask, mask, and mask.”