RT-PCR Test for Travel: What to Know Before You Fly

An RT-PCR result is a laboratory test result, not a guarantee that travel will be permitted. Requirements can differ for entry, transit, departure and return, so check the official government and airline guidance for every part of your route.

RT-PCR uses a nasal or throat sample to look for genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19. A laboratory processes the sample and reports a result such as detected or not detected. The report may also show the sample date, collection time, laboratory details and your identifying information.

A travel certificate is separate from the laboratory result. It may need to display your name exactly as it appears on your passport, passport or document details, the test method, collection time, result and laboratory information. A rapid antigen test may be accepted for some journeys, but it is not interchangeable with RT-PCR when a rule specifically requests molecular testing.

Check the official entry rules for your destination, each transit country and your airline. Confirm whether testing is required, which methods are accepted, when the sample must be collected, and whether the result must be in a particular language or format.

Use a laboratory or clinic that can provide the required report and certificate. Take the same identity document used for your booking, and check the spelling of your details before leaving. Allow enough time for collection, laboratory processing and any correction of an administrative error; do not rely on a result arriving at the last possible moment.

If the result is positive or marked detected, follow the advice given by the testing service and check the airline or public-health instructions before travelling. Do not travel while unwell without appropriate medical advice.

Contact a clinician if you have COVID-19 symptoms, a positive result, or an exposure and you need advice about testing, isolation or an underlying health condition. A travel test is not a substitute for assessment when you are ill.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, new confusion, inability to stay awake, blue or grey lips or face, or sudden worsening. If a result is delayed and your departure is near, contact the testing provider and airline promptly so you can understand your options.

Ask which test is appropriate for your route, when the sample should be collected, how the result will be delivered, and what information will appear on the certificate. If you have symptoms or a medical condition, ask whether you need clinical assessment in addition to a travel test.