COVID is no longer a global health emergency, according to the UN World Health Organization, but it hasn’t gone away.¹ And while COVID-related restrictions on international travel have relaxed, some destinations do still require testing—especially for unvaccinated travelers.

We’ll cover the basics of getting a COVID-19 test for travel and planning your trip accordingly. Please note that this information is current as of July 2023. Requirements and restrictions continue to change, so check the latest guidelines for your destination before you go.

Most importantly, make sure you have a travel insurance plan you can trust! Find out why more than 70 million American travelers choose Allianz Travel Insurance: Get a quote today.

Do I need a COVID-19 test for international travel?

Use our interactive map to see current information on travel requirements and entry restrictions for international destinations, including COVID-19 testing, vaccination policies, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods. Use the toggle switch at the top to see travel restrictions for vaccinated vs. unvaccinated travelers.

In general, countries have stopped requiring all travelers to take a COVID test. However, some destinations still have mandatory COVID testing for travelers who aren’t vaccinated, so read up on your destination’s testing requirements.

Read more: What You Need to Know About Proof of Vaccination for Travel in 2023

Keep in mind that even if testing isn’t mandatory for your destination, you may want to take a test anyway if:

• You come down with possible symptoms of COVID before, during, or after travel.
• You’re traveling to visit someone with a weakened immune system, or who has a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• You’ve recently had a higher risk of exposure, such as being near someone who had COVID or being in a crowded, enclosed space.²

How do I get a COVID-19 test for international travel?

Getting the correct type of test is important. Antibody tests, which only show past virus exposure, aren’t typically accepted. Instead, you’ll need a PCR test, or a rapid molecular or antigen test.

Then, you’ll have to figure out where and when to get tested for travel. You may have to take your test within 48 to 72 hours of departing the U.S., depending on your destination’s requirements. Don’t assume you can just walk into a local pharmacy or clinic; it’s best to make an appointment in advance. Find COVID-19 testing sites near you. Some destinations accept tests taken at home, while others require a healthcare professional to give you the test.

Ask how long it’ll take to get results! You don’t want to delay your trip because you’re waiting for the lab to give you the all-clear.

COVID testing for travel can get complicated. If you need to get tested in a hurry, or you’re not sure what you need to do to satisfy your destination’s testing requirements, contact our expert Assistance team. Allianz Travel Insurance customers get 24-hour access to Assistance, via phone and the TravelSmart app, for help with urgent travel questions and dilemmas.

Which destinations still require a COVID test for travel?

This isn’t a comprehensive list of countries, but rather a selection of destinations that require testing for unvaccinated travelers as of July 2023. Several other countries’ policies state that a negative COVID test may be required for entry. Rules continue to change, so always double-check your destination’s COVID requirements before traveling.

Bolivia: Unvaccinated travelers over 5 must present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR or nasal antigen test result. Travelers must take a PCR test within 72 hours or an antigen test within 48 hours of arrival in Bolivia.³

Cameroon: Travelers 5 and up who are not vaccinated or don’t have proof of COVID-19 vaccination must provide a recent (within 72 hours of first boarding) negative PCR test to board a flight to Cameroon and to enter at Yaoundé or Douala Airports. (Some airlines ask for a PCR test from travelers aged two and up.) Negative test results should be in PDF format, clearly stating the date of the test and the type of test. Electronic copies are accepted.⁴

China: Travelers are required to take a PCR or antigen test within 48 hours of boarding a China-bound flight. You need to declare your test result, along with other health information, by filling out the Health Declaration Form provided by customs.⁵

Mali: Unvaccinated visitors to Mali who are 5 and up need to present a negative COVID test (PCR) certificate less than 72 hours old.⁶

Nicaragua: Unvaccinated travelers must show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours before arrival in Nicaragua. Travelers must present the test results in digital or printed form on arrival.⁷

Philippines: Unvaccinated travelers 15 and up must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen rapid test result. Travelers must take the test maximum of 24 hours before departure from their first country of origin in a continuous journey to Philippines. The antigen test must be administered by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or another similar establishment.⁸

Do cruise lines still require COVID testing?

While cruise lines encourage passengers to get tested before their trip, only a few still require it. In general, COVID testing is only mandatory for long voyages and voyages with port calls in Australia, New Zealand, and selected other countries.

• Royal Caribbean requires a negative test result for all guests aged 1 year and older for cruises from Australia and trans-Pacific cruises ending in Australia.
• For cruises of 16 nights or more, Carnival may require guests 18 years of age and older to present the negative results of a COVID-19 test and/or proof of vaccination (including a booster if they are more than 6 months past the last dose of their initial vaccine series).
• For cruises that have a port of call in Australia or New Zealand, Celebrity Cruises says all guests aged 2 and above, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 2 days before boarding day, or a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 1 day before boarding, for sailings of any length. (A Certificate of Recovery from COVID-19 may also be accepted.) To travel in Chile, unvaccinated guests ages 5 and older are required to provide proof of a negative proctored PCR or antigen test, taken at least 48 hours prior to embarkation.

Check with your cruise line for the most current rules before you travel.

Can travel insurance help if I get COVID before or while traveling?

Yes. Most of our plans include benefits relating to COVID-19, which can help if (for example) you must cancel your trip after being diagnosed with COVID, or you’re specifically ordered to quarantine during your trip, or if you are hospitalized for COVID while traveling.

To see if your plan includes covered reasons relating to COVID-19, review your plan documents. They may also be listed as an Endorsement.

Benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Benefits may not cover the full cost of your loss.  All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums.

Get a quote for travel insurance today!

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