Antigen Tests: Us Travel Requirements And Rules

The US has strict travel measures in place for passengers arriving from abroad. All passengers aged 2 and over, regardless of citizenship, must show a negative Covid-19 test result from a test taken no more than 1 day before their flight's departure. This applies to all types of flights, including commercial, private, and charter flights. The test can be either a PCR or an antigen test. Passengers must also fill out a CDC attestation form.

If you have recently recovered from Covid-19, you can travel with documentation proving your recovery. This includes a positive Covid-19 test result from no more than 90 days before your flight, along with a letter from a healthcare provider or public health official stating that you are cleared to travel.

Testing requirements for US citizens returning home

The US requires a negative COVID-19 test within one day of returning home. This applies to all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status. The test must be an antigen or NAAT test approved for use in the country where the test is administered. The testing result report must include:

• Type of test (indicating if it is a NAAT or antigen test)
• Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
• Specimen collection date
• Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)
• Test result

Self-administered tests must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travellers get a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after returning home and that they self-isolate if they test positive.

Testing requirements for non-US citizens entering the US

As of June 2022, the US no longer requires masks to be worn in airports or on flights. However, Covid-19 tests are still required for entry into the US. All passengers aged 2 and over are required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to their airline. This test must be taken within one calendar day of their flight's departure to the US. Either a PCR or antigen test will be accepted as proof of being negative for Covid-19.

Non-US citizens who are visiting the US must also show proof of being vaccinated before entering the country. This proof must be issued by an official source, show your name and date of birth, the vaccine you received, and the dates for all the doses you received. Acceptable forms of proof include a paper vaccination certificate, a printout of a Covid-19 vaccination record, a vaccination certificate with a QR code, or a digital photo of a vaccination card or record.

If you are a non-US citizen and have recently recovered from Covid-19, you can travel with documentation proving your recovery. This includes a positive Covid-19 viral test received no more than 90 days before your flight back to the US, plus a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official declaring it safe for you to travel.

Testing requirements for children entering the US

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises Americans not to travel internationally until they are fully inoculated against Covid-19. Even then, the CDC is cautioning travellers to "pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before travelling outside the United States".

The US also requires returning Americans to provide negative tests taken within one day of departure. Unvaccinated foreign nationals are prohibited from entering the US. Unvaccinated Americans may still return home but must commit to taking a second test three to five days after landing.

According to the US Embassy, unvaccinated travellers 12 and older must present a negative result from a molecular test conducted within 72 hours of their entry into Austria; or a negative result from a rapid antigen test conducted within 24 hours of entry.

Children under 12 are exempt from these requirements if they are travelling with fully vaccinated or recovered adults. Unvaccinated tourists are not allowed entry, except for pregnant women and those who cannot receive the vaccine for medical reasons.

Unvaccinated children under 12 may enter with a vaccinated adult. Children under 5, and children with a positive Covid-19 test result dated between 11 and 180 days before their arrival in Canada are exempt from testing.

The US is on Switzerland's list of high-risk countries. Unvaccinated travellers from the US are not allowed entry.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorised any at-home Covid-19 rapid antigen test for use in children under two years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be safely used in children under two after being exposed, if they are experiencing symptoms, or to identify Covid-19 infection to begin isolation.

Exemptions to testing requirements for US citizens

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires returning Americans to provide negative tests taken within one day of departure. This policy supplements a system for inbound international travel that prohibits unvaccinated foreign nationals from entering the United States.

Unvaccinated US citizens may still return home but must commit to taking a second test three to five days after landing.

Children under the age of 2 are exempt from the testing requirement.

Travellers who have recovered from Covid-19 in the preceding 90 days are also exempt. They must show proof of a positive viral test and a letter from their healthcare provider or public health official stating they are cleared to end isolation.

Testing requirements for travel to other countries

When travelling to other countries, it is important to be aware of the testing requirements for entry. Here are the testing requirements for some countries:

Costa Rica:

Travellers are not required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result when travelling to Costa Rica. However, unvaccinated travellers are required to have proof of international travel insurance or travel insurance purchased in Costa Rica. Fully vaccinated travellers must have proof of vaccination with vaccines such as Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson.

Guatemala:

All travellers aged 10 and older must have a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test result, taken a maximum of 3 days before arrival in Guatemala. COVID-19 PCR tests may be from saliva samples, but not antigen tests. Unvaccinated Guatemalan citizens and residents with valid proof of vaccination are exempt from this requirement.

Peru:

Unvaccinated travellers must have a negative COVID-19 molecular test result, issued a maximum of 72 hours before boarding. Vaccinated travellers, including nationals and residents, must have proof of vaccination. All customers aged 12 and older must present printed or digital proof of a health declaration form and be fully vaccinated.

Mexico:

There are no testing requirements for entry into Mexico. However, travellers may be subject to temperature checks and health screenings upon arrival.

United States:

The US requires returning travellers to have a negative COVID-19 test done within 24 hours of departure. Both PCR and antigen tests are accepted.

Frequently asked questions