How to Find COVID-19 Rapid and PCR Testing Internationally in 3 Steps

Times change. Travel has changed. It’s now safer and cleaner than ever. New CDC testing measures requiring a COVID test within 72 hours of arriving in the US add yet another layer of safety. Now, the chance of sitting next to someone sick on an airplane is close to zero.

Even as someone who works in (and is completely affected by) the travel industry, I’m totally for the new testing regulations. Yes, they make travel harder. Yes, some people aren’t willing to jump through an extra hoop to travel. And yes, this will be a hassle on all of my future trips. But I’m still for it.

As it should be, the same US government enforcing this testing change is the same US government telling all of its embassies to help US citizens comply. The new rule isn’t supposed to make travel harder, only safer.

Here’s how the US government has made this process easier – not just for US citizens, but for everyone.

Related: Here are the best face masks you can buy before your next trip.

Return Covid testing for the US is now SO easy!

To satisfy the rapid test requirement before returning to the US, simply pack a CDC-approved eMed at-home rapid test and take it within 3 days of heading home. Make sure to buy this ahead as these sell like hotcakes. You might be able to find one at your local pharmacy.

They only cost $25 and you can throw them in your backpack or suitcase.

Otherwise, every country listed below has easy Covid testing options with details in each list.

RELATED: Every Country You Can Enter Right Now Without a Covid Test

Finding a COVID Testing Center Abroad is as easy as 1, 2, 3…

You can find most of the airport COVID-19 testing centers around the world easily, but it can be a lot harder to find public and private testing off airport property. Here are the best 3 methods I use when searching for testing centers abroad.

Method 1: US Embassy Websites Now List COVID Testing Centers

During the scramble to find all the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions in this constantly-changing “new normal” we’re in, the US Embassy websites have stood out. They provide all the reliable, up-to-date, and easy to understand information you need prior to traveling.

As the most useful travel website at the moment, https://www.usembassy.gov should be your go-to for any future trip.

Where are you headed?
The search bar at the top is your friend. Save this page to your bookmarks/favorites.

You’ll see the embassies listed like this:

You'll usually only find the one embassy listed.
You’ll usually only find the one embassy listed.

Click on that embassy and you’ll see the front page of the embassy. The next step will be to click on “US Citizen Services” on the toolbar at the top, and then “See All Alerts and Messages”.

Getting to the juicy part of the search for covid-19 testing abroad.
Getting to the juicy part of the search for covid-19 testing abroad.

You’ll see a webpage with all the alerts and messages from that embassy. Typically, “COVID-19 information” will be one of the first options listed.

The "COVID-19 Information" tends to stay at the top of the alerts... I wonder why.
The “COVID-19 Information” tends to stay at the top of the alerts.

This takes you to the final website, where you’ll find testing information.

COVID-19 Testing abroad is found on most embassy websites.
Under “COVID-19 Testing”, you’ll usually find all the information you need.

Method 2: Google to the Rescue

Often times, you can reach this same webpage directly from google, by for example typing “Belgium covid-19 testing”.

Googling "covid-19 test" or "covid-19 testing" can be a quicker way to find information.
Here, the fifth result, “be.usembassy.gov”, has the testing information – and so does the first link.

Method 3: Putting the Team in SkyTeam

And lastly, this convenient SkyTeam website has a nifty “Testing Lab Locator”. You simply type in the country and you’ll see COVID-19 testing centers in the area around the major airport(s).

This website is a great additional resource for finding COVID test centers abroad.
This website is a great additional resource for finding COVID test centers abroad.

Wondering where to travel with all these restrictions? If you’re looking to minimize quarantine, here is a list of wonderful, low-risk countries with minimal quarantine time.

Keep Exploring the World

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