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Booking a COVID test: What you need to know
Overseas travel still requires proof of a negative PCR COVID test for some countries. This means you may need to book a COVID test prior to your flight, depending on your destination. If you're not sure how to book a test or what is required, this guide is here to help.
Where can I book a PCR COVID test?
A COVID test for travel must be taken at a private pathology collection centre. Only private pathology collection centres provide the necessary certification to board an international flight. A text message from a free COVID testing clinic is not sufficient evidence, even if it clearly shows a negative result.
How much does a PCR COVID test cost?
PCR tests for travel range in price from $120 up to around $300. The amount you pay depends on how quickly you need the results (faster turnaround times are more expensive) and whether you require additional tests, such as an IgM Antibody test.
How do I book my test?
You can book a test by clicking on the clinic websites above and following the prompts. Alternatively, you can call them on the phone at the following numbers:
Before you fly, you will need to check the required tests for the country you're travelling to. Some countries require a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. You may also be required to get a Blood Antibody/IgM Antibody test in addition to a COVID PCR test.
Some countries allow rapid antigen tests (RATs) as proof that you do not have the virus.
The clinics in the table above all provide the necessary tests for travel.
It is the traveller's responsibility to check the COVID rules for your destination, including the required test type and cut-off times.
I forgot to book a COVID test and my flight is tomorrow. What now?
Most clinics in the table above provide express testing for an additional fee. You can also book a 1-hour pre-departure service at Sydney and Melbourne Airport from Histopath.
Do I need to get another test before returning to Australia?
Yes. Before you return to Australia, you must do the following:
Book a pre-departure COVID-19 test and bring the negative result to the airport. The test must be taken no later than 72 hours before boarding.
You will need to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test 1–3 days before your scheduled departure time. Qantas recommends getting your test 2 days before departure to allow for any potential flight delays.
You will also need to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arriving in Australia and self-isolate until you get a negative test result.
Note that quarantine arrangements are in the process of being modified in Australia. Depending on when you travel, it may be possible to home quarantine. You will need to get clarification from the state or territory you're staying in.
Do I also need to be vaccinated?
Yes. Currently, travellers need to show evidence that they have been vaccinated at least 7 days prior to international travel into or out of Australia, with a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Most countries allow children under 12 to travel without being vaccinated. People who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are permitted to travel unvaccinated, but will need to provide proof. You can also qualify for an exemption in specific circumstances. To find out more, head to the Department of Health's website.
COVID travel testing FAQs
A PCR swab test is used to diagnose people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is the most accurate test for the virus and is sent to a laboratory for analysis. You usually have to pay for a PCR test, unless you're isolating at home and are sent one by the NHS.
If your destination requires you to take a PCR test, check whether this can be done at home by you or whether you need to have it carried out at a registered test centre or by a clinician. You might have to pay a bit more to go to a test centre or clinician, but your results tend to be quicker and more accurate.
Lateral flow tests are quick tests you can do at home if you have no symptoms of COVID. This involves doing a swab of your tonsils and nose, and works similarly to a pregnancy test. Within 30 minutes, you'll see if you've tested positive or negative for the virus.
Most airlines require you to present a COVID "fit to fly" or "fit to travel" certificate at the airport. Apart from your name and date of birth, it will include your passport number, proof of your negative COVID test result and the time and date of the test.
In terms of COVID, "fit to fly" isn't an official term. But companies have come up with this based on a standard fit to fly certificate, which is a certificate provided by GPs to people with pre-existing conditions as proof that they're safe to travel.
There are multiple private companies that provide COVID tests in Australia. Do your research to find out which provider is the most suitable for your travel plans. You need to make sure your test result will be accepted by your destination and if you also need a certificate to prove a negative result. Note that some test providers charge more for this.
No, you'll need to pay to have a COVID test for travel. You can't use a free clinic test as it does not provide the required documentation.
On average, COVID tests range in price between $120 and $300. As an incentive to travel, some holiday companies offer testing as part of their package. Some airports have drive-through and walk-in PCR test centres.
You can, but before ordering an at-home COVID test, check the requirements of the area you are travelling to, as well as any COVID guidance from your airline or travel company. Note that a home testing kit will not be accepted when re-entering Australia. Instead, you need to get an RT-PCR test and a certificate in English.
Currently, there's no national, searchable database of private COVID testing centres for travellers. To find your nearest centre, we recommend you search on Google for test centres in your area and then check to see if they offer legally recognised certificates for travel. Alternatively, you can click on the table at the top of this guide.
If you are travelling internationally from Australia, you must follow the testing requirements of the country you're travelling to. You'll need to provide proof of a negative test up to 3 days before you travel.
Before you travel back home to Australia, you'll also need to take a PCR test up to 3 days before your departure. You'll need to show proof of your negative test result. You must also complete an Australia Travel Declaration form 72 hours before you travel. This is free and can be submitted online.
When you arrive back in Australia, you'll need to take another test on the fifth day after your arrival – your arrival day counts as day 0.
The best way to check the type of test you need is to look at the testing requirements for your chosen destination in the Australian government's foreign travel advice. It shows the requirements of the country you're travelling to.
This depends on the country that you're flying to – each country has its own rules. When returning to Australia, under-10s don't take any tests. If you're returning to the ACT, NSW or VIC with a child aged 12–17 years old who isn't fully vaccinated, they will need to undertake a PCR test within 24 hours of arriving and quarantine at home for 7 days. They also need to take a second PCR test on day 5 of their isolation period.
So long as you don't leave the airport and you get tested within 72 hours of the final flight (or as per the time frame listed by the airline's policy), you should be fine. Wherever you take the test is irrelevant as long as it meets the destination country's and airline's requirements. Just be sure to check the specific guidelines for each country you'll set foot in.
First, stay put and check the government advice for the country that you're in so you can figure out your next move. The most important thing to do is isolate. You may be moved to a quarantine hotel until you test negative, depending on the country's protocols. Contact your airline about rescheduling your flight home once you receive a negative test. You may even be able to claim back the extra costs incurred if you've taken out holiday insurance.
When flying back to Australia, a lateral flow test won't do. You'll need to book a PCR test through a provider either ahead of your journey so you can take it before you return, or by booking in with a provider abroad. The results must be in English and you can show them using a text, email or printed document. Be sure your airline accepts the test you're planning to use before you buy it.
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Pick up a supply of saliva RATs online and arm your household or business with the essentials to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Rapid antigen tests will soon be tax-deductible, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
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Avoid the price gouging of physical stores and buy TGA-approved rapid antigen tests online.
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Restock your supply of rapid antigen home testing kits online at any of these reliable stores and help to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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If you're a business looking to buy Rapid Antigen Tests or PCR tests for professional use, here's where you'll find them online.
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Whether it's a RAT or PCR test we've rounded up clinics and retailers in SA.
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Demand is booming for home tests - here's how to get test kits delivered to your door.
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If you're in need of a quick COVID test result, here's where you can book one in Perth and surrounding Western Australia.
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Whether it's a PCR test from a clinic in Queensland to fly or an at-home test, we have you covered.
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Need to get a COVID test in Sydney? Whether it's a RAT or PCR test we've rounded up clinics and retailers in NSW.
Chris Jager is the editorial lead for shopping at Finder. With over 16 years of experience as a full-time journalist, Chris has provided expertise to many leading technology publications, including PC World, Australian Gamepro, Good Gear Guide, ARN, IT News, PC Authority, CRN, GameSpy, Gizmodo, Business Insider, MSN, Kotaku, Lifehacker Australia, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Before joining Finder, Chris was the editor of Lifehacker Australia for 5 years. He has a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Western Sydney. Outside of Finder, you'll find him playing with retro '80s computers while juggling 3 TikTok-obsessed daughters.
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