We know that it is difficult to keep up with changes and travel restrictions in times of Covid-19. Recently, in the case of a traveler who was not allowed to get on the bus to travel to France from Barcelona, the FlixBus transport line indicated that an RT-PCR test was necessary; Is this true?
Not entirely, currently, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs allows you to travel to France with a certificate of a negative antigen test or RT-PCR, carried out no more than 72 hours before the trip; However, Hector only had with him the certificate of an antigen test carried out in the pharmacy, so they have not allowed him to travel.
According to the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, in his speech on July 12 2021, France will begin to demand that the results of these tests have no more than 24 hours.
If you are traveling through the European Union at this time, you must understand that entry and exit restrictions are imposed by the country of destination. We have a post about what test you need to travel to which destination, even so, and despite the free mobility of people through the European Union, the current crisis has made the borders between countries once again be partially controlled.
What options do I have to know the restrictions of each country?
Initially, the official website of the European Union, which keeps its citizens informed of the evolution of the pandemic in the different member states, is the “European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)”, there you can find an interactive map, that informs you about the requirements imposed by each country, about Covid-19.
As a second option, if you are traveling from Spain, the official website of the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation”, has a section for each country you decide to visit. It has consular information, evidence, forty, and others.
As a third option, there are the official websites of each country; some examples of them are https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control in the United Kingdom, https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr in France and http://www.exteriores.gob.es in Spain. Each country has its own website with current information on the conditions to visit it, as well as reports on the evolution of the virus in its territory and other information of interest.
Can my transportation company refuse to let me travel if I do not submit a PCR test?
The answer is yes, since the countries’ entry measures are demanding these conditions, the most common being the RT-PCR and antigen tests. With the introduction of the Covid-19 passport, many people thought that vaccination would be mandatory for travel, but this, unlike tests, is optional and facilitates the mobility of the traveler through the European Union.
Where can I do my antigen test or PCR in Spain?
In Spain all the diagnostic tests for Sars-Cov-2 or coronavirus are offered, at medmesafe, we offer these services to our users, with the largest network of accredited laboratories in Spain:
- Results in 24 hours.
- Certificate in English or Spanish.
- A certificate with a QR code.
- Accredited laboratories to travel anywhere in the world.
We have at your disposal the following services:
- Rapid antigen test at center.
- RT-PCR test at the center.
- Rapid antigen test at home.
- RT-PCR test at home.
With personalized service in multiple languages, and delivery of results in the agreed time.
If you have any additional questions, leave them in the comments.
Clément Destoumieux
PRESENT: + 20 years in complex legal and IT projects in France, the UK and Spain Expert in BioExpert exclusive network of experts in the sectors of life science and investment. Startups coordinator of ANIS (Spanish Association of Health Journalists) Lider ehealth in Asociación Española de Start up Active member of ASEBIO (Leading Spanish Biotech Association) PAST: Sociedad Española Informática de la Salud MBA in Ecole Des Mines – Nantes Master Degree in Ipag Business School in Paris