When can you resume travel after a positive COVID-19 test?

Receiving a positive COVID-19 test while traveling can disrupt your entire travel itinerary. Even a positive result in the days leading up to your trip can raise significant concerns.

If you're curious about when you can travel again after a positive COVID-19 test, this is a crucial question: Here’s all the information you need.

What are the guidelines for returning to the US by air?

If you've traveled abroad in the past year, you're probably aware of the rules for returning to the United States, but they've changed multiple times.

All travelers arriving in the U.S., regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure. (Previously, vaccinated international travelers were allowed to provide a negative test taken within three days of departure.) Furthermore, international travelers can enter the U.S. with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test.

If you test positive, does that prevent you from returning to the U.S.? Not exactly — but the regulations can be somewhat perplexing, even for experienced travelers. If you’ve recently recovered from COVID-19, you can still fly back to the U.S., provided you have the necessary documentation. Let’s clarify this.

What documentation is required to travel after testing positive?

Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the virus for up to three months after their initial infection, even if they are no longer symptomatic.

As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, travelers who have recently recovered from COVID-19 can return to the U.S. by providing proof of their recovery instead of presenting a negative test. Acceptable documentation may include a positive COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 90 days prior to departure from a foreign country.

Moreover, a signed letter from a licensed healthcare professional confirming your clearance to travel back to the U.S. is also required. According to the CDC, this letter must contain certain information:

• Personal identification details (like your name and date of birth) that match your passport.
• The healthcare provider must sign and date the letter.
• The letter should be printed on official letterhead that includes the name, address, and contact number of the healthcare provider or public health official who issued it.

The CDC states that both the positive test result and the signed letter are collectively known as "documentation of recovery." If you tested positive, this is the only way to fly back to the U.S. after recovering from the virus without a negative test result.

For some destinations, proof of recovery is valid, allowing you to use this documentation for international travel once your doctor has cleared you.

What should I do if I can't provide proof of recovery?

The CDC enforces this guideline strictly: you must either present a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery. The agency specifies, "If you have recovered from COVID-19 but cannot provide the required documentation, you will need to present a negative COVID-19 viral test result from a sample collected no more than one day prior to your flight to the U.S."

When can I depart my location after receiving a positive COVID-19 test?

Travelers should be aware of the possibility of testing positive for COVID-19 while overseas. The course of action following a positive test will vary depending on the location, and may also depend on your vaccination and booster status.

For example, if you receive a positive test result in France, you will need to quarantine for seven days if you are fully vaccinated with a booster. However, if you have a negative antigen or RT-PCR test after five days and show no symptoms for 48 hours, you can leave quarantine early. If you are not fully vaccinated (with France soon requiring travelers to have a booster for full vaccination status) or are unvaccinated and test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days, though there may be options to shorten this period.

Therefore, if you have international travel plans, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the quarantine requirements and the documentation needed for your return flight to the U.S.