Due to the outbreak of coronavirus from the year 2020, the traveling agencies shut down their activities and the immigrants were no longer allowed to travel to inter countries. But since the airlines have been restarted, the immigrants now require to be vaccinated against coronavirus or carry an updated negative PCR test to be able to travel between countries. Like all other countries, Ethiopia needs a negative PCR test from its immigrants to grant their Visa to travel inside their country too. Here are all you need to know about the PCR test and the requirements of Ethiopia for the test to enter the country.

PCR Test and all you need to know about it:

PCR test or Polymerase Chain Test, also known as RT-PCR or Reverse Transcription Polymerase chain reaction test, is a covid 19 detection test that is accepted globally for its accuracy. Every country in the world depends on the PCR test for the correct detection of Covid-19. In the test, a swab of cotton is inserted in the nose of the suspect and the mucous is collected. The collected mucous is then sent for testing and the genetic material of the virus is detected from the specimen. Even if the patient is not infected anymore, if they are carrying the virus, it will be detected. The test will analyze the upper respiratory specimen and look for the RNA of the virus of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19. For its accuracy, it is the most reliable Covid-19 detection test worldwide.

PCR Test and Ethiopia:

Ethiopia requires a PCR test from the immigrants to permit them to enter the country. Without a correct PCR test report, no immigrant can enter the borders of Ethiopia. The test must be done not before 72 hours (3 hours) from the travel. Any longer before that will not be considered authentic to enter the Ethiopian borders. If the PCR test proves to be negative, the immigrant will be permitted the entry visa but if the test comes positive the entrance will be denied and the visa will also be denied.

When a PCR test is required to enter Ethiopia:

For Ethiopia, the PCR test will be required if the immigrant is not vaccinated properly against the Coronavirus. In case the immigrant has been vaccinated with all the dosages of the vaccine, the immigrant will not need to take the PCR test. The immigrants must be vaccinated with any of the vaccines that are accepted inside Ethiopia. The vaccines required to enter Ethiopia are Pfizer, Janssen, Oxford/ AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm. The immigrants should also check with their passport and travel agency for the further and latest information on the requirements of PCR tests for entering Ethiopia.

Who requires a PCR test:

Immigrants under 12 years will not be required to show any evidence of vaccination or recovery. The immigrants over 12 years will either be required to show evidence of vaccination against Covid 19 or evidence of recovery from Covid 19 if they have been affected before. If the immigrants are not vaccinated properly but partially, they will still need to do the PCR test and show a negative report.

Who does not require a PCR test:

If you are a transit passenger, or you are a child under the age of 12, then you are not necessarily required to do a PCR test. Again, if you have access to a valid vaccination certificate prior to your travel, you will not need to take a PCR test.

Alternatives Of PCR test:

If the immigrant has not performed the PCR test in the last 72 hours of the travel, then they can get a rapid lateral flow test as an alternative to the PCR test. It is a kit that can be used personally and is valid for only 24 hours after the test has been taken. The immigrant can take the rapid lateral flow test after reaching the international Airport of Ethiopia. The test must be up to date to be considered authentic.

Cost of PCR test:

The cost of a PCR test varies from country to country but the overall cost does not exceed $20 to USD 30. A personal kit for the PCR test falls into that range. The PCR test done at a public campaign costs lower than a personal kit and might cost around 5$-6$ only, but it will not be accepted if the immigrant wants to enter Ethiopia. Only the report obtained from any hospital or a Personal Kit is accepted.

When is a PCR test rejected?

Even though the PCR test is absolutely needed to enter the borders of Ethiopia, if it is not conducted properly, it will not be accepted by the government of Ethiopia. There are some times when a PCR test report is rejected in Ethiopia. The following are the mentionable reasons:

• Conducted over 72 hours: If the test is older than 72 hours from the entrance of the immigrant to Ethiopia, then the report will be rejected.
• Conducted in an unlicensed way: If the test is not done through a hospital or a personal kit, the report will not be considered illegible.
• If no result is detected: If the report is conducted wrongly and no test specimen has been collected properly, the report will not be accepted.

While transiting through Ethiopia

If you are an immigrant who would like to travel to another country but is transiting through Ethiopia, then you would not need to show evidence of vaccination but they would require the negative report of a PCR test. Yet, the immigrants will be needed to carry the required papers for their destination country. The proper test reports and the required pieces of vaccination evidence will be required for the destination country. The transition time can not cross 72 hours. If the immigrant stays over 72 hours in Ethiopia or decides to go outside the permitted transition area, they will require the PCR test or evidence of vaccination.

A PCR test is a must requirement to issue a visa to Ethiopia in case the immigrant is not vaccinated properly against Covid 19. To get a proper PCR test done to enter Ethiopia and to stay updated about the latest requirements to grant a visa to Ethiopia visit the official website of the travel agency of Ethiopia.