COVID-19 test before or after a trip or tourist stay abroad

20.08.2020

In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries may require proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter their territory.

In order to meet this requirement, the Luxembourg State is offering, for the summer holiday period, a free test per person before a trip or tourist stay abroad.

From 14 August 2020, this free test is also offered if you are returning to Luxembourg from a trip or tourist stay abroad.

In a first phase and in both cases, the system will only allow the booking of appointments with regard to departures and returns during the month of August and up until 15 September 2020.

This procedure replaces the one where a code had to be requested in order to book an appointment before going abroad. However, codes received before mid-August to make an appointment prior to going abroad remain valid throughout August 2020.

Who is concerned


Each person residing in Luxembourg can be tested for COVID-19 if they:
  • must (business trip) or wish (tourist trip) to travel abroad to a country that requires a negative test for COVID-19; or
  • are returning from a trip or tourist stay abroad.
In case of a trip of several persons, each person must request their appointment individually.

Each person has the possibility to be tested before their departure and upon their return. This free test is only valid for one departure and one return per person.

The test is free of charge for people travelling to a country that requires a negative test result from people entering the country. If the destination country does not explicitly require proof, the test cannot be offered free of charge at the moment. It is nevertheless possible for persons who wish to be tested, to contact a private laboratory and have the test carried out at their own expense.

Likewise, if no time slot is available for the desired date of the free test, it is possible to contact a private laboratory and have the test performed at their own expense.


Prerequisites


Going abroad

In order to make an appointment, the person must:
  • have a Luxembourg national identification number (matricule);
  • reside in Luxembourg (cross-border workers are subject to the travel conditions of their country of residence);
  • have a planned trip after 2 August 2020;
  • have a planned trip to a country that requires proof of a recent negative test, or have planned a trip to a country requiring the crossing of a country that requires such proof for transit;
  • travel in their leisure time.  
In the case of business travel, free testing can be obtained by contacting the Chamber of Commerce.

Return to Luxembourg

In order to make an appointment, the person must:

    have a Luxembourg national identification number (matricule);
    reside in Luxembourg (cross-border workers are subject to the travel conditions of their country of residence);
    have been on a private holiday trip in a foreign country.


Costs


The procedure is free of charge.


How to proceed


Applying for a test

The application must be submitted using MyGuichet.lu (see the section "Forms / Online services" below). It is not necessary to have a LuxTrust product or an electronic identity card. 

In particular, the person must indicate:
  • the dates and places of stay abroad;
  • their name and first name;
  • their national identification number (matricule);
  • their e-mail address;
  • their telephone number;
  • their residential address in Luxembourg.
In the case of a return after a stay abroad, the person can also indicate if they have symptoms in relation with COVID-19.

They then choose one of the testing centres and the desired time for the test:
  • Bascharage (Z.I. Bommelscheuer);
  • Esch (P+R Arcelor-Mittal, Raemerich);
  • Frisange;
  • Hosingen (centre scolaire et sportif "Parc Hosingen");
  • Kirchberg (P+R Adenauer);
  • Luxembourg (P+R Bouillon);
  • Luxembourg (Rotondes);
  • Machtum / Grevenmacher;
  • Schieren;
  • Steinfort.
The possibility of making an appointment is available on a biweekly basis. Appointments for the second half of August are therefore only possible from mid-August.

Once the date of the appointment has been chosen, the applicant must confirm the transmission of the appointment booking form. Following this, the applicant receives an appointment confirmation, which is to be printed and presented on the day of the appointment.

The test is part of the COVID-19 large-scale testing project and follows the same procedures.


Test result


The test person is informed of the result by SMS, which also contains a link to download the certificate. The deadline for transmission of results is approximately 48 hours. In some cases, delays in excess of 48 hours have been observed.

It is possible to choose the language in which to receive proof of the test result. To do so, the following procedure should be followed:
  1. the result of the test is received by SMS;
  2. click on the link in the SMS;
  3. select the language (top right) in which to receive the certificate;
  4. download the document and show it if necessary.

Good to know


Any decision on border control measures is the responsibility of the respective local authorities. All related information and procedures are the responsibility of these authorities, and not of the Luxembourg authorities. As the situation is changing from day to day, it is recommended that you check with the respective local authorities on the arrangements in force at the time of the travel abroad.

Source : https://guichet.public.lu/en