As the COVID-19 pandemic escalates, there are special restrictions that change frequently. Travelers should know if a PCR test is needed for an airplane in Russia in 2021.
Why do you need to take a PCR test for the absence of coronavirus for admission to the plane
The presence of various infectious pathologies in humans is shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This method of molecular genetic research can detect coronavirus infection. For this reason, the PCR test is mandatory for citizens who return to Russia from abroad. But those who fly around the country do not always pass this test, it all depends on the specific region.
Do I need a coronavirus test to fly across Russia in 2021
To contain the spread of coronavirus infection within the country, PCR tests had to be done by everyone entering the territory of Russia. On domestic flights, carriers did not require the submission of documents on passing testing, here the rules differ by region.
Since the summer of 2021, when registering for hotels in some regions, it was necessary to provide PCR tests. Restrictions apply to the following territories:
- Ivanovo and the region;
- Krasnodar region;
- Stavropol region;
- Buryatia;
- Smolensk and the region;
- Republic of Karelia;
- Kamchatka;
- Magadan Region.
Instead of a PCR test, it is allowed to present a certificate of vaccination.
What additional certificates are needed when flying within Russia
If you are temporarily in places where restrictions are imposed, additional information may be required. The list may vary in each region.
When crossing the Krasnodar Territory in transit, a PCR test is not required. It is necessary only for living in regional hotels, hotels, guesthouses.
In the Ivanovo region, one of the following documents must be presented:
- a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19;
- PCR test with a negative result, which is done not earlier than 72 hours before departure;
- a certificate of the presence of antibodies to COVID-19 with a date not earlier than January 1, 2021.
These documents are checked when registering for accommodation. If the necessary certificates are not available, travelers will have 2 weeks of self-isolation.
In the Stavropol Territory, citizens must have QR codes for free movement. Three categories of citizens receive them on the State Services website:
- recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months;
- those who have been vaccinated;
- having a negative PCR test.
QR codes allow you to visit places of rest: cafes, restaurants, cinemas. In the Stavropol Territory, all citizens entering the territory must report their arrival by calling the hotline, pass a PCR test or undergo quarantine for 2 weeks. Without this, placing them in hotels, apartments, hotels is prohibited.
The exception is made by vacationers who have a rest on a sanatorium voucher. They do not go through quarantine, it is enough for them to show a certificate issued by a general practitioner about the absence of contact with patients with coronavirus infection. It is valid if it was issued no later than 3 days before departure to the place of rest.
In Karelia, a PCR test with a negative result or a certificate of vaccination against coronavirus is needed.
To visit Buryatia, you need to present a certificate of vaccination or a PCR test with a negative result. Quarantine has been lifted in the region, but prevention requires wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
Arriving in Magadan or the region, you need to notify the local department of Rospotrebnadzor 7 days in advance about arriving in the region by mail: [email protected]... Have a negative PCR test with you. Testing can be done at the airport. If this is not done, the arrivals will be quarantined for 2 weeks.
To visit the Kamchatka Territory, you must have vaccination documents or a negative PCR test done 72 hours before the flight. An express test will be done at the airport. To travel to Solovki, you must have a vaccination document, but more than 6 months should not pass from the moment of vaccination.
For a flight to the Smolensk region, you also need to have similar documents, and upon arrival, inform Rospotrebnadzor. You should have a test or vaccination certificate with you. If there are no such documents, quarantine is imperative for preventive purposes.
Do I need to do a PCR test for a vaccinated
Citizens who have been vaccinated against coronavirus infection within the last year or have been ill with COVID-19 in the last six months are exempted from PCR testing.
The Rospotrebnadzor decree indicates that when filling out the questionnaires, it is necessary to indicate the fact of transferring COVID-19 or vaccination.
Where can you fly on a domestic flight in Russia without a PCR test in 2021
Restrictive measures are not in place in all regions of the country. Some Russian regions do not require testing to visit their territories:
- Kursk region;
- Kaliningrad and the region;
- Lipetsk region;
- Nizhny Novgorod and the region;
- Altai Republic;
- Murmansk and the region;
- Orenburg and the region;
Requirements can change quickly, especially at the beginning of a calendar month or year. Before traveling, you should check the information.
Director of the travel agency Selivanova Tatiana: “There are very good conditions for traveling around Russia now. You can take the PCR test at almost all airports on the day of arrival. Carriers, hotel workers do a lot to attract tourists, the level of service is increasing at an incredible pace. The tourists themselves note how quickly the Russian service is changing in a positive direction ”.
Errors in the design of the PCR test
It is now possible to take a PCR test in almost every laboratory, but not everyone draws up a document with the result correctly. It is unpleasant to find out about this just before departure. Pay attention to the typical errors in the PCR test:
- The time of delivery of the analysis, from which the expiration date of the test is counted, is not indicated. In order not to make mistakes, the laboratory must be visited a day before departure or an analysis must be taken at the airport.
- Better to have an electronic and printed version of the help.
- For departures abroad, the certificate is required in English, for domestic flights - in Russian.
- It is important to be tested in a laboratory accredited by Rospotrebnadzor.
The average duration of the PCR test is 72 hours.
The difficult situation in the world due to COVID-19 does not cancel domestic flights. You just need to find out in advance if you need a PCR test for an airplane in Russia.
