Frequently asked questions on COVID tests for minors in Barcelona
Page Content
Latest update: 07 October 2022
This page covers frequently asked questions regarding antigen and PCR tests for minors under the age of 18 including recommended COVID tests for kids and authorization needed for COVID tests for minors in Barcelona without their parents.
Question: I will be in Barcelona with my 3 children aged 14, 9 and 1 year old. We need a COVID-19 test to fly back. Do you recommend saliva tests instead of nasal tests for kids?
Answer: First of all, we strongly recommend you check which are COVID test requirements of your country of destination on the official COVID-19 page on the official website of your country of destination. What you should check is the following:
- The type of COVID test accepted. Are antigen test and PCR test accepted? If antigen tests are accepted, you might want to get an antigen test, which is less expensive than a PCR test.
- The required test sensitivity and specificity. The specificity of antigen saliva and nasal tests is the same however the sensitivity of antigen saliva tests is a bit lower than for antigen nasal tests but meets the requirements of many countries.
- The age from which a COVID test is required. Your 1 year old might not need to get tested.
For children old enough to understand that they must generate saliva and spit it into a sample bottle we recommend saliva tests instead of nasal tests, which are much more comfortable for anyone : child and adults.
You will be able to see which test centres perform antigen and PCR saliva tests on these 2 pages:
You will be able to see the test sensitivity and specificity by clicking on the blue buttons below each test centre listed on the pages above.
Question: We are going to Barcelona with my niece who is 15 years old. Will she be able to take an antigen test in Barcelona for our return flight even if her parents are not travelling?
Answer: We’ve checked with the owners of the test centres recommended on our website and your daughter will be able to take an antigen test in Barcelona as long as she has a signed authorization of the test centre from one of her parents or legal guardian and the copy of the identify document of the parent or legal guardian who will sign the authorization of the test centre.
More information on the authorization form that needs to be filled out is provided on the page of each test centre and on the confirmation voucher you’ll get after booking your appointment for your antigen test at any of the test centres recommended on the following page:
If you decided to book the test for your niece at a test centre that is not listed on the page above, make sure to check in advance with the test centre which are their conditions for COVID tests on minors that are not accompanied by their parents to avoid any surprise the day of the test.Question: My 12-year-old son will be alone in Barcelona visiting his grandmother and has to take a COVID test for his flight back to Germany. Can his grandmother or aunt take him to the test centre with my permission to take the test?
Answer: We’ve checked with the owners of the test centres recommended on our website and yes, his grandmother or the aunt of your son can take him to the test centre as long as they have a printed copy of the authorization you’ll need to fill out and a printed copy of your identity document.
More information on the authorization form that needs to be filled out is provided on the page of each test centre and/or on the confirmation voucher you’ll get after booking your appointment for your COVID test at any of the test centres recommended on the the following pages: