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What to Know About Testing and Vaccine Requirements for Travel

Do you need to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test for your next trip? Check this guide before traveling domestically or abroad.

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By Concepción de León

As vaccinations ramp up and regulations loosen for people in the United States, many are planning travel for summer and beyond, with experts predicting that July 4 will be the biggest travel weekend since the beginning of the pandemic.

But with regulations shifting, people might have questions about testing or vaccination requirements for their trips. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently eased travel recommendations to more than 100 countries. On June 18, the European Union added the United States to its “safe list” of countries , meaning that both vaccinated and unvaccinated American travelers should now be able to visit the 27 member countries, but these member states are allowed to set their own requirements and restrictions for travelers.

In the United States, the C.D.C. has advised that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in most places and released new travel guidelines that said domestic travel is safe for them. But travelers must take note of local advice and regulations, as these can vary state by state.

Here’s everything you need to consider about testing and vaccinations before you travel within the U.S. or internationally.

Are there testing and vaccination requirements for domestic travel?

For most places, no. You do not need to be vaccinated for any domestic travel. Hawaii is the only state that requires a negative test for travel.

In Hawaii, the test must be administered within 72 hours of arrival and the results uploaded to its Safe Travel platform to avoid a mandatory quarantine when entering the state.

Alternatively in Hawaii, you can also provide proof that you’ve recovered from Covid-19 in the past 90 days, including both a positive test result and a letter from a doctor clearing you to travel.

The state’s governor, David Ige, said this month that people who received their vaccination in the state of Hawaii may bypass testing and quarantine requirements starting on June 15, and that anyone vaccinated in the U.S. will be able to enter Hawaii without testing once the state has reached a 60 percent vaccination rate.

If you are unvaccinated, you should continue to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing protocols while traveling domestically, the C.D.C. said . You can use the C.D.C.’s Travel Planner to check guidelines by state.

What are the testing and vaccination rules for international travel?

While testing and vaccination requirements vary by destination country, everyone arriving in the U.S. — even vaccinated Americans — must present a negative test result upon entry .

Many nations are still closed to American travelers. Those that are open may require a negative test, proof of vaccination or evidence of recovery (or a combination of these) to enter.

The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that American travelers, regardless of vaccination status, provide proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure, quarantine upon arrival and take two additional tests during their stay. Children under 11 are exempt from these requirements, as are some other people depending on their reason for travel.

Some European countries have been allowing in Americans who are vaccinated or who can show a negative test. Americans are on the European Union’s “safe list” of countries, but while the bloc aims to take a coordinated approach to travel this summer, member states will be allowed to set their own requirements for travelers from individual countries, which could include testing and vaccination.

The E.U. “safe list” also applies to Europe’s border-free Schengen Zone, which includes non-E.U. countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

Canada is still closed to Americans , with few exceptions, and will remain so until at least early July, said Patty Hajdu, the country’s minister of health, in a news conference in June.

The U.S.-Mexico land border is closed for nonessential travel until at least June 21, but air travel is allowed and the country does not require a negative test for entry. Because of its high risk level, the C.D.C. recommends that travelers be fully vaccinated before traveling to Mexico.

Consult the C.D.C.’s inventory of international travel health notices for more information on regulations by country.

“Travelers should always check with their airline and the embassy of the country they are visiting to ensure they have the proper documentation required to enter the country,” said Perry Flint, a spokesman for The International Air Transport Association, a global airline industry group.

What test should I take, and where and when?

To enter the U.S., travelers must show a negative result to a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) — PCR is a type of NAAT test — or an antigen test, also known as a rapid test, taken in the three days before departure, according to the C.D.C .

Some airports offer on-site testing, such as Heathrow Airport in England, or Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport in Italy.

Josh Alexander, a New York-based luxury travel agent for Protravel International, said that many international hotels, including most Four Seasons hotels and resorts , are offering on-site rapid tests for free or at a nominal cost.

Testing at local clinics is also available in many places, though you should check availability at your destination ahead of time and book if you can. It may also come at a high cost. Mr. Alexander said that PCR tests abroad can range from $50 to $150.

The C.D.C. said that it allows for a three-day time frame rather than 72 hours to allow flexibility in the time of day the test can be taken. For instance, if you are flying out on a Friday, the test may be taken at any time on Tuesday.

But, when it comes to international destinations, Mr. Alexander recommends erring on the side of caution when timing your test by calculating it based on time of arrival at your destination.

“Rules are constantly changing,” he said, “so we’re just trying to always tell people they should always be as conservative as possible to eliminate any gray area.”

What are the requirements for minors?

The C.D.C. testing recommendations apply to all children 2 years and older, which means your toddler also needs to deliver a negative Covid-19 test to enter the U.S. from abroad. When traveling, children should wear masks, practice social distancing and wash hands often, the C.D.C. said .

“If the kids are age 12 and older, get ’em vaccinated,” said William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, in an email.

If you’re traveling to a country within the European Union that is open to travelers from the U.S., children who cannot be vaccinated should have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival at your destination, and additional testing may be required upon arrival.

Travelers should check with their airline or destination country website for relevant requirements.

What if I want to go on a cruise?

Rules vary from one cruise line to another, with some planning to require that all passengers and crew be vaccinated, and others adopting a hybrid model.

But recent laws passed in Florida and Texas banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination to use their services may complicate this plan.

Celebrity Cruises, set to be the first U.S. cruise ship to restart operations on June 26 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said it’s optimistic that a resolution would be reached in time . It is requiring that guests 16 years and older be vaccinated, while children will be tested at the terminal.

Carnival Cruises said on Monday that its first ship would set sail from the Port of Galveston, in Texas, on July 3 and would be available only for vaccinated passengers. Norwegian, which will begin to operate cruises from Miami in August, said it will require the same through October 31 and has threatened to skip Florida ports if the state does not allow cruise lines an exemption from the law banning vaccine requirements.

Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement on June 7 that “the current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect, especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us.”

“As a result, our alternative is to operate our ships from the U.S. during the month of July with vaccinated guests,” she said.

But even if you are vaccinated, you must also consider the requirements of the country where the cruise is disembarking. The Caribbean island of St. Maarten, for instance, where Celebrity Cruises started sailing on June 5, requires a negative test in addition to proof of vaccination.

What documents should I bring with me if I travel?

This will also depend on where you’re going, but a good rule of thumb is to carry your physical vaccine card, if you have it, and proof of a negative test, if it is required.

Mr. Alexander, the travel agent, recommends people bring the original documents. While a number of digital health certificates — which show vaccine status and test results — are in the works, he said, they are not yet widely accepted. You should check, also, that your document is in the correct language. The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that test results be in English, Spanish or French.

CommonPass , from the Geneva-based nonprofit the Commons Project Foundation, and the I.A.T.A. Travel Pass are two apps providing digital access to vaccine and testing records for travel. The European Union will be releasing its own digital Covid certificate for E.U. citizens by July 1, though it is unclear whether Americans will be able to use it.

You should check with your airline to see if the app you want to use will be accepted at your destination. Both the CommonPass and I.A.T.A. websites list destinations and airline partners accepting the digital health certificates.

Mr. Alexander added that some countries, such as Croatia, may also require proof of a return flight or confirmation of your hotel booking or other accommodation, though this is rare. In South Africa, which has implemented a curfew, travelers may need to show their flight ticket to law enforcement officers to show they are allowed to be in transit.

But these shifting regulations should not dissuade people from traveling, Mr. Alexander said.

“If you’re vaccinated and you’re following safe precautions, you can still have a great experience,” he said.

Concepción de León is a travel reporter based in New York. More about Concepción de León

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The Coronavirus Crisis

International travel opens to the vaccinated, but how do you prove you got the shot.

David Schaper

Stickers are stacked up for people receiving vaccinations at a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Las Vegas on May 21. As countries open their doors to travelers again, there is confusion about how people will prove their vaccination status. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

Stickers are stacked up for people receiving vaccinations at a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Las Vegas on May 21. As countries open their doors to travelers again, there is confusion about how people will prove their vaccination status.

There's good news and bad news for Americans who have been itching to take a European vacation. Spain reopens to vaccinated tourists on June 7. Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Croatia and other countries are opening up again soon.

But in order to go, travelers will have to show proof that they've been vaccinated, and it's not yet clear how they'll do that. That's causing a lot of confusion among those with pent-up wanderlust, as demand for air travel has been soaring in recent weeks.

The Transportation Security Administration reports that 1.87 million people went through the nation's airport security checkpoints on May 23. That's the highest number of air travelers since the pandemic began and 90% of 2019 levels.

Coronavirus Updates

Vaccinated u.s. travelers will be allowed to visit europe again starting this summer.

"The last couple weeks, we have seen a really big pick up [in inquiries and bookings] and it's completely tied to vaccinations," says travel adviser Kendra Thornton, owner of Royal Travel and Tours in Chicago's northern suburbs. "As more and more people get vaccinated, we have more people being comfortable booking travel and planning travel."

Most of Thornton's clients have been booking vacations to Florida's beaches, Hawaii and other domestic destinations, but with much of Europe opening up soon, some are eager to cross the Atlantic.

"We definitely have clients that the second this news came out, were like, OK, I want to go to Portugal, I want to go to Greece, I want to go to Italy," Thornton says.

Those travelers will likely have to prove that they've been vaccinated, and that's a problem, because it's not clear exactly what kind of proof will be accepted.

"It's very confusing and it's changing every minute right now," Thornton says.

For now, travelers can self-report their vaccination status by showing their COVID-19 vaccination card with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logo on it, but as the number of international travelers increases, can you imagine the airport lines as airline or Customs employees try to check each and every one? In addition, many countries including the U.S. continue to require a recent negative COVID-19 test before allowing entry, which requires travelers to present even more paperwork.

Plus there is no single standard vaccination card, and they can be easily lost, damaged or even forged.

FAQ: What Is A Vaccine 'Passport,' And What Are These Credentials Used For?

"We're basically counting on trust, when the country is facing a trust deficit," says Leonard Marcus, director of the Aviation Public Health Initiative at Harvard University. "So there's no way to verify that someone is, in fact, actually vaccinated; it's only their word that, yes, I'm vaccinated.

Marcus says there needs to be a better way than the honor system.

"There should be either government systems or private sector systems that are reliable that I can use to show to an airline, that I can show as I go into a crowded facility, that I've been vaccinated," he says.

But as of now, there is no federal database tracking who has been vaccinated, and the Biden administration says it will not be issuing what some have dubbed "vaccine passports," a digital certificate that would verify a person's vaccination status.

Some cities and states are considering them for entry into certain businesses or venues. New York already has the voluntary Excelsior Pass that can be shown upon entry to bars, restaurants, concerts and sporting events.

But at least a dozen other states controlled by Republicans, including Arizona, Florida, Texas and Wyoming, are moving in the opposite direction, banning or restricting the use of any sort of vaccine "passport" or a vaccination certification or verification system.

"The residents of our state should not be required by the government to share their private medical information," said Arizona's Republican Gov. Doug Ducey last month. "Vaccination is up to each individual, not the government."

But public health experts point out that Americans have long been required to provide proof of vaccination in certain circumstances, such as to attend school and for international travel.

"We have a lot of precedent for requiring vaccinations for people, recognizing the value of those vaccinations, especially when they're involved with international travel," says Harvard's Leonard Marcus.

"This has become so politicized an issue that it's very difficult for us as a country to do the right thing," he adds.

Nonetheless, a majority of Americans support the concept of requiring vaccination for travel, according to a recent Gallop poll .

Megan Brenan of Gallop says "57% of Americans said that in order to travel by airplane, they would favor requiring people to show proof that they've been vaccinated."

Goats and Soda

The vaccine passport debate actually began in 1897 over a plague vaccine.

And there is even wider support for some sort of vaccination verification system globally. A recent Ipsos poll on behalf of the World Economic Forum finds that about 3 in 4 adults across 28 countries agree that COVID-19 vaccine passports should be required of travelers to enter their country.

With no uniform way for American travelers to prove to foreign governments that they've been vaccinated, some airlines are trying to step up and develop digital platforms including smartphone apps that will tell customers exactly what documentation they need to provide to enter the country they are going to and a way to upload that documentation.

"Because the requirements for entry differ by almost every single country and, in some cases, by the region within a country, the customer would like to have the peace of mind to know that they comply with those different regulations to come in," says Preston Peterson, director of Customer Experience Innovation at American Airlines. He says their app, called VeriFly, developed with its mobile health partner Daon, provides a platform for the traveler to know that they're good to go.

"A customer can submit their documentation, have it verified and then they receive a green check mark, or effectively, an OK to travel status, that we as the airline trust, the customer can trust and then they know they're ready to go."

Other airlines are developing similar apps or partnering with companies and organizations to create such platforms. The International Air Transport Association, an airline industry group, has developed an app called the IATA Travel Pass that's being tested by more than 30 airlines globally, including British Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines and Qantas. A nonprofit platform called Common Pass is being used by JetBlue, United, Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific, among others.

The governments of the European Union, China, Japan and the United Kingdom are all working on their own digital vaccination certificates for international travel.

The World Health Organization is working on creating standards for developing "Smart Vaccination Certificates" but also advises countries against requiring proof of vaccination, citing unequal global distribution of vaccines.

All of these efforts underscore the lack of one central national and international system to verify vaccination status, so it will likely take some time for governments, airlines and travelers to sort out exactly what will be accepted where as proof of vaccination.

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The Office of International Affairs

Covid vaccine and test requirements for u.s. entry.

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Published on Oct 29, 2021

On October 25, 2021, President Biden issued  Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-⁠19 Pandemic , which, effective November 8, 2021 , will lift the four current geographic travel ban restrictions , and replace them with a global requirement that "noncitizens who are nonimmigrants" traveling to the United States by air from any part of the world establish that they are fully vaccinated, with some limited exceptions.

A separate CDC order will also continue to require all air travelers to show results of a negative coronavirus test performed on a specimen taken three days (if fully vaccinated) or one day (if not fully vaccinated and entering under an exception) preceding their flight's departure from a foreign country traveling to the United States.  Updated - all travelers to the U.S. must now show proof of a negative viral COVID test not more than one day before departing for the U.S. For more:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html 

"Noncitizens who are nonimmigrants" who are traveling by air will have to show both the negative COVID viral test and documentation that they are either fully vaccinated or are eligible for an exception to the vaccination requirement.

These U.S. entry vaccination requirements and testing updates will go into effect at 12:01am EST on November 8, 2021. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the U.S. that departed prior to 12:01am EST on November 8, 2021.

This proclamation will replace the current geographic travel ban restrictions with new air travel vaccination requirements, which will be applicable not only to travel from one of the countries formerly subject to a geographic travel ban, but to travel to the U.S. by air, by nonimmigrants from any part of the world. 

Exceptions and Exemptions

U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and those entering on an immigration visa are exempt from the these vaccination requirements. The proclamation contains a number of important exceptions to these requirements, including:

• Diplomats, employees of international organizations, and similar
• Citizens of a foreign country where the availability of COVID-19 vaccination is limited
• Noncitizens who are children under 18 yeras of age, or noncitizens for whom a COVID vaccination is contraindicated or inappropriate
• National interest (as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designee - NOTE: these "national interest" exceptions are not related to NIE's that have previously been issued for F-1 students, J-1 students and scholars, etc.

According to CDC FAQs  there are no exceptions under the proclamation and the CDC order for religious or other moral convictions. If you qualified for an exception to the University's vaccination requirements for students, this exception will not be recognized for the purposes of entry to the U.S. under the proclamation and CDC order. 

Acceptable Vaccines and the Meaning of Fully Vaccinated

The CDC webpage Requrement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers lists the following vaccines as acceptable. Please note this list of vaccines mirrors the University's list of acceptable vaccines per institutional requirements. The acceptable vaccines are:

• AstraZeneca
• Covishield/Serum Institute of India
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson 
• Pfizer/BioNTech

Vaccination with a vaccines not on these lists would not satisfy the proclamation requirements until the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO) adds the vaccines to their lists. 

The CDC webpage Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers describes the meaning of "fully vaccinated." 

Proof of Vaccination

CDC Technical Instructions Types of Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination state that "airlines or aircraft operators msut confirm that every  covered individual (unless excepted) has presented proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the U.S. from a foreign country. The above linked CDC Technical Instructions and Table 1. Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination describe acceptable proof and provide examples. 

Negative COVID-19 Viral Test Condition

Presidential Proclamation of October 25, 2021 does not institute new negative COVID-19 test requirements. Rather, in addition to being subject to the new proof of vaccination requirements nonimmigrants who are entering the U.S. through will also continue to be subject to CDC rules that require all travelers ( regardless of citizenship ) to present proof of receiving a negative pre-departure viral test result for COVID-19. Nonimmigrants subject to Presidential Proclamation of October 25, 2021 will have to show both proof of being fully vaccinated (or qualify under one of the narrow exceptions) and proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test. Briefly:

• Fully vaccinated individuals: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 3 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country. Updated on Dec 2: viral test must be taken no more than 1 day before flight departure.
• Not fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 1 day before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if the traveler does not show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This also includes nonimmigrants who are not fully vaccinated, but who are requesting admission to the U.S. under an exception.

For more, visit the CDC webpage Required Testing Before Air Travel to the U.S.

OIA will continue to update this page as additional information becomes available. Students and scholars alike are encouraged to check with their airlines to ensure they are up-to-date on required documentation before boarding.

• For additional information related to travel while at the University of Chicago on an F-1 or J-1 student visa, please visit our Travel webpage for students .
• For additional information related to travel while at the University of Chicago while on a J-1, H-1B, TN, or other employment-based visa classification, please visit our Travel webpage for scholars .

Important links to additional information:

• Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Releases Additional Detail for Implementing a Safer, More Stringent International Air Travel System
• U.S. Department of State: FAQ's on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing for International Travel
• U.S. Department of State: Safely Resuming Travel by Vaccine Requirement and Rescission of Travel Restrictions on Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom
• CDC: Technical Instructions for Implementing Presidential Proclamation
• CDC: Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Travelers
• CDC: Required Testing Before Air Travel to the U.S.
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: Briefing on COVID Vaccination and Testing Requirements

From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8

• The U.S. is launching a new travel system on Nov. 8.
• Vaccinated foreign air travelers will need to show proof of full vaccination and test for COVID-19.
• The new travel system also adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit.  

The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists .  The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . 

The move by the White House will essentially have the U.S. drop its travel ban on dozens of countries while also making entry more challenging for the unvaccinated. The new system will allow entry for foreign nationals only with vaccinations approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and would add testing requirements for unvaccinated Americans.

Here’s what we know about the new travel requirements:

What are the entry requirements for foreign nationals?

Starting Nov. 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers   will need to show proof of full vaccination as well as a pre-departure negative coronavirus test taken within three days of travel before they can board a plane to the U.S. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include:

• Digital or paper verifiable record, such as a vaccination certificate or a digital pass with a QR code.  
• Nonverifiable paper record, such as a printout of a COVID-19 vaccination record or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• Nonverifiable digital record, such as a digital photo of a vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record, downloaded vaccination certificate or a mobile phone application without a QR code.  

The U.S. will accept nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests, and antigen tests. The rules will go into effect for passengers on planes leaving for the U.S. at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 8.  

Airlines will collect basic personal contact information   from all U.S.-bound travelers for contact tracing. Airlines are required to keep the information on hand so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   can reach out to travelers who may have been infected or exposed to COVID-19.

Masking will be required, but there will be no quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated children .

► US  travel bans: How COVID-19 travel restrictions have impacted families and couples

The change will make entering the U.S. possible for travelers from countries now listed on the U.S. travel ban, which prohibits entry for travelers who have been in any of the regions within the past 14 days. The travel ban  took effect in early 2020 and includes :

• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• The European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)

Currently, the U.S. asks international air passengers only to get tested within three days of their flight to the U.S. and show either the negative test result or proof of recovery  from COVID-19 before boarding. 

What about the land borders with Mexico and Canada?

New travel rules will also take effect for foreign nationals arriving by land or passenger ferry.

Starting Nov. 8, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can cross the land borders for nonessential reasons such as tourism or visiting friends and family . These travelers will need to verbally attest to their reason for travel and vaccination status and be prepared to show proof of vaccination  upon request. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept both digital and paper records showing proof of vaccination, including documents not in English.   Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country.  

CBP will spot-check travelers' vaccination documents, and those without documented proof of vaccination can be denied entry. Travelers under 18 will be exempt from the vaccination requirement as long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, according to Matthew Davies, CBP's executive director of admissibility and passenger programs.  

The new travel rules will go into effect as soon as a port of entry opens on Nov. 8, or at midnight for ports that operate 24 hours a day changes will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 8 for ports that operation 24 hours a day.  

U.S. citizens reentering the country should also bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, trusted traveler program card, enhanced driver's license or enhanced tribal card. 

Entry rules along the border will change again in early January, with all travelers – including those traveling for essential purposes – required to show proof of full vaccination. 

► US land borders: Travelers in Mexico and Canada plan their next US visit after new land border policy announced

Which vaccines does the US accept for travel?

The CDC has announced that vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel. White House officials expect the CDC to approve the same vaccines for travelers entering the U.S. by land or ferry.  

The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech, the last of which has received the FDA's full stamp of approval.

Vaccines with WHO approval for emergency use include:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield 

The CDC confirmed that it would accept a mix-and-match approach to vaccinations. Travelers who have any combination of FDA- or WHO-approved vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated.

The new travel policy does not accept foreign travelers who have had COVID and received just one shot in a two-dose series. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration will "continue to review" its entry requirements.  

► Covaxin gets WHO emergency approval: Travelers vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US   

► 'You feel lonely and left out': These fully vaccinated travelers want to visit the US. They may not be allowed in.

How do the new rules affect kids? 

Foreign nationals under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two will not need to take a pre-departure COVID test.

Kids 2 and older traveling with a fully vaccinated adult can test three days prior to departure, while children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults will need to get tested within one day of departure. 

Currently, all air passengers 2 or older, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, need to show a negative coronavirus test to fly to the U.S.

What are the entry requirements for Americans?

The new travel system adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

Starting Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to take a test one day before departure and test again upon arrival in the U.S. 

► New travel rules: What US travelers need to know about the new COVID rules for international flights

Entry requirements will not change for vaccinated Americans. They will still need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before departure. 

Americans will not need to be fully vaccinated to board international flights to the U.S.

Are there any exemptions?

There is a limited set of travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement for entry.

Children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants and travelers with adverse reactions to the vaccines – such as people who have had severe anaphylactic allergic reactions to a prior COVID-19 vaccine –  will be exempt.

People traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with less than 10% of its population vaccinated who need to enter the U.S. for emergency or humanitarian reasons are also exempt from the vaccine requirement. There are about 50 countries considered to have low vaccine availability at this time.

These exempt travelers will generally need to show that they will comply with public health mandates, including a requirement to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they plan to stay more than 60 days.  

Unless they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, unvaccinated travelers  must agree to be tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after their arrival and quarantine for seven days, even if their post-arrival test comes back negative. 

Unvaccinated travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also agree to self-isolate if their post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. 

Unvaccinated children under 18 will not need to quarantine but will still need to take a post-arrival test. 

► Who is exempt?: These select groups of unvaccinated foreign travelers can enter the US

The CDC will not give exemptions  to people who object to the vaccinations due to religious or moral convictions. 

There will also be testing accommodations for travelers who can prove they recently recovered from the coronavirus. These travelers will need to show a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before their flight's departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official saying they are cleared for travel.  

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz . 

Get Vaccinated Before You Travel

It’s important to plan ahead to get the shots required for all countries you and your family plan to visit.

Protect your child and family when traveling in the United States or abroad by:

• Getting the shots required for all countries you and your family plan to visit during your trip
• Making sure you and your family are up-to-date on all routine U.S. vaccines
• Staying informed about travel notices and alerts and how they can affect your family’s travel plans

Avoid getting sick or coming back home and spreading the disease to others.

Vaccinate at least a month before you travel

See your doctor when you start to plan your trip abroad. It’s important to do this well in advance.

• Your body needs time to build up immunity.
• You may need several weeks to get all the doses of the vaccine.
• Your primary doctor may not stock travel vaccines. Visit a travel medical clinic .
• You’ll need time to prepare for your pre-travel appointment .
• If the country you visit requires a yellow fever vaccine , only a limited number of clinics have the vaccine and will probably be some distance from where you live. You must get it at least 10 days before travel.

Find out which vaccines are recommended or required for the countries you plan to visit .

TIP : Save time by getting routine vaccines during the same doctor visit. Use the Vaccine Self-Assessment Tool and discuss the results with your doctor. It tells you which U.S. recommended vaccines you (19 years and older) or your child (birth – 18 years) might need.

Last-minute travelers

When traveling to another country be aware your doctor may not carry a travel vaccine and you may have to visit a medical clinic.

Many travel vaccines require multiple shots or take time to become fully effective. But some multiple-dose vaccines (like hepatitis A) can still give you partial protection after just one dose. Some can also be given on an “accelerated schedule,” meaning doses are given in a shorter period of time.

• Discover and learn about specific diseases that can affect you while traveling
• What to do if you get sick after traveling
• Vaccines & Immunizations

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The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked .

Please see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/the-biden-administration-will-end-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-for-federal-employees-contractors-international-travelers-head-start-educators-and-cms-certified-facilities/

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Starting Today Fully Vaccinated Travelers Permitted to Enter U.S. via Land and Ferry Border Crossings

WASHINGTON – Starting today, foreign nationals who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation will be permitted to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals for non-essential reasons such as tourism. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds these travelers to be prepared to (1) provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the  Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.

“Today, after more than 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, DHS is taking a critical step toward resuming normal travel,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Travelers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation are now permitted to enter the United States via our land and ferry border crossings for non-essential reasons such as visiting friends and family and engaging in tourism. DHS continues to work closely with our international partners and domestic public health experts to sustainably resume travel while protecting our communities and economic security.”

DHS’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is working to prevent long lines at land POEs and ferry terminals as normal travel resumes. However, long lines are expected in the initial days following pent-up demand, and CBP will adjust resources as needed, while continuing to facilitate lawful trade and travel and protect our national security. Travelers are advised to expect longer-than-normal wait times, familiarize themselves with the new guidelines , and have appropriate documentation ready during a border inspection.

U.S. citizens are reminded to bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid U.S. passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Enhanced Tribal Card, when re-entering the United States and should be prepared to present a WHTI-compliant document if requested by a CBP Officer during a border inspection. Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States through illegal means or without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of  facial biometrics  and the  CBP One™ , which is a single portal for CBP mobile applications and services.

To learn more about the updated requirements for travelers, review the DHS fact sheet .

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Think Travel Vaccine Guide

As a health care provider, be sure to prepare your globe-trotting patients for travel by providing a quick pretravel risk assessment, consultation, and care. THINK TRAVEL:

• Ask your patients if they plan on any international travel .
• Make sure they are up- to- date on all routine vaccines before their trip.
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal diseases

For destination-specific vaccine recommendations, search CDC’s Destination pages.

Think about...

*Travelers may also need routine (non-travel) vaccines or boosters before travel including influenza; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); tetanus (Td or Tdap); varicella; pneumococcus; and polio. Check CDC’s Destination Pages for country-specific vaccine recommendations.

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Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.