[Updated] Current US COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

In order to travel to the United States from anywhere in the world, travelers 18 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement applies to everyone who is not a US national, lawful permanent resident, or who is traveling to the US on a valid immigrant visa. Some exemptions are available including for crewmembers of airlines or other aircraft operators, diplomats and persons traveling as part of an official foreign delegation, persons with documented medical conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated, persons traveling with a humanitarian or emergency exception, and a limited number of additional categories of travelers.

In order to travel to the United States, you must meet all applicable requirements including obtaining a valid entry visa if required. If you're not sure whether you qualify for visa-free travel to the United States under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you should check with your local US embassy or consulate prior to finalizing travel arrangements. Travelers holding passports issued by countries in the Schengen Area, Ireland, or the United Kingdom may be eligible for the visa-free entry to the United States under the VWP. Travelers who qualify under VWP must obtain electronic travel authorization before departing for the United States.

Travelers must prove they completed a full vaccination regimen using a COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Travelers must have received all relevant doses at least 14 days prior to when they plan to arrive in the United States. Children under 18 years of age are exempt from the vaccination requirement. In order to establish proof, the United States requires travelers to show either a digital or a paper-based record of vaccination. These records must contain personally identifying information that matches the traveler's passport or other travel documents and must contain information regarding who administered the vaccine, who manufactured it, and when.

Yes. In order to qualify for quarantine-free entry, all travelers authorized to enter the United States must have a negative COVID-19 test result issued no more than 1 day prior to departure. This goes for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, as well as for American Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other who are exempt from the current travel ban. Children under 2 years of age are not required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Test results can be a so-called nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or an antigen test. Among the broad category of NAATs, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is the most well-known.

Travelers who have fully recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection may show documentation of recovery rather than a negative test result. In order to qualify, this documentation must contain proof of a previous positive COVID-19 test result issued no more than 90 days before a traveler's intended departure and must be accompanied by an official letter from an authorized healthcare provider attesting that the traveler is cleared to travel. The letter must contain personally identifying information that matches the traveler's passport or other travel documents.

Excellent question! Foreign travelers seeking to enter the United States via land or sea border checkpoints must show valid proof of vaccination against COVID-19. This requirement is the same as outlined above for air travelers. At the time of writing, the requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery does not apply to travelers arriving at land or sea border checkpoints.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends travelers undergo additional testing for COVID-19 between 3 and 5 days following their arrival. All travelers should self-monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and should self-isolate if they develop such symptoms. Travelers should follow any additional state or local recommendations and requirements after arriving in the United States. Unvaccinated travelers authorized to travel to the US should self-isolate for between 7 and 10 days after arriving from abroad according to current CDC recommendations. Travelers are no longer legally required to wear masks when traveling aboard public transportation or when accessing transportation hubs such as airports and bus terminals. Mask mandates still exist in some local jurisdictions and may be required when entering private establishments.

All air travelers (including US nationals) must provide valid contact information to airline staff prior to boarding flights bound for the United States. Travelers must fill out and submit a Passenger Disclosure and Attestation to the United States of America form. This will be provided by your airline prior to departure or is available online from the CDC.

All travelers are advised to check the latest announcements published in official government channels prior to finalizing travel plans. While we make every effort to provide accurate and timely information, conditions may have changed since this guide was written. Always double-check the latest official information. It's better to be safe than sorry.

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The United States is a vast country with tons of amazing travel destinations. There are major urban centers like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Or exquisite natural scenery found in places like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. If you're wondering where to go or what to do, here are a few additional resources to help you plan how best to say, Hello USA!