As the United States reopens to the world, the U.S has announced its full entry requirements for reopening on November 8. The United States has been closed for non-essential travel since the pandemic began, but the nation is due to reopen in two weeks.
Federal health officials offered more specifics today for airlines and travelers on the entry requirements, including the news children under 18 won’t need to be fully vaccinated. But they will need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 taken 72 hours before arrival if they're traveling with fully vaccinated adults.
The White House said in a statement, “With science and public health as our guide, the United States has developed a new international air travel system that both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and enhances the safety of international air travel.”
The Full Entry Requirements For International Travelers
The United States will reopen to travelers from the following countries on November 8:
- China
- India
- Iran
- Brazil
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- Republic of Ireland
- 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
Airlines will collect personal information from all travelers for contact tracing purposes. The government will require airlines to keep the information on their system for 30 days to enable health officials to follow up with any travelers exposed to COVID-19.
The Vaccination Requirements
Foreign travelers will be able to enter the United States if they can show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure to the U.S.
The U.S government stated exemptions to vaccine requirements would be rare, but travelers under the age of 18 and travelers from nations with low vaccination availability — such as under 10 percent of the population vaccinated — would be exempt from the vaccination requirement.
The White House said in a statement, “For anyone traveling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure.”
The U.S government will not require children under two to take a COVID-19 test before departure, but children aged 2 to 17 will require a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure to the United States if they’re traveling with fully vaccinated adults.
If children under 18 are not traveling with fully vaccinated adults, they will need to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure.
Travelers with various medical conditions, including people who’ve had severe anaphylactic reactions to the COVID vaccine will be exempt from the vaccination requirement.
The United States will allow all vaccines that the WHO has approved for emergency use to board planes to the United States.
Travelers will need to wear masks when traveling to the United States, but there is no quarantine mandate for arrivals from the above nations.
A senior White House official stated in a Monday briefing, “These are strict safety protocols that follow the science of public health to enhance the safety of Americans here at home and the safety of international air travel.”
The Land Border Restrictions Between Mexico And Canada
The new travel rules will affect all foreign tourists entering via land or ferry from Canada and Mexico. Fully vaccinated travelers will be able to cross the border for non-essential purposes from November 8.
However, entry rules will change in January when all travelers, including those traveling for essential purposes, will need to show full proof of vaccination.
Travelers can now fully plan their travels to the United States after 19 painful months of closure.
Read More:
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19
Everything UK and EU Travelers Need To Know About The U.S. Reopening For Tourism
CDC Says It’s OK For Vaccinated People To Travel This Holiday Season
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Tina
Tuesday 26th of October 2021
You really can't make it up. For 20 months, Europeans were pretty much the only ones not able to travel, despite widespread vaccination and a truthful representation of the epidemiological situation. Meanwhile, coming in from most of Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America was zero problem at all, despite insufficient data or data tampering. Now Europeans need a vaccine, but countries with "low vaccination rates" do not. So essentially the situation is the same except Europeans don't need to circle via Africa anymore. Do they actually hear themselves when they create such absolute nonsensical rules? That said: whatever, I got the jab orecisely because I saw this coming and will now finally be able to visit my best friend again.
Kamil
Tuesday 26th of October 2021
Does it have to PCR test to enter the US or it can be any?
Anahit Gevorgyanu
Monday 25th of October 2021
Hi! I’m afraid it’s not clear below 2 moments: 1.Will these rules apply to Armenian nationals, who are traveling to the USA? 2. In case the passenger is traveling from Armenia via Qatar or Russia as a transit, will he be required to be fully vaccinated?
garrytravel
Monday 25th of October 2021
Still confused. I have read in some sources that unvaccinated foreigners can enter usa with one same day test. What is the current rules for land crossing, and what changes in 2 weeks, and what changes in January? Asking for a friend, as USA not in my top 50 countries to visit.
Jay
Monday 25th of October 2021
"For anyone traveling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure."
1) Does this apply to foreign travelers as well? I mean can unvaccinated foreigners enter the US on November 8 provided they have proof of a negative test within one day of departure?
2) Also, will ALL types of COVID tests be accepted or are they referring to a specific type of test only, and if so, which one (PCR, antigen, etc)?
Kashlee Kucheran
Monday 25th of October 2021
1) No, only citizens can enter unvaccinated (and a very small list of other possible exceptions that won't apply to 99.9% of passengers) 2) Antigen or PCR are both accepted