Can tourists travel to the USA? Travel ban & entry requirements
The USA travel ban is about to be lifted for vaccinated travelers.
Foreign tourists will soon be able to travel to the United States from Europe, the UK, and other countries affected by the travel ban.
This means the answer to the question ‘Can tourists travel to the USA?’ is about to change.
Currently, whether a foreign tourist can enter the United States depends on their recent international travel. From November 8th 2021, however, it will depend on their vaccination status.
More information about when and how tourists can travel to the USA is provided on this page.
The US will open to vaccinated tourists in November
The United States will lift international travel restrictions for vaccinated air passengers from November 8th. Tourists who can prove they have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the US.
Passengers will still need to have a pre-departure COVID-19 test, but will not need to quarantine.
There will be some exceptions to the vaccine requirement, for example, children who are not old enough to receive the jabs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that mixed doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be recognized as a full vaccination for travel purposes, so long as these are FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 vaccines.
Can tourists travel to the USA now?
The current USA travel bans will remain in place until early November. Under the restrictions, tourists can travel to the USA provided they have not been in any restricted countries in the last 14 days.
Countries affected by the COVID-19 travel ban are:
- Brazil
- China
- India
- Iran
- Ireland
- Schengen Area countries
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
Exemptions apply for certain essential travel purposes.
The ban is based on travel history, not nationality. Restrictions apply to passport holders of all nationalities who have been physically present in any of the places listed.
Can Canadians travel to the US now?
Canadians can travel to the US by plane. Land border restrictions between the United States and Canada will remain in place until at least October 21, 2021.
Air travel between Canada and the USA is permitted, Canada is not affected by the USA travel ban. However, Canadians cannot enter the United States if they have been to any of the 33 restricted nations in the last 14 days.
Canadian travelers must meet all regular and COVID-19 entry requirements.
Can Europeans travel to the USA now?
Europeans can travel to the USA now if, in the last 14 days, they have not been in any Schengen Member State or other restricted countries.
Europeans cannot enter the United States directly from Schengen states, including France, Spain, and Germany at this time. The same rules apply to the United Kingdom.
This will change on November 8th, 2021. Fully vaccinated European tourists will be able to enter when the US travel ban is lifted.
What tourists need to travel to the US during COVID
There are some essential health documents for passengers traveling to the United States during COVID-19.
Visitors must also meet the regular entry requirements for foreigners, which include having a visa or ESTA before arriving in the USA.
COVID-19 PCR test required to enter the USA
All vaccinated air passengers over the age of 2 need to take a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before traveling to the US. Unvaccinated travelers need to take the test one day before traveling.
It must be a viral test, which includes antigen and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). Examples of NAAT tests are RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA, NEAR, and HDA.
Test certificate requirements
The COVID-19 test medical certificate must show:
- A negative result
- Test type
- Issuing entity (lab, healthcare service etc.)
- Test date
Tourists who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days can instead present a positive test result and a letter from a health authority clearing them for travel.
Travel health certificate for the United States
The United States has not yet introduced a national travel health certificate for international travelers. However, with the county set to open to vaccinated tourists in November, some States have their own travel health certificates such as Hawaii or California. As soon as a national Travel Health Certificate is introduced, it may become an entry requirement.
Other countries across the world are using COVID-19 passports to promote safe international travel. Examples include the EU COVID Certificate and the Entrance Form for Turkey or the ArriveCAN.
These travel health certificates are used to record a traveler’s vaccine or recovery status and COVID-19 test results.
Currently, all travelers must complete a disclosure and attestation form before departure.
COVID-19 vaccine certificate for tourists visiting the US
- Passenger details
- Vaccine received
- Where the vaccine was administered
- Date of vaccination
Accepted vaccines
A list of accepted vaccines to travel will be provided closer to the policy start date. It will be based on guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC considers someone fully vaccinated if they have received an FDA-authorised or approved vaccine or a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. This list is subject to change.
International tourists should stay up to date with the latest news about traveling during COVID-19. Entry restrictions and requirements are reviewed and updated regularly.