Can tourists travel to the USA? Travel ban & entry requirements
The USA travel ban is being lifted for vaccinated travelers.
Foreign tourists are able to travel to the United States from Europe, the UK, and other countries previously affected by the travel ban.
Currently, whether a foreign tourist can enter the United States depends on their recent international travel and vaccination status.
More information about when and how tourists can travel to the USA is provided on this page.
US opens to vaccinated tourists
The United States lifted international travel restrictions for vaccinated air passengers on November 8th. Tourists who can prove they have been fully vaccinated are allowed to enter the US.
Passengers still need to have a pre-departure COVID-19 test, but do not need to quarantine.
There are 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 are 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?
Under current restrictions, tourists can travel to the USA provided they have not been in any restricted countries in the last 14 days. Restrictions change according to the epidemiological situation: travelers are advised to check the news and stay up to date.
Exemptions apply for certain essential travel purposes.
Travel bans are 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 or land.
Land border restrictions between the United States and Canada remained in place until October 2021, but have since been relaxed.
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 restricted countries.
Europeans previously could not enter the United States directly from Schengen states, including France, Spain, and Germany. But freedom of movement has been restored between Europe and the USA for fully vaccinated travelers.
The EU COVID Certificate can be used to prove vaccination status upon arrival in the US.
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 and unvaccinated air passengers over the age of 2 need to take a COVID-19 test no more than 1 calendar day before traveling to the US.
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
Travel health certificate for the United States
The United States has not yet introduced a national travel health certificate for international travelers. Some states have their own COVID 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 for Canada.
These travel health certificates are used to record a traveler’s vaccine or recovery status and COVID-19 test results.
COVID-19 vaccine certificate for tourists visiting the US
- Passenger details
- Vaccine received
- Where the vaccine was administered
- Date of vaccination
Accepted vaccines
The list of accepted COVID vaccines in the US is 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.