In case you plan to journey internationally, you will want to get a viral check not more than 3 days earlier than you journey by air into the US (US) and present your unfavourable consequence to the airline earlier than you board your flight, or be ready to indicate documentation of restoration (proof of a latest optimistic viral check and a letter out of your healthcare supplier or a public well being official stating that you just have been cleared to journey).
On January 12, 2021, CDC introduced an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a international nation to get examined not more than 3 days earlier than their flight departs and to current the unfavourable consequence or documentation of getting recovered from COVID-19 to the airline earlier than boarding the flight. Air passengers may also be required to verify that the knowledge they current is true within the type of an attestation. This Order is efficient as of 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on January 26, 2021.
For the total record of necessities and exemptions, please overview the language within the Order.
Worldwide Journey Suggestions
Worldwide journey poses extra dangers and even absolutely vaccinated vacationers are at elevated danger for getting and presumably spreading new COVID-19 variants.
CDC recommends delaying worldwide journey till you might be absolutely vaccinated.
Comply with CDC’s after worldwide journey suggestions.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Normal
Does this requirement apply to US residents?
This Order applies to all air passengers, 2 years of age or older, touring into the US, together with US residents and authorized everlasting residents.
Are noncitizens now not topic to Presidential Proclamation journey restrictions if they’ll present a unfavourable check or documentation of restoration?
The CDC order doesn’t substitute the Presidential proclamations. Due to this fact, a unfavourable check consequence for COVID-19 or documentation of getting recovered from COVID-19 to the airline earlier than boarding the flight doesn’t exempt a international nationwide from the journey restrictions outlined within the Presidential proclamations.
With particular exceptions, a number of Presidential proclamations droop and restrict entry into the US, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, all noncitizens who have been bodily current inside particular international locations in the course of the 14-day interval previous their entry or tried entry into the US.
For a full record of nations and hyperlinks to the proclamations on the White Home web site, go to Vacationers Prohibited from Entry to the US.
Are US territories thought-about international international locations for the needs of this Order?
No, the Order to current a documentation of a unfavourable COVID-19 check or restoration from COVID-19 doesn’t apply to air passengers flying from a US territory to a US state.
US territories embrace American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
If I fly from a US state or territory to a different US state or territory, however need to transit by way of a international nation, am I nonetheless required to get a check earlier than the primary flight?
In case you booked an itinerary from a US state or territory to a different US state or territory and the itinerary has you taking a connecting flight by way of a international nation, you don’t want to be examined. An instance of this example is an itinerary booked between the Northern Mariana Islands (a US territory) and the US mainland by way of Japan.
For details about what to do when you have a brief journey to a international nation from the US, see FAQ Can a check taken earlier than departure from the US be used to return inside the 3-day timeframe? How will testing necessities be dealt with for brief journeys?
Why does the Order specify 3 days reasonably than 72 hours? What is taken into account 3 days?
The three-day interval is the three days earlier than the flight’s departure. The Order makes use of a 3-day timeframe as an alternative of 72 hours to offer extra flexibility to the traveler. By utilizing a 3-day window, check validity doesn’t rely upon the time of the flight or the time of day that the check was administered.
For instance, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger may board with a unfavourable check that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.
What’s an attestation?
An attestation is a press release, writing, entry, or different illustration beneath 18 U.S.C. § 1001 that confirms that the knowledge supplied is true.
Does this Order apply to land border crossings?
No, the necessities of this Order solely apply to air journey into the US.
Who’s checking to make it possible for folks have a unfavourable check or documentation of restoration earlier than they board a airplane to the US?
The airline will affirm a COVID-19 unfavourable check consequence or documentation of restoration for all passengers earlier than boarding.
What forms of SARS-CoV-2 check are acceptable beneath the Order?
Passengers have to be examined with a viral check that might be both an antigen check or a nucleic acid amplification check (NAAT). Examples of obtainable NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 embrace however usually are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain response (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification response (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The check used have to be licensed to be used by the related nationwide authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 within the nation the place the check is run. A viral check performed for U.S. Division of Protection (DOD) personnel, together with DOD contractors, dependents, and different U.S. authorities staff, and examined by a DOD laboratory situated out of the country additionally meets the necessities of the Order.
Can I get a speedy check?
Fast checks are acceptable so long as they’re a viral check acceptable beneath the Order.
Does a self-test meet the circumstances of the Order?
Worldwide air passengers touring to the US can use a self-test (generally known as dwelling check) that meets the next standards:
- The check have to be a SARS-CoV-2 viral check (nucleic acid amplification check [NAAT] or antigen check) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA).
- The testing process should embrace a telehealth service affiliated with the producer of the check that gives real-time supervision remotely by way of an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that embrace a telehealth service could require a prescription.
- The telehealth supplier should affirm the individual’s id, observe the specimen assortment and testing procedures, affirm the check consequence, and situation a report that meets the necessities of CDC’s Order (see “What data have to be included within the check consequence?” under).
- Airways and different plane operators should be capable of overview and ensure the individual’s id and the check consequence particulars. The passenger should additionally be capable of current the documentation of check outcomes to U.S. officers on the port of entry and native/state well being departments, if requested.
For vacationers who check optimistic, CDC recommends the telehealth supplier report optimistic check outcomes to related public well being authorities within the traveler’s location following native necessities. The telehealth supplier must also counsel the traveler on what they and their shut contacts ought to do. This would come with not touring till they full isolation (if contaminated) or quarantine (if uncovered), in accordance with native necessities.
Some international locations could limit importation of checks that aren’t licensed or registered there. Vacationers who’re contemplating bringing a U.S.-authorized check with them to be used exterior of the US ought to contact authorities at their vacation spot for data earlier than they journey.
What data have to be included on the check consequence?
A check consequence have to be within the type of written documentation (paper or digital copy). The documentation should embrace:
- Sort of check (indicating it’s a NAAT or antigen check)
- Entity issuing the consequence (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
- Specimen assortment date. A unfavourable check consequence should present the specimen was collected inside the 3 days earlier than the flight. A optimistic check consequence for documentation of restoration from COVID-19 should present the specimen was collected inside the 3 months earlier than the flight.
- Data that identifies the individual (full identify plus a minimum of one different identifier reminiscent of date of delivery or passport quantity)
- Check End result
Does a unfavourable check consequence or documentation of restoration should be in English?
Airways and different plane operators should be capable of affirm the check consequence and overview different required data, and will decide when translation is critical for these functions. Passengers whose paperwork are in a language apart from English ought to verify with their airline or plane operator earlier than journey.
If a passenger has examined optimistic for COVID-19, after which checks unfavourable, can that passenger journey?
People with identified or suspected COVID-19 ought to self-isolate and NOT journey till they’ve met CDC’s standards for discontinuing isolation.
If a passenger has a unfavourable check, however was an in depth contact of a identified COVID case, can that passenger journey?
People who usually are not absolutely vaccinated and have had shut contact with an individual with COVID-19 (i.e., who’re thought-about uncovered to COVID-19), ought to self-quarantine and NOT journey till they’ve met CDC standards for discontinuing quarantine. People who’re absolutely vaccinated, or who’ve documentation of restoration from COVID-19 up to now 3 months, don’t have to self-quarantine after publicity to an individual with COVID-19 and might journey until they’ve COVID-19 signs.
Do the necessities of this Order apply to diplomats and particular visa holders?
Diplomats and particular visa holders usually are not exempt from this Order.
Passengers
What if I’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine or have examined optimistic for antibodies? Do I nonetheless want a unfavourable COVID-19 check or documentation of restoration from COVID-19?
Sure, at the moment all air passengers touring to the US, no matter vaccination or antibody standing, are required to offer a unfavourable COVID-19 check consequence or documentation of restoration.
When do I have to get a check to journey to the US and how much check do I want?
Get examined not more than 3 days earlier than your flight to the US departs. Be sure to be examined with a viral check (NAAT or antigen check) to find out in case you are at the moment contaminated with COVID-19. Additionally just be sure you obtain your outcomes earlier than your flight departs and have documentation of your outcomes to indicate the airline.
Do state and native governments within the US have separate testing necessities for air passengers?
Federal testing necessities have to be met to board a airplane to the US. Some state and native governments could have related or extra restrictive testing necessities for air passengers arriving of their jurisdictions. At all times verify and observe state and native suggestions or necessities associated to journey along with federal necessities.
Can a check taken earlier than departure from the US be used to return inside the 3-day timeframe? How will testing necessities be dealt with for brief journeys?
If a visit is shorter than 3 days, a viral check taken in the US can be utilized to satisfy the necessities of the Order so long as the specimen was taken not more than three days earlier than the return flight to the US departs. If the return journey is delayed longer than 3 days after the check, the passenger will should be retested earlier than the return flight.
Vacationers contemplating this feature ought to moreover think about the supply of applicable testing capability at their locations, and the time-frame wanted to acquire outcomes, as a contingency when planning for journey.
What if I not too long ago recovered from COVID-19?
CDC doesn’t suggest getting examined once more within the three months after a optimistic viral check, so long as you don’t have signs of COVID-19. When you have had a optimistic viral check up to now 3 months, and you’ve got met the factors to finish isolation, it’s possible you’ll journey as an alternative with documentation of your optimistic viral check outcomes and a letter out of your healthcare supplier or a public well being official that states you might have been cleared for journey. The optimistic check consequence and letter collectively are known as “documentation of restoration.”
A letter out of your healthcare supplier or a public well being official that clears you to finish isolation, e.g., to return to work or faculty, can be utilized to indicate you might be cleared to journey, even when journey isn’t particularly talked about within the letter.
What occurs if I don’t take a check and wish to journey to the US?
Air passengers touring to the US are required to current a unfavourable COVID-19 check consequence or documentation of restoration. Airways should affirm the unfavourable check consequence or documentation of restoration for all passengers earlier than boarding. If a passenger chooses to not current a check consequence or documentation of restoration, the airline should deny boarding to the passenger.
What if I’m abroad and might’t get examined earlier than my flight?
Passengers ought to contact the airline concerning choices for altering their departure date to permit time for a check, see if the airline has recognized choices for testing, or if there are alternatives accessible for altering their flights to transit by way of a location the place they’ll get examined earlier than boarding their closing flight to the US.
I’m unable to discover a testing website that has a turnaround time of 1-3 days overseas. What ought to I do?
Vacationers ought to think about the supply of applicable testing capability at their locations, and the time-frame wanted to acquire outcomes, as a contingency when planning for journey.
For extra data on the place to acquire a check abroad, vacationers ought to overview the related U.S. Embassy websiteexternal icon. Vacationers might have to think about a routing change to a distinct nation or metropolis so as to meet the testing requirement.
What occurs if I check optimistic?
Folks ought to self-isolate and delay their journey if signs develop or a pre-departure check result’s optimistic till they’ve recovered from COVID-19. Airways should refuse to board anybody who doesn’t current a unfavourable check consequence for COVID-19 or documentation of restoration.
What sort of documentation of my check consequence or documentation of restoration do I have to current?
Earlier than boarding a flight to the US, you will want to indicate a paper or digital copy of your unfavourable check consequence for overview by the airline and for overview upon request by public well being officers after you arrive within the US.
In case you are touring with documentation of restoration, you have to current paper or digital copies of your optimistic check consequence (dated not more than 90 days in the past) and a signed letter, on official letterhead that accommodates the identify, handle, and telephone variety of a licensed healthcare supplier or public well being official, stating that you’ve got been cleared to finish isolation and due to this fact can journey. A letter that states that you’ve got been cleared to finish isolation to return to work or faculty can be acceptable. The letter doesn’t need to particularly point out journey.
What personally figuring out data is required to verify unfavourable check consequence or documentation of restoration? Does it should be in English?
Airways and different plane operators should be capable of affirm the check consequence and overview different required data. There ought to be adequate personally identifiable data on the check consequence or documentation of restoration to make sure a match with the individual’s passport or different journey data. This might embrace however will not be restricted to call, date or delivery, age, passport quantity, and so forth.
Airways and different plane operators ought to decide when translation of outcomes or documentation of restoration is critical for these functions. Passengers whose paperwork are in a language apart from English ought to verify with their airline or plane operator earlier than journey.
See additionally, What sort of documentation of my check consequence or documentation of restoration do I have to current?
Can I get an exemption or waiver to the testing requirement?
Exemptions could also be granted on an especially restricted foundation when emergency journey (like an emergency medical evacuation) should happen to protect somebody’s life, well being towards a severe hazard, or bodily security and testing can’t be accomplished earlier than journey.
Can I apply for a humanitarian exemption?
CDC could grant a humanitarian exemption in restricted circumstances solely when a person should journey to the US to protect well being and security (e.g. emergency medical evacuations) and is unable to entry or full the testing requirement earlier than journey. People and organizations sponsoring people who match the exemption standards described in CDC’s Order ought to contact the U.S. embassy or consulate within the nation from which they’re departing for the US. The embassy will then transmit this data to the CDC for consideration.
You’ll be able to contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulateexternal icon, or name these numbers on the U.S. Division of State headquarters: From the US and Canada: 888-407-4747; from abroad: 202-501-4444
NOTE: A humanitarian exemption will not be wanted for individuals who have to journey by way of personal or medical transport to the US after testing optimistic for COVID-19. Individuals who check optimistic for COVID-19 and haven’t met CDC standards to finish isolation are exempt from the necessities beneath the Order in the event that they journey by way of personal or medical transport to the US. The plane operator transporting the individual should adhere to CDC’s Interim Steerage for Transporting or Arranging Transportation by Air into, from, or inside the US of Folks with COVID-19 or COVID-19 Publicity. CDC’s steering states that different passengers who don’t have COVID-19 shouldn’t be transported with contaminated passengers. If a guardian or caregiver is required to accompany a minor or different contaminated individual needing help throughout journey, that individual should apply for a humanitarian exemption if unable to be examined inside 3 days of the medivac departure.
To facilitate the overview of a humanitarian exemption request, the next data ought to be supplied to the embassy or consulate for transmission to the CDC:
- For every passenger: Title (household identify/surname, given identify), Passport quantity and Nationality
- Mobile phone, together with nation code, of passenger or head of family if household unit
- E mail of passenger or head of family if household unit
- U.S. vacation spot handle
- Is U.S. vacation spot dwelling handle?
- Departure date and flight itinerary, together with any connecting flights
- Title of submitting entity if completely different from passenger
- Title of firm submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if relevant)
- Title of level of contact (POC) submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if relevant)
- Telephone and electronic mail handle for POC submitting exemption request on behalf of passenger(s) (if relevant)
- Goal of journey to the US (present temporary clarification of why pressing journey is required, and the way journey will contribute to well being and security of passengers(s))
- Justification for testing exemption (e.g. no testing accessible, influence on well being and security)
- Documentation to assist justification for check exemption (e.g. medical information or orders for medical evacuation)
See the Division of State’s websiteexternal icon for extra data on help for U.S. residents abroad.
Do passengers additionally have to have a duplicate of their attestation in addition to the airline retaining it?
Passengers are solely required to retain a paper or digital copy of their unfavourable check consequence or documentation of restoration for the whole thing of their itinerary. The attestation ought to be submitted to and retained by the airline or plane operator.
Ought to passengers retain proof of a unfavourable check or documentation of restoration?
Sure, passengers should nonetheless retain a paper or digital copy of the mandatory documentation as federal public well being officers could request to see these paperwork on the port of entry. State, territorial, tribal and/or native well being departments in the US might also request them beneath their very own public well being authorities.
If I’m connecting by way of the US to a different nation, do I nonetheless have to get examined?
Sure. Any flight getting into the US, even for a connection, would require testing earlier than departure.
If I’ve a number of connecting flights to the US, does the 3-day interval apply to the primary flight or the final one? Do I have to get one other check if I’ve a connecting flight?
In case your itinerary has you arriving to the US by way of a number of connecting flights, your check will be taken inside the 3 days earlier than the departure of the primary flight.
If the 3-day testing interval expires earlier than certainly one of your connecting flights, you solely have to get retested earlier than boarding connecting flights if:
- You deliberate an itinerary incorporating a number of in a single day stays en path to the US. (NOTE: You do not want to be retested if the itinerary requires an in a single day connection due to limitations in flight availability.), OR
- The connecting flight is delayed previous the 3-day restrict of testing resulting from a state of affairs exterior of your management (e.g., delays due to extreme climate or plane mechanical downside), and that delay is greater than 48 hours previous the 3-day restrict for testing.
What occurs if my flight (or first flight if itinerary contains connecting flights) is delayed previous the 3-day restrict for testing?
If the preliminary departing flight in your journey is delayed previous the 3-day restrict of testing resulting from a state of affairs exterior of your management (e.g., delays due to extreme climate or plane mechanical downside), and that delay is 24 hours or much less previous the 3-day restrict for testing, you don’t want to be retested. If the delay is greater than 24 hours previous the 3-day restrict, then you will want to be retested.
What occurs if my connecting flight is delayed previous the 3-day restrict for testing?
If the connecting flight in your journey is delayed previous the 3-day restrict of testing resulting from a state of affairs exterior of your management (e.g., delays due to extreme climate or plane mechanical downside), and that delay is lower than 48 hours previous the 3-day restrict for testing, you don’t want to be retested. If the delay is greater than 48 hours previous the 3-day restrict, then you will want to be retested.
See additionally If I’ve a number of connecting flights to the US, does the 3-day interval apply to the primary flight or the final one? Do I have to get one other check if I’ve a connecting flight?
If I examined unfavourable earlier than my flight, do I have to get one other check once I get to the US?
CDC recommends that vacationers get examined 3-5 days after journey AND keep dwelling or in any other case self-quarantine for 7 days after journey. Even should you check unfavourable, keep dwelling for the total 7 days. In case you don’t get examined, it’s most secure to remain dwelling for 10 days. At all times observe state and native suggestions or necessities associated to journey.
All vacationers (together with those that have recovered from COVID-19) ought to keep in mind to put on a masks, keep a minimum of 6 ft aside from people who find themselves not in your family, and wash their fingers usually with cleaning soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds after blowing their nostril, coughing, or sneezing and earlier than consuming. Vacationers ought to search for signs of COVID-19, and take your temperature should you really feel sick. Anybody sick with signs of COVID-19 ought to self-isolate and delay additional journey.
For extra data, go to After You Journey.
Do I have to get a check earlier than leaving the US?
Presently, CDC doesn’t have a testing requirement for outbound vacationers, however recommends that you just get examined with a viral check (NAAT or antigen) 1-3 days earlier than you journey internationally. Vacationers ought to verify with worldwide locations for his or her entry necessities.
What’s the justification for letting individuals who not too long ago recovered from COVID-19 journey and not using a unfavourable check? What about reinfections?
Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 can proceed to check optimistic for as much as 3 months after their an infection. CDC doesn’t really helpful retesting inside 3 months after an individual with COVID-19 first developed signs (or the date of their first optimistic viral diagnostic check if their an infection was asymptomatic). Even when they’ve recovered from COVID-19, individuals who develop signs of COVID-19 mustn’t journey and will search take care of testing and analysis. This steering could also be up to date as extra details about individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 turns into accessible.
Can CDC assist me get a refund for journey bills if I’ve to cancel or delay journey due to testing necessities for air passengers flying to the US?
CDC doesn’t reimburse and is unable to assist vacationers get reimbursements for journey bills on account of canceled or delayed journey due to COVID-19 or testing necessities for air passengers flying to the US. Whereas some corporations could base their insurance policies on CDC’s journey suggestions or necessities, every firm establishes its personal refund insurance policies.
In some circumstances, journey cancellation insurance coverage can defend your monetary funding in a visit if it’s good to change your itinerary within the occasion of a world outbreak. Go to CDC’s Vacationers’ Well being web site if you want to be taught extra about journey insurance coverage, together with journey cancellation insurance coverage.
Will CDC reimburse me for the price of a COVID-19 check?
CDC will not be in a position to reimburse vacationers for COVID-19 testing charges. Chances are you’ll want to contact your insurance coverage supplier or the situation that supplied your check about fee choices.