Nov 18, 20215 min read

International Travel

What You Need to Know

Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated.
Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation and travel requirements before traveling. Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements.
When you travel to the United States by air, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before you board your flight. The timing of this test depends on your vaccination status and age.
Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) traveling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).

Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrant

If you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or immigrant) traveling to the United States by air, visit Non-U.S. citizen Non-U.S. immigrants: Air Travel to the United States for requirements before boarding a flight to the United States. Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants. Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated there are additional recommendations to follow before, during, and after travel.

Are You Fully Vaccinated for Air Travel to the United States?

You are considered fully vaccinated:

2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine
2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial
2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of a Novavax (or Covovax) COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a phase 3 clinical trial
2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart*

If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated. If you have a medical condition that weakens your immune system or are taking medication that weakens your immune system, you might NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.

* CDC has not recommended the use of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine primary series. However, such strategies are increasingly common in many countries outside of the United States. Therefore, for the of purpose of interpreting vaccination records for travel to the United States, CDC will accept combinations of accepted COVID-19 vaccines. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a COVID-19 vaccine.

Before You Travel Internationally

Make sure to plan ahead:

Check the current COVID-19 situation at your destination.
Follow all airline requirements as well as any requirements at your destinationexternal icon, including mask wearing, proof of vaccination, testing, or quarantine. Requirements may differ from U.S. requirements. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.

Testing

RECOMMENDED

If you are not fully vaccinated, get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.

Do NOT travel if…

You have been exposed to COVID-19 unless you are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
You are sick.
You tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t ended isolation (even if you are fully vaccinated).
You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. If your test comes back positive while you are at your destination, you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it’s safe for you to end isolation. Your travel companions may need to self-quarantine.

During Travel

REQUIRED

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including on airplanes) traveling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).

Protect Yourself and Others

RECOMMENDED

Follow all recommendations and requirements at your destination, including wearing a mask and staying 6 feet (2 meters) apart from anyone who did not travel with you.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Before Traveling to the United States

vial light icon Testing – ALL Travelers REQUIRED Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show one of the following:

If you are fully vaccinated: Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 3 days before travel.
If you are NOT fully vaccinated: A negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel.

Children under 2 years old do not need to test. There is also an option for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. Learn more about these requirements.

phone icon Contact Information REQUIRED All air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This strengthens a travel process already in place to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Access to travelers’ contact information will allow U.S. federal, state, and local health departments, and agencies to share appropriate health and public health information necessary to help keep the public safe.

After Arrival in the United States

You might have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You might feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still be infected and spread the virus to others. For this reason, CDC recommends the following:

vial light icon ALL Travelers RECOMMENDED

Get tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after travel.
- Find a U.S. COVID-19 testing location near you.
Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.

If You Are NOT Fully Vaccinated

RECOMMENDED In addition to the testing recommendations above

Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if you test negative at 3-5 days.
If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

If Your Test Result is Positive

Isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Learn what to do and when it is safe to be around others.

If You Recovered from COVID-19 Recently

If you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days (regardless of vaccination status), you do NOT need to get a test 3-5 days after travel. People can continue to test positive for up to 90 days after diagnosis and not be infectious to others. You also do not need to self-quarantine after travel. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms after travel, isolate and consult with a healthcare provider for testing recommendations.