TRAVEL UPDATE: CDC will no longer require international air travelers to have a negative COVID test

The CDC issued an order rescinding a 17-month old requirement that people arriving in the U.S. by air test negative for COVID-19, saying the initial order requiring a negative test is “not necessary.” Effective immediately, air travelers will NOT be required to test negative to enter the U.S. Foreign nationals will still be required to be vaccinated against coronavirus to enter the country, with limited exceptions.

Current Vaccine Requirements

Vaccine Requirements for International Air Travelers as of November 8, 2021:

All foreign nationals must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States. There are very limited exemptions to this policy (such as children who do not yet qualify for vaccination).

Accepted vaccines include those authorized or approved by the FDA and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. The US will accept any combination of vaccines from the FDA and WHO lists for individuals to achieve full-vaccination status (for example, one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and a second dose of Oxford-AztraZeneca).

• FDA Authorized/Approved Vaccines: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (Jansen), and Pfizer-BioNTech
• WHO Approved Vaccines: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (Jansen), and Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AztraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

Individuals can be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series (i.e. mixing and matching).

Requirements for Children

Children under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers. Children between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test 24 hours prior to their flight.

Border Crossing from Canada and Mexico (Title 19 Restrictions Lifted)

DHS is allowing non-essential travel across regular land and ferry borders for fully vaccinated travelers. Non-essential travel includes tourism and visiting friends and family.

Effective January 22, 2022, DHS will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all border travel, including essential travelers. Essential travel includes essential workers with employment in the US. Continue to communicate with our office and your employer if you have questions.