Effective January 26, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery
Please see CDC’s FAQ for answers to questions about the new requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.
Information for Travelers Returning to the United States:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect countries differently. Challenges to any international travel at this time may include mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements, quarantines, travel restrictions, and closed borders. Foreign governments may implement restrictions with little notice, even in destinations that were previously low risk. If you choose to travel internationally, your trip may be severely disrupted, and it may be difficult to arrange travel back to the United States.
If you are planning to travel overseas or if you are currently overseas and planning to return to the U.S., you should contact your airline for specific information about testing requirements for travelers. Because airlines may adopt and modify their own specific policies to implement CDC’s new rule, you should contact the carrier for your U.S.-bound flight and not rely on information from other carriers or information or experience from previous trips.
The Department of State advises all U.S. citizens to read the country-specific Travel Advisories and U.S. Embassy COVID pages for updates on the impact of COVID-19 worldwide.
U.S. Citizens Returning from Brazil
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are allowed to return from Brazil. See our FAQs on the Presidential Proclamations on travel and the DHS website for further details.
U.S. Citizens Returning from Europe
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents returning to the United States from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Schengen area should review our FAQs on the Presidential Proclamation on travel from Europe and the Department of Homeland Security website for further details.
U.S. Citizens Returning from China
Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in China in the previous 14 days may be subject to up to 14 days of quarantine.
Please read these Department of Homeland Security supplemental instructions for further details.
Cruise Ship Passengers
The CDC has extended its No Sail Order for all cruise ships through September.
U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship at this time. The CDC notes there is increased risk of infection of COVID-19 on cruise ships. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented strict screening procedures that deny port entry rights to ships and prevent passengers from disembarking.
CDC notes that older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease. This entails avoiding crowded places, non-essential travel, and especially avoiding cruise ships. Passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information, continue to monitor the travel.state.gov website, and read the latest information from the CDC.
U.S. Students Abroad
The CDC recommends institutes of higher education (IHE) consider postponing or canceling upcoming student foreign exchange programs. In addition, the CDC recommends IHE consider asking current program participants to return to their home country.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.
Travelers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc.
For emergency assistance, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1 (888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.
If you decide to travel abroad or are already outside the United States:
Click here for our COVID FAQs Search Tool.
