The U.S. has a range of State, Local, and Federal Covid-19 travel restrictions so you need to know the current rules when you are travelling.
We have links to numerous resources at the end of this post to help you get more information on the Federal and state regulations we discuss here. We also have a separate post with the details on the Covid-19 travel restrictions on entering Canada.
Current U.S. Covid Rules
- Foreign travelers must be fully vaccinated to enter the U.S.
- You do not need to take a Covid test to enter the U.S.
- U.S. citizens do not have to be vaccinated to re-enter the country.
Current U.S. Covid Rules For Foreign Travelers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows fully vaccinated international travelers to enter the United States for any reason. Foreign travelers entering the U.S. must be vaccinated and must:
- Verbally attest to your COVID-19 vaccination status along with proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination
- All air passengers to the United States are required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States.
- Provide all of the normal required documentation for entry to the country plus any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during a border inspection.
Children under the age of 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement.
You will be considered fully vaccinated if you received any of the vaccines approved by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or by the World Health Organization (WHO). You must have completed your shots at least 2 weeks before your travel date. It is ok if you received doses of two different vaccines so long as both are on the list of approved shots. Approved vaccines include AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer/BionTech, Sinopharm and Sinovac.
U.S. Mask Requirements
Most mask requirements have been lifted withing the U.S. although some people continue to wear them. We suggest you carry a mask with you and put it on if you seem to be the only one not wearing one. We have links to the U.S. and individual states websites that describe current mask requirements. Be especially aware of the rules for any type of public transportation you may use.
Masks are no longer required on airplanes, buses and other forms of public transportation. They can still be required at federal parks, federal courthouses, and other types of government offices. You should see signs telling you whether masks must be worn.
You may use either manufactured or homemade masks.
U.S. State Travel Restrictions
Each of the 50 US. states have enacted their own regulations on travel within that state and they change regularly. Some require facemasks at indoor public places and businesses. To determine whether a trip you are planning will be limited by Covid-19, you will need to examine the regulations for each state you wish to travel through. The rules are changing constantly so make sure you have current information. We have links to state and province Coronavirus websites at the end of this post.
U.S. and State Coronavirus Websites
Below are some of the U.S. government websites which contain the latest guidance on Covid-19 rules and restrictions.
- Official U.S. Covid Information
- Links to the Health Department for every U.S. state. These websites will detail the rules to travel within a state including quarantine and facemask requirements.
- CDC masking rules
- The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) travel recommendations and coronavirus medical information. Disease levels in the area you are traveling to.
- U.S. State Department Covid-19 coronavirus webpage