Can I enter the US without a COVID-19 test?

At this time all air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery.

What are the COVID-19 requirements to cross the border into the United States?

WASHINGTON – Beginning on January 22, 2022, DHS will require non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Does the COVID-19 negative test order apply to land border crossings?

No, the requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US.

what are the requirements for travelers during the COVID pandemic?

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As a general rule, travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19, especially if you are not vaccinated. Guidance from the CDC rstates that anyone traveling by public transportation, including plane, train, or bus, must be masked while traveling, and while in airports and train and bus stations. Requirements for vaccination and COVID-19 testing may vary by carrier, geographic location, and your vaccination status.

In addition to wearing a well-fitting mask, all travelers should maintain a physical distance of six feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash hands often. Anyone who is sick or who has tested positive for COVID-19 should not travel by public transportation if at all possible.

Stay current on travel advisories from regulatory agencies.

What are the requirements for noncitizen nonimmigrants to enter the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a condition of entering the United States by air, noncitizen nonimmigrants must present proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States. The Proclamation excepts certain categories of noncitizen nonimmigrants who are not fully vaccinated.

Do the requirements of the COVID-19 negative test order apply to diplomats and special visa holders?

Diplomats and special visa holders are not exempt from this Order.

What quarantine exemptions are available for airline passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

Can an airline deny boarding a passenger if they don’t have a negative COVID-19 test?

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

What should I do if am overseas and I can’t get tested before my flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.

What is the risk of getting coronavirus on a plane?

Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes. Although the risk of infection on an airplane is low, travelers should try to avoid contact with sick passengers and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contain 60%–95% alcohol.

For more information: Exposure Risk During Travel

What are some exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine?

Some people may be at risk for an adverse reaction because of an allergy to one of the vaccine components or a medical condition. This is referred to as a medical exemption. Some people may decline vaccination because of a sincerely held religious belief. This is referred to as a religious exemption.

What type of covid test is required for travelling to the United States?

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and medicine Administration (FDA).

How long do COVID-19 particles remain in the air?

Aerosols are emitted by a person infected with coronavirus — even one with no symptoms — when they talk, breathe, cough, or sneeze. Another person can breathe in these aerosols and become infected with the virus. Aerosolized coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours.

Why does traveling increase the spread of COVID-19?

Individuals who travel may be at risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, before, during, or after travel. This could result in travelers’ spreading the virus to others at their destinations or upon returning home.

How long does the coronavirus remain in the air?

Aerosolized coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours. A mask can help prevent that spread.

Does Covid-19 live in the air?

Research shows that the virus can live in the air for up to 3 hours. It can get into your lungs if someone who has it breathes out and you breathe that air in.

Can Covid-19 spread through HVAC systems?

While airflows within a particular space may help spread disease among people in that space, there is no definitive evidence to date that viable virus has been transmitted through an HVAC system to result in disease transmission to people in other spaces served by the same system.

How long does the coronavirus live on different materials?

Depending on the surface, the virus can live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. The new coronavirus seems to be able to survive the longest on plastic and stainless steel — potentially as long as three days on these surfaces. It can also live on cardboard for up to 24 hours.

Does the Covid-19 virus live for long on clothing?

Research suggests that COVID-19 doesn’t survive for long on clothing, compared to hard surfaces, and exposing the virus to heat may shorten its life. A study published in found that at room temperature, COVID-19 was detectable on fabric for up to two days, compared to seven days for plastic and metal.

Can the coronavirus disease spread faster in an air-conditioned house?

Waleed Javaid, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, says it is possible, but not likely.

If someone in the house who is infected with the virus is coughing and sneezing and not being careful, then tiny virus particles in respiratory droplets could be circulated in the air. Anything that moves air currents around the room can spread these droplets, whether it is an air conditioning system, a window-mounted AC unit, a forced heating system, or even a fan, according to Dr. Javaid.

Does ventilation help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

Bringing fresh, outdoor air into your home helps keep virus particles from accumulating inside.

• If it’s safe to do so, open doors and windows as much as you can to bring in fresh, outdoor air. While it’s better to open them wide, even having a window cracked open slightly can help.

What temperature kills the virus that causes COVID-19?

Research on the impact of temperature has shown that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is sensitive to elevated temperatures, with over 99.99% inactivation in only a few minutes at 70°C (158°F). However, this temperature is far outside the limits of human comfort and could damage some building materials.

Which types of settings does COVID-19 spread more easily?

The “Three C’s” are a useful way to think about this. They describe settings where transmission of the COVID-19 virus spreads more easily:

• Crowded places;
• Close-contact settings, especially where people have conversations very near each other;
• Confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.