Travel Ban for Countries to be Lifted November 8, 2021

On September 20, 2021, the President announced that beginning November 8, the United States will lift the travel ban for certain countries (China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India) and instead require proof of vaccination for all foreign travelers.

Unlike the old rule that restricted international travelers from specific countries, the new rule applies the same rules to every country. Foreign travelers from anywhere around the world must show proof of full vaccination and a negative test three days before traveling. Foreign travelers will also no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in the U.S. Instead, the Biden Administration plans to improve contract-tracing efforts to ensure that travelers exposed to COVID-19 are notified.

The new three-day timeframe gives travelers more flexibility than the 72-hour rule because the validity of the test does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of the day the test was provided. Accepted tests must be a viral test that could either be an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test; a rapid test may be accepted if it is a viral test pursuant to the Order. Accepted vaccines include FDA approved or authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines.

As for American travelers who have traveled abroad and who are not fully vaccinated, they will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their departure.