Airline passengers aged two and older must show either proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery to enter the United States from any foreign country, effective January 26, 2021. Airlines will deny entry to individuals who fail to provide this proof when boarding their flight to the United States. Those who do not comply with the order may be subject to criminal penalties.
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented this measure to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. The policy is set to expire either (1) at the end of COVID-19’s designation as a public health emergency, (2) once the order is revised or rescinded by the CDC, or (3) on December 31, 2021, whichever comes first.
All passengers aged two and older must provide their airline with written documentation of either:
Proof of COVID-19 recovery includes documentation of a positive test result within the previous 90 days and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official that the individual has been cleared for travel. Airlines will also accept an attestation, on their own template, that the passenger has tested negative for coronavirus, or has been cleared for travel. Travelers must retain testing and recovery documentation for airline or government review.
Airlines must deny boarding to any passenger that does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or who chooses not to take a test. There are exemptions for certain airline crewmembers and federal law enforcement personnel.
For passengers on connecting flights, each connection must be less than 24 hours and booked as one passenger record.
The CDC recommends that travelers also get tested within three to five days after arriving in the US and self-quarantine for seven days. Travelers should also check local and state requirements for self-quarantine as these can vary.
The COVID-19 public health travel ban remains in effect for certain foreign nationals who have been present in at-risk countries in the previous 14 days before traveling to the United States. Regional bans are currently effective for travelers who have been in Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, and the United Kingdom.
These individuals must spend more than 14 days in a non-banned country prior to entering the United States or obtain a national interest exemption. After they have met these requirements, they must meet the above CDC testing requirements for traveling to the United States.
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