United States announces new rules for international air travel into the country

The United States of America has today announced new rules for International air travel into the country that will bring an end to the 18-month long ban on travelers from the United Kingdom, Europe and elsewhere beginning November 8 2021.

Virgin Atlantic

If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country. Children under 18 years of age are exempt from the the requirement to be vaccinated.

Anyone age 2 or older will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status) before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

For those who are fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 3 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if you show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For those who are not fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 1 day before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if you do not show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

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You are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine; or
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine; or
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials; or
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.*
• If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated.

Accepted vaccines include: Janssen/J&J, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Covishield, BIBP/Sinopharm, Sinovac.

Acceptable proof of vaccination includes: United Kingdom National Health Service COVID Pass, European Union Digital COVID Certificate, a printout of COVID-19 vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provider, or digital photos of vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record or vaccination certificate from official source.

You can find out more about the new regulations for international travel into the United States at the CDC website.

The border reopening to international air travel is a significant boost for Walt Disney World and other Orlando area theme parks. The reopening comes just a month into the 18 month long "World's Most Magical Celebration" beginning October 1.