Aquatics FAQs
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
COVID-19 Homepage
Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States
As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.
- Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel internationally.
- You must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane if you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa). Only limited exceptions apply.
- You are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before you travel to the United States by air.
- Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is recommended in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).
If you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or immigrant, visit U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States for requirements before arriving in the United States.
Travel Assessment
A tool to help you know the requirements to board a flight to the United States.
Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel internationally. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19. People who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines should follow additional recommendations and after travel.
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant and not fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed to board a flight to the United States. Only limited exceptions apply to the requirement to show proof of vaccination. A booster dose is not needed to meet this requirement.
You are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial
- 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 considered fully vaccinated to travel to the United States. A booster dose is not needed to meet this requirement.
A person who has received only one dose of an accepted 2-dose series and has recovered from COVID-19 does not meet this definition, and therefore is NOT considered fully vaccinated for travel to the United States.
*CDC has not recommended the use of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine primary series. However, such strategies are increasingly common in many countries outside of the United States. Therefore, for the purpose of interpreting vaccination records for travel to the United States, CDC will accept combinations of accepted COVID-19 vaccines.
Before You Leave the United States
Make sure to plan ahead:
- Check the current COVID-19 situation at your destination.
- Follow all requirements of transportation operators (such as airlines, cruise lines, buses) as well as any requirements at your destinationexternal icon, whether traveling by air, land, or sea, including mask wearing, proof of vaccination, testing, or quarantine. Requirements may differ from U.S. requirements. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.
- If you have a medical condition or are taking medication that weakens your immune system, you might NOT be fully protected even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk before travel and consider delaying travel to areas with high COVID-19 levels. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.
Testing
- Consider getting tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel.
- You have COVID-19 symptoms, even if you recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days or are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
- You tested positive for COVID-19.
- Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
- You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
- If your test comes back positive while you are at your destination, you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it’s safe for you to travel. Your travel companions may need to quarantine.
- You had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
- Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure.
- If you must travel during days 6 through 10 after your last exposure:
- Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don’t get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.
- Properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during days 6 through 10. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during days 6 through 10.
If you had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but are NOT recommended to quarantine...
- Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling.
- If you had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days, you do NOT need to get tested, but you should still follow all other recommendations (including getting tested if you develop COVID-19 symptoms).
- If you travel during the 10 days after your last exposure, properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during the 10 days. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during the 10 days.
During Travel
Protect Yourself and Others
- Everyone aged 2 years or older—including passengers and workers— should properly wear a well-fitting mask or respirator in indoor areas of public transportation (such as airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports), especially in locations that are crowded or poorly ventilated such as airport jetways.
- Travelers 2 years of age or older should wear well-fitting masks in indoor public places if
- They are in an area where there is a high level of COVID-19
- They or someone they live with has a weakened immune system or is at increased risk for severe disease.
- Some masks and respirators offer higher levels of protection than others, and some may be harder to tolerate or wear consistently than others. Wear the most protective mask you can, that fits well, and that you will wear consistently while traveling.
- You may choose to properly wear a well-fitting mask outdoors in crowded settings and for activities with close contact with others, particularly if you or someone you live with has a weakened immune system or is at increased risk for severe disease.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Follow all recommendations and requirements at your destinationexternal icon.
- Follow recommendations for protecting yourself and others.
Before You Travel to the United States
For information about COVID-19 requirements for land travel, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals.external icon
Proof of Vaccination
Air Travel: All non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants traveling to the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Only limited exceptions apply. Learn more about this requirement.
Testing – ALL Travelers
Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel. There is also an option for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
Children under 2 years old do not need to test.
Learn more about these requirements.
Contact Information – ALL Travelers
All air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This strengthens a travel process already in place to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Access to travelers’ contact information will allow U.S. federal, state, and local health departments, and agencies to share appropriate health and public health information necessary to help keep the public safe.
Documentation
As a reminder, be sure to have your required documents, such as your passport and any visa or other entry/residency documentation. All Visa Waiver Program travelers must have a valid, approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for travel to the United States. The United States Government recommends travelers log in and review their ESTA status in advance of travel. Visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.govexternal icon for more information.
After Arrival in the United States
You might have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels, whether you traveled by air, land, or sea. You might feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still be infected and spread the virus to others.
- Required Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
- Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19
- Frequently Asked Questions about Travel and COVID-19
- COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination
- Health Information for International Destinations
- Domestic Travel During COVID-19
- US State Department Travel Siteexternal icon: Safety and security information by country, passport, visas, and entry/exit requirements
- US Customs and Border Protectionexternal icon: Information about what you can and cannot bring back from your trip abroad
- US Embassiesexternal icon: In-country contacts
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)external icon: Information about flying