The White House has announced that starting in November, foreign nationals will be permitted to fly once again to the US from previously banned international countries with proof of vaccination.* This announcement is part of the Biden administration’s drafting of the comprehensive “Path Out of the Pandemic” plan, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/.
The most significant information that has been released is:
- The Administration will be working with airlines in the coming weeks to determine how the new procedures will be implemented;
- Even if fully vaccinated, travelers will have to provide a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of their flight;
- Vaccination requirements for children have not been determined yet;
- Does not apply to ground travel from Canada or Mexico;
- Unvaccinated American citizen and Permanent Residents will still be permitted to return to the U.S. but will have to show a negative COVID test within 24 hours of their flight and will most likely have to get an additional test once in the U.S;
- It is expected that National Interest Exemptions will no longer be required for travel from the United Kingdom, European Union, China, India, Iran, Republic of Ireland, Brazil or South Africa;
- Fully vaccinated travelers will not need to quarantine;
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html will require airlines to collect data upon check-in to assist with contact tracing if necessary; and
- Vaccinations that have been approved for emergency Use by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines).
*Multiple sources: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/us-relax-travel-restrictions-passengers-uk-eu-november-source-2021-09-20/
For more information, please contact us on +61 3 9614 7111 or by email to melbourne@nevettford.com.au