International travelers flying to the United States will no longer need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flights to the U.S., a senior Biden administration official said Friday, ending one of the nation’s last pandemic-related travel requirements.
The requirement will end at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
In most transportation scenarios, no. But remember that the mask mandate doesn’t just apply to planes and airports. It also applied to trains, ferries, buses, ride-shares, taxis, trolleys and other transportation hubs.
Some mask mandates were staying in place. Public transit riders in New York City will still need to wear a face covering on subways, buses and trains, local media reported. Philadelphia International Airport is requiring masks under a city mandate.
Entry rules are being removed for all travelers to Greece next month in a boost for the summer.
The easing of Covid-related restrictions comes as the country prepares for the peak season when a record number of tourists are expected to visit.
Health minister Thanos Plevris announced that restrictions will be lifted.
This includes travelers from EU and non-EU countries including the UK, plus vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.
As countries around the world react to the new and little-understood omnicrom variant of the coronavirus, travelers are once again facing unexpected border closures, evolving entry rules and a dark cloud of potential cancellations.
The United States on Wednesday joined the list of more than 20 countries that detected cases of the new variant, health authorities said. It wasn’t immediately clear if that would trigger new restrictions for Americans traveling to other countries.
Children under age 18 will not be required to be vaccinated to travel to the United States once officials lift a ban on international visitors; however, they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight, according to rules outlined Monday by the Biden administration.
With roughly two weeks to go before the United States lifts its travel ban on visitors from 33 countries, federal health officials offered more specifics for travelers and airlines before restrictions are lifted Nov. 8.
The European Union recommended Monday that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.
The decision by the European Council to remove the U.S. from a safe list of countries for nonessential travel reverses advice that it gave in June, when the bloc recommended lifting restrictions on U.S. travelers before the summer tourism season. The guidance is nonbinding, however, and U.S. travelers should expect a mishmash of travel rules across the continent.
Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit on Monday while the United States is maintaining similar restrictions for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans.
If you want to travel internationally, you'll run into a range of travel restrictions and entry requirements. Here's what you need to know about the new rules.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says to get vaccinated before you go. Air travelers should be fully vaccinated regardless of the risk level in the country you're visiting, according to the health agency. There's still a lot of virus circulating.
A travel advisor can help you book a vacation, use your travel rewards and score you perks. "And if you're hoping to travel abroad, you'll have to contend with even more regulations, including testing requirements or proof of vaccination. "There's added work involved because all these countries have different restrictions, different requirements, and you have to get them right," Rees says. "I would say using a travel advisor gives you a big leg up on having to do that work yourself because a lot of this information is really hidden away. You have to track all this stuff down," he says.
You've got your COVID vaccine, and the CDC says it's OK to travel this summer, even internationally. But you're likely to find that your overseas options are limited by border restrictions in many countries.