White House Announces U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Travel Bans on Vaccinated Travelers

In a highly-anticipated and welcomed statement, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, announced that the United States (U.S.) will be easing the COVID-19 travel restrictions in place barring entry for most non-US nationals who were physically present in Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, countries in the European Schengen Area, South Africa, India, and the United Kingdom during the fourteen-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the Unites States.

The U.S. will ease travel restrictions for international visitors traveling by air who are vaccinated against Covid-19 in November, the White House announced Monday. “The new rules do not apply to travellers crossing land borders, meaning that restrictions on vehicle movement from Mexico and Canada will remain in place.” 

Currently foreign nationals who are traveling to the U.S. from and who, in the 14 days prior to their arrival,  have been physically present in the UK, Ireland, the Schengen area ((Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Spain, France, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland), China, India,  South Africa, Brazil and Iran, are subject to the travel restrictions relating to the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Starting in early November, the travel restrictions will be lifted for those arriving in the US who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and who can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of boarding a flight to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be providing information regarding which vaccines will be accepted in the coming days.

Further updates will be posted here as we receive them.