Fit2Fly brings you the latest travel information to and from the USA, including quarantine requirements and testing rules. We will update this post with information as we get it.
Mask Requirements
U.S. District Hudge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle overturned President Biden’s mask mandate on April 18th 2022, as she believed it was an overreach by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Biden administration appealed this decision as they feel masks are still necessary to protect the public from COVID. It is not known when a final decision will be made, but at the moment, you are not required to wear a mask in U.S. Airports.
It is also optional for employees and customers to wear masks in most major U.S. airlines, including Americal Airlines, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, and United Airlines.
Are COVID tests still required to enter the U.S.?
Yes, they are.
All passengers aged two and over who are entering the U.S. must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their flight departure to the United States.
All Non-U.S.citizens must also show proof of vaccination before entering the country.
Suppose you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the U.S. that has recently recovered from COVID-19. In that case, you can travel with documentation proving your recovery – such as a letter from a licensed healthcare provider declaring it is safe for you to travel.
You can use either an antigen or a PCR test to prove you are negative for COVID-19. The test is not limited to within 24 hours of your departure. However, it must be taken within one calendar day. So, you can take it at any time the day before your flight, no matter what time your flight departs.
If you test positive for COVID, you will not be able to board a flight to the U.S.
What COVID-19 test can I take to travel to the U.S.?
All travellers to the U.S. aged two and over are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result within one calendar day of travel.
The CDC permits results from two tests: NAAT (PCR test) and antigen.
Whether a test qualifies for use by the CDC will vary by country, and the cost will too. It would be best to do a little research before you leave for the U.S. to ensure you can get a test in a timeframe that works with the current regulations.
What are the current U.S. COVID entry requirements?
The U.S. is currently still enforcing strict COVID testing requirements for visitors, including:
- Presenting a negative COVID-19 test to their airline before travel – whether you are fully vaccinated or not. This test must be taken no more than one calendar day before the flight.
- The test can be either antigen or PCR, and it can be a self-test
- Documentation of recovery from COVID-19 is permitted if you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident travelling to the U.S. by air.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen or legal resident, you must also provide proof of vaccination and a negative result on a COVID-19 test.
What counts as proof of vaccination for travel to the U.S.?
A booster dose is NOT needed to be considered fully vaccinated for entry to the U.S.
Proof of vaccination must include:
- Official source
- Name and date of birth
- The vaccine you received and the date for all the doses received
Acceptable forms of proof include:
- Digital pass via a smartphone app
- Digital photo of vaccination card or record
- Download a version of a vaccination card or document from an official source
- Mobile phone app without a Q.R. code
- Paper vaccination certificate
- Printout of COVID-19 vaccination record
- Vaccination certificate with Q.R. code
Only certain vaccines are accepted for entry to the U.S., and these are:
- AstraZeneca
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
- Moderna
- Pfizer/NioNTech
- Sinovac
PCR Fit to Fly Test (digital certificate included)
A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is a viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids). NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 specifically identify the RNA (ribonucleic acid) sequences that comprise the genetic material of the virus.
The pre-flight gold standard RT-PCR Fit to Fly test available from Fit2FlyTest is a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) NAAT test. This is the most common test for detecting nucleic acid in a sample. When analysed by Public Health England and Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust our test correctly identified all positive and negative samples without exception. With 100% specificity toward the Sars-Cov-2 Virus, this kit will only detect the presence of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Our RT-PCR Fit to Fly test can be self-administered at home via a swab sample, which is then returned to our labs using the prepaid return label. We will have your results within 24 hours of your sample arriving at our laboratories, giving you peace of mind that you can travel safely
