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
- 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 when you travel to the United States by air.
- Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) traveling into, within, or out of the United States 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.
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 vaccinated and up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines should follow additional recommendations before, during, 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 enter 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 conveyance 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.
Testing
- If you are not vaccinated and up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, get tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
Do NOT travel if…
- You are sick.
- 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.
- 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...
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- 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 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
Masks
- Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including on airplanes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation) traveling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports and stations). Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
Protect Yourself and Others
- Follow all recommendations and requirements at your destinationexternal icon, including properly wearing a well-fitting mask and following recommendations for protecting yourself and others.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
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
If you are not fully vaccinated and allowed to travel to the United States by air through an exception, you may be required to attest to some or all of the following measures.
For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- Stay at home or in your hotel room and self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if you test negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- Isolate if your test result is positive or you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
- If you intend to stay in the United States for 60 days or longer, you must become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States or as soon as medically appropriate, unless you have a medical contraindication or are too young to be vaccinated.
If you are fully vaccinated but not up to date with your vaccines
- Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.
- Follow additional recommendations below for ALL travelers.
For ALL Travelers
- Get tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after travel.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state, tribal, local and territorial recommendations or requirements after travel.
If Your Test Result is Positive or You Develop COVID-19 Symptoms
Isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Learn what to do and when it is safe to be around others.
If You Recovered from COVID-19 Recently
If you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days (regardless of vaccination status), you do NOT need to get a test 3-5 days after travel. You also do not need to self-quarantine after travel. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms after travel, isolate and consult with a healthcare provider for testing recommendations.