The Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) has updated its requirements for international travelers flying to the United States. Travelers must now provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery of the COVID-19 before flying. This request takes effect on January 26, 2021.
These new guidelines apply to any passenger two years of age or older. It includes everyone traveling to the U.S., including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.
Several presidential proclamations have placed restrictions on the entry of certain travelers to the United States in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19). Some foreigners who have been to certain countries in the past two weeks have yet to enter the United States. For a complete list of countries, travelers should visit this page on the CDC website.
If you are allowed to travel, you must have a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) no later than three days before your flight departs. You will need to show documentation of your results to the airline before boarding. This documentation can be a paper or electronic copy of your results. Travelers who received the COVID-19 vaccine must still have a negative test result.
If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, the CDC does not recommend testing again within three months after a positive viral test, as long as you have no symptoms. But if you have had a positive viral test in the past three months, you can still travel. If you meet the criteria described and can show proof of the positive results of your viral test and a letter from your healthcare professional or public health official stating that you are authorized to travel, you can board a flight. The test result and the letter are your “recovery documentation”.
Passengers who fail to provide a positive test result or recovery documentation will be denied boarding.
Check the CDC website for more information.