U.S. Lifts Covid Testing Requirement for International Travelers

International travelers to the U.S. are no longer required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight to the U.S. The change took effect at 12:01 AM ET on Sunday, June 12, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will reassess the decision to eliminate the testing requirement in 90 days and may reinstate a testing requirement if a new variant of concern emerges. Non-U.S. citizens are still required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country, with limited exceptions.

Under the prior policy, all international air travelers were required to take a COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, no more than 1 day before travel into the U.S. and show a negative result to the airline before boarding their flight or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Individuals entering the U.S. from Canada or Mexico  through land border crossings were not subject to the testing requirement.

Elimination of the testing requirement is a welcome development for the tourism industry as well as  business travelers who may now travel without the suspense of being stranded abroad due to testing availability and outcomes.

Further details regarding CDC travel guidance and testing requirements are available here. Due to frequently changing country conditions and global entry requirements, all travelers should check with airlines and  investigate restrictions imposed by their destination country when making travel plans and immediately prior to departure.

For additional information, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.