US COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: New Requirements

The United States government has changed its travel restrictions, just like the British government relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines for Nigerian travellers.

The US government previously prohibited travel from four geographical territories, including 33 countries covered by a COVID-19 geographical entry ban.

These countries include:

• Brazil
• China
• India
• Iran  
• Ireland
• Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)
• South Africa
• United Kingdom

What you need to know about the US Travel Restrictions

Beginning Nov. 8, 2021, the United States government will repeal travel bans with new travel requirements ultimately tied to COVID-19 vaccination status and a negative COVID test result. The new rules allow air travel from previously restricted countries as long as the traveller has proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. The White House’s decision effectively lifts the US’s travel restrictions on dozens of nations. Individuals travelling to the United States from unrestricted nations must show the following documentation before boarding a flight:

• For vaccinated individuals, a negative COVID-19 test result must be secured only three days before travel.

• If you are not vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result, taken only a day before travel. 

Click here to book a pre-departure COVID-19 test. 

More on the New Travel Requirement

The vaccination rule is exempt for children under 18 years of age; however, they must show a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding. The US requires minors travelling with vaccinated adults to take the COVID-19 test within three days of pre-departure. The US requires minors travelling with unvaccinated adults to take the COVID-19 test within one day.

All air passengers to the United States must also provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States for contact tracing. This process is critical for detecting and responding to variants of COVID-19, helping to protect the public and international visitors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States also confirmed that the country accepts COVID-19 vaccines as allowed by United States regulators or the World Health Organization. That means that the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in Nigeria, will be accepted.

The US also declared that fully vaccinated international air travellers from the Schengen countries in Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Greece, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil, will be admitted. The new rule excludes non-U.S. citizens who visited the above nations during the last 14 days under the unprecedented US restrictions.

See also: The Cost Of COVID-19 Test In Nigeria.

In conclusion,

Under the new guidelines, the US does not require foreign visitors and Americans entering the nation to go through quarantine. If the COVID-19 test results come back negative, the US must isolate anyone not fully vaccinated for seven days after arriving in the US. If you are travelling to the US, do thorough research on the state you are travelling to before departing. Different states in the country have several regulations for mask-wearing, social distancing, vaccination status, and more.

To book a pre-departure COVID-19 test at one of our laboratories in Lagos or Rivers State. Click here.