USA travel advice: entry requirements for UK visitors explained- and what are the Covid rules in the country?
Covid restrictions are still in place in the US and may vary in different states
Rules have also eased for those who are unvaccinated, as people now do not have to self-isolate on their return or take a day eight test.
Although it is still a requirement for those who are not double jabbed to show proof of a negative test taken two days before returning to the UK, plus one post-arrival PCR test.
All UK arrivals must also complete a passenger locator form before their return, but the government has pledged to make this simpler following complaints it is too complicated.
Travel trade organisation Abta said the easing of rules marks a “new chapter” for the industry’s recovery and said it has sparked a surge in bookings.
Turkey, Egypt and Portugal are among the most popular short-haul destinations, while departures to the US state of Florida, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean have sold well for longer-haul holidays.
If you are planning a long-haul trip to the United States this year, these are all the Covid-19 travel restrictions you need to know.
What are the entry requirements for the USA?
All travellers need to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. Travellers should check the US State Department website to determine which they will need.
Most fully vaccinated foreign citizens are eligible to enter the USA.
US authorities will accept any Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These include the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, Covidshield, BIBP/Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines.
All passengers, regardless of vaccination status, arriving in the USA by air are required to show a negative test taken no more than one day before travel, or proof of recovery from Covid-19.
On arrival, fully vaccinated travellers do not need to quarantine, but are recommended to take a viral test within three to five days.
Those who have recovered from Covid-19 within the past 90 days, regardless of vaccination status, do not need to take a test three to five days after travel.
Children aged 17 and under are exempt from the vaccination requirement, but must take a test three to five days after arrival and should self-isolate should any symptoms develop or if they test positive. Children under the age of two do not need to take a pre-departure test.
If you are travelling domestically within the USA, individual states and territories may have their own quarantine requirements. A full list of local quarantine requirements is available on the CDC website.
The USA will accept the UK’s NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination, or a printout of a Covid-19 vaccination record or vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorised vaccine provider.
The final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days before travel.
Only those with an exception or US Citizens, US Nationals, and US Lawful Permanent Residents can enter the US if they have not been vaccinated.
If you are not fully vaccinated but have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last year, you still cannot enter the USA unless you meet one of the exceptions on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Embassy websites.
If you do have an exception, you must show a negative test result or proof of recovery from Covid-19 in the past three months to the airline before boarding the flight.
Source: Claire Schofield