Trevor James
As of June 2021, there was no federal mandate in the United States requiring travellers to be vaccinated to fly. However, individual states and localities may have their own testing requirements for air passengers arriving in their jurisdictions. For international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the CDC recommends delaying international travel until travellers are fully vaccinated. Non-US citizens who are nonimmigrants must show proof of full vaccination before travelling to the US by air. Additionally, all travellers to the US, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before travel.
Do you have to be vaccinated to fly?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | United States: No, you don't have to be vaccinated to fly domestically in the US. However, for international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. |
| Other countries: It depends on the country. For example, Spain no longer requires Americans to be vaccinated to enter the country. | |
| Exceptions | US citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the vaccination requirement when entering the US. |
| Categories of noncitizen nonimmigrants that meet the criteria for an exception include: persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel, children under 18 years of age, persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials, persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception, persons with valid visas (excluding B-1 and B-2 visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, members of the US Armed Forces or their spouses/children (under 18), sea crew members traveling with a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa, and persons whose entry would be in the national interest. | |
| Testing requirements | All travelers to the US, regardless of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than three days before travel. |
| Vaccinated travelers may also be recommended to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test 3-5 days after arriving in the US. | |
| Unvaccinated travelers to the US may need to undergo a 10-day quarantine upon arrival. | |
| State and local governments may have additional testing requirements for air passengers arriving in their jurisdictions. | |
| Mask requirements | Wearing a mask is still required on flights and in airports in the US, regardless of vaccination status. |
| Booster shots | The need for a booster shot depends on the specific vaccine and the duration since the last dose. Travelers are advised to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if a booster is necessary for their travel plans. |
| Legislation | There has been opposition to a bill (H.R. 4980) that would make it a legal requirement to be vaccinated to fly in the US. |
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What You'll Learn
- Flying to the US: non-US citizens must show proof of full vaccination
- Flying within the US: no vaccination needed, but masks are mandatory
- Flying from the US: some countries require vaccination, check before travel
- Vaccination cards: requirements vary depending on the destination and circumstances
- Boosters: may be necessary depending on the vaccine and time since the last dose
Flying to the US: non-US citizens must show proof of full vaccination
As of November 8, 2021, non-US citizens must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to board flights to the US from foreign countries. This requirement applies to non-immigrant foreign nationals, who are defined as those who are not US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents, or travelling to the US on an immigrant visa. Non-US citizens who are immigrants are exempt from this rule.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that all forms of proof of vaccination must include personal identifiers, such as the traveller's full name and another identifier like their date of birth or passport number. These personal identifiers must match the passenger's passport or other travel documents. Vaccination records can be verifiable or non-verifiable, and digital or paper. Verifiable vaccination records include a QR code that links to information in an official database.
There are limited exceptions to the vaccination requirement for non-US citizens. These include:
- Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
- Children under 18 years of age
- Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
- Persons with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Persons with valid non-immigrant visas (excluding B-1 or B-2 visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
It is important to note that this requirement only applies to non-US citizens entering the US by air. There is a petition against a bill that would require all individuals, including Americans, to be vaccinated to fly.
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Flying within the US: no vaccination needed, but masks are mandatory
While the CDC recommends delaying travel until individuals are fully vaccinated, there is no vaccination requirement for flying within the US. However, masks are mandatory for all passengers, regardless of vaccination status, per the TSA's mask mandate. This mandate is in effect until at least September 13, 2022.
For international travel to the US, non-US citizens who are nonimmigrants (not US citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents) must show proof of full vaccination. Additionally, all travellers to the US from a foreign country, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before travel. Exemptions are made for those who can show proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
State and local governments may enforce their own testing requirements for air passengers arriving in their jurisdictions, so it is important to check and follow these regulations in addition to federal mandates.
There was a bill (H.R. 4980) proposed to make vaccination mandatory for air travel in the US, but it faced significant opposition and did not become law.
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Flying from the US: some countries require vaccination, check before travel
While vaccination is not required for flying domestically in the US, some countries do require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For instance, people travelling to the US from a foreign country must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with certain exceptions. These include:
- Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
- Children under 18 years of age
- Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
- Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
Additionally, non-US citizens who are nonimmigrants will need to show proof of vaccination before flying to the US. However, this does not include individuals with valid visas from countries with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability.
It is important to note that the CDC recommends delaying travel until individuals are fully vaccinated. Furthermore, wearing a mask is still required when flying, regardless of vaccination status.
Before travelling, it is advisable to check the specific requirements of your destination, as they can vary.
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Vaccination cards: requirements vary depending on the destination and circumstances
While there is no universal requirement to be vaccinated to fly, vaccination card requirements vary depending on the destination and circumstances. For instance, there was an attempt to pass a bill in the United States that would have made it mandatory to be vaccinated to fly. However, this was opposed by many Americans. Currently, vaccination is not a requirement for flying domestically in the US, but wearing a mask is still mandatory, regardless of vaccination status.
For international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For instance, non-US citizens who are nonimmigrants (not a US citizen, US national, lawful permanent resident, or travelling to the US on an immigrant visa) need to show proof of full vaccination before flying to the US from a foreign country. However, there are exceptions to this rule, including persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials, and persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception. Additionally, those entering the US from a foreign country, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before travelling.
Similarly, Hawaii has specific requirements for travellers, as unvaccinated visitors must provide a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a 10-day quarantine. On the other hand, Spain no longer requires Americans to be vaccinated when entering the country.
It is important to note that the need for a booster dose depends on the specific vaccine and the time since the last dose. Travellers are advised to consult with their healthcare providers to determine if a booster is necessary for their travel plans. Additionally, travellers should be aware of state and local government requirements, as some may have more restrictive testing requirements for air passengers arriving in their jurisdictions.
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Boosters: may be necessary depending on the vaccine and time since the last dose
While vaccines are not mandated for domestic travel within the US, the CDC recommends that people delay travel until they are fully vaccinated. For international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For example, all international travelers flying to the US must show proof of vaccination. However, a booster dose is not required for this purpose.
The need for a booster dose depends on the specific vaccine and the time elapsed since the last dose. The CDC recommends that people aged 50 and older receive a second booster shot if at least four months have passed since their first booster. This is because protection from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines starts to wane around four months after the initial booster dose. On the other hand, natural immunity typically lasts about 90 days.
It is important to note that vaccines are generally safe, having undergone rigorous testing and approval processes. However, like any medical intervention, they may cause mild and temporary side effects, such as soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever. Serious side effects are rare. Most vaccines provide immunity within a few weeks after completing the recommended doses.
To summarize, while booster doses may be advised or necessary for certain individuals, they are not currently required for air travel within the US. The decision to get a booster depends on factors such as the type of vaccine received and the time elapsed since the last dose. It is always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice regarding your specific situation.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you don't need to be vaccinated to fly in the US. However, the CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. Masks are mandatory on flights, regardless of vaccination status.
Non-US citizens who are non-immigrants need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before flying to the US. All other travellers need to show a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of recovery from COVID-19.
It depends on the country you are flying to. Some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Check the requirements of your destination country before travelling.
This depends on the country and the airline. Some countries and airlines may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result for domestic flights. Check the local requirements before travelling.
