Logan Reed
As of June 2021, vaccination is not a requirement for flying domestically in the United States. However, for international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. While the CDC recommends that people delay travel until they are fully vaccinated, it is not mandatory for flying within the US. People travelling to the US from foreign countries, regardless of their vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before travel. There was an attempt to pass a bill that would require vaccination for air travel in the US, but it faced significant opposition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination requirement for flying domestically in the US | Not required |
| Vaccination requirement for flying to the US | Not required, but recommended |
| Testing requirement for flying to the US | Negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery |
| Vaccination requirement for flying from the US to other countries | Depends on the destination country |
| Vaccination card requirement | Depends on the destination country |
| Opposition to vaccination requirements | Petitions and bills opposing vaccination requirements for flying |
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What You'll Learn
Flying to the US unvaccinated
If you are a US citizen, you do not need to be vaccinated to fly to the US. You will also not be asked to show proof of vaccination. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) recommends that all flyers be fully vaccinated before travelling.
Non-US citizens, on the other hand, must be fully vaccinated in order to enter the country by air. They must show proof of vaccination status before boarding a plane to the US. There are limited exemptions to this policy, including for children, foreign government officials, and those with medical conditions that exempt them from vaccination, as determined by the CDC. Non-US citizens who qualify for these exemptions can enter the US with a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one day before travel.
Regardless of citizenship, all travellers to the US must adhere to the country's COVID-19 testing requirements. This means getting tested no more than three days before travelling by air into the US and showing your negative result to the airline before boarding your flight. Alternatively, you can show documentation of recovery from COVID-19, which includes proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel.
It is important to note that travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are subject to change as the situation evolves. Therefore, it is recommended that travellers refer to official government websites and resources for the most up-to-date information before planning their trip.
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Non-US citizens flying to the US
As of November 8, 2021, non-US citizens flying into the United States must be fully vaccinated. This rule applies to non-US citizens and non-immigrants aged 18 and over. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires these travellers to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding any airplane to fly to the United States. The vaccines accepted by the CDC include those approved by the FDA, authorized by the FDA, or those with an emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO).
There are limited exceptions to this rule. Those with documented medical contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines are exempt from the vaccination rule. However, a doctor's note will be needed at check-in, detailing the adverse consequences of vaccination for the individual. These travellers will be required to self-quarantine and follow strict testing rules. The US has also outlined exemptions for travellers from countries with low vaccination rates.
In addition to the vaccination requirements, the CDC requires airlines to collect passenger information for contact tracing. All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19. This test must be taken within three days of travel to the United States, or within one day of departure for unvaccinated US citizens, permanent residents, and exempt foreigners. Unvaccinated children travelling with unvaccinated adults must also provide a negative test within one day of departure.
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Flying domestically in the US
As of May 2022, vaccines are not a requirement for flying domestically in the US. While the CDC recommends delaying travel until individuals are fully vaccinated, it is not mandatory. The CDC also recommends that unvaccinated people get tested one to three days before their trip and three to five days after returning. They should also self-quarantine for seven days, even with a negative test result. If an unvaccinated person does not get tested after travelling, the CDC recommends self-quarantining for 10 days.
It is important to note that individual states or local areas may have their own travel restrictions in place. For example, as of June 2021, Hawaii required either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a 10-day traveller quarantine.
The US government has considered requiring proof of vaccination for domestic air travel, but it is not currently mandatory. However, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation, as well as in transportation hubs such as airports and train stations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are discussing the standardisation of vaccination proof and the development of a digital health pass, respectively. These measures aim to minimise transmission risk and may become a requirement for travel in the future.
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Vaccination card requirements
While vaccination is not a requirement for flying domestically in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying travel until travellers are fully vaccinated. The CDC also recommends that unvaccinated individuals get tested before or after flying domestically. Masks are mandatory on flights and in airports, regardless of vaccination status.
For international travel, some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Travellers entering the United States from a foreign country are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than three days before travel, in addition to proof of vaccination if they are fully vaccinated. Exceptions are made for those who show proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 90 days. Unvaccinated travellers must also submit a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a 10-day quarantine.
The requirements for showing a vaccination card when travelling can vary depending on the destination and specific circumstances. It is important to check and follow the local recommendations or requirements related to travel before embarking on your journey.
In the United States, non-citizen nonimmigrants must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling by air from a foreign country. However, there are exceptions to this rule, including for children under 18 years of age, persons with documented medical contraindications, and participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials.
It is worth noting that there was opposition to a bill (H.R. 4980) that aimed to make it a legal requirement to be vaccinated to fly. This bill did not pass.
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Opposition to vaccination mandates for flying
There has been significant opposition to vaccination mandates for flying. For example, a bill (H.R. 4980) was proposed to make it a legal requirement to be vaccinated to fly, which faced a lot of pushback. A petition was started to stop the bill from passing, with the argument that freedom to travel is a fundamental right. The bill was also criticised for disproportionately affecting marginalised communities who are the least vaccinated.
In addition, pilots and other airline employees have protested against vaccine mandates, with some pilots choosing to fly charters instead, where vaccination is not required. Some pilots have also taken their employers to court to try to block vaccine mandates, citing concerns about potential career-ending side effects and abnormal health conditions that may be exacerbated by flying at high altitudes, such as heart damage and blood clotting.
Furthermore, unions such as Southwest's pilots union have challenged company vaccine mandates, arguing that they "unlawfully impose new conditions of employment". The union warned that enforcing the mandate could lead to labour shortages and service disruptions, which could potentially result in flight cancellations.
Overall, the opposition to vaccination mandates for flying stems from concerns about individual freedoms, potential health risks, and the potential impact on the airline industry and its employees.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you don't need to be vaccinated to fly in the US. However, wearing a mask is still required, regardless of vaccination status.
Non-US citizens who are nonimmigrants will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before flying to the US from a foreign country. There are some exceptions to this rule, including for diplomats and those with certain medical conditions.
It depends on the requirements of your destination country. The CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
This depends on the country and local requirements. For example, in Spain, Americans are no longer required to be vaccinated to enter the country.
Yes, in addition to vaccination requirements, there are testing requirements for both US citizens and non-citizens flying to the US. Fully vaccinated travellers are recommended to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test 3-5 days after arriving in the US. Unvaccinated travellers must submit a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a 10-day quarantine.
