The US to have new rules to enter the country by air

The US authorities have announced new rules for entering the United States by air as of November 8, 2021, removing the existing territorial restrictions based on stay or passage of passengers through certain countries in the last 14 days.

All foreign nationals arriving by air will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved for permanent or emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

As of October 25, 2021 the list of approved vaccines includes: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen/J&J, AstraZeneca, Covishield, BIBP/Sinopharm, Sinovac.

The proof of complete vaccination document must be submitted before boarding an aircraft.

Passengers will also be required to present to airlines prior to departure a negative NAAT test (including PCR test) or SARS-Cov-2 virus antigen test no more than three days prior to the first flight.

Children and young children between the ages of 2 and 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement, but not from the test requirement.

Among those exempted from the vaccination requirement are the visa holders of the following types:
A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, E-1, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO -1 to NATO-4 and NATO-6, as well as UN staff. However, such visa holders will have to provide the airline with a test taken up to one day before the flight, as well as evidence of scheduled testing and a secured quarantine location (until the test result is released) upon arrival in the United States. If they plan to stay in the United States for more than two months, they will also be required to provide evidence of a vaccination against COVID-19 scheduled within 60 days of their arrival.

There is an exception to the requirement for vaccination for citizens who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions or come from countries with an objective shortage of vaccines included in the WHO list.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have not been vaccinated should provide the airline with a negative SARS-Cov-2 virus test no more than one day before the first flight.

The rules for entering the US land border will be amended by a separate act.

To find more information about the vaccines permitted by the US authorities as well as possible combinations of vaccines see the the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.

For full and complete information visit the Department of State Frequently Frequently Asked Questions page on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing for international travel.