Effective January 26, 2021 – negative COVID-19 test required for all individuals entering USA from abroad

On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order, Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, requiring international travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the United States. This order takes effect on January 26, 2021.

Consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) published an order in the Federal Register specifying that international travelers must produce a negative COVID-19 test, obtained within 72 hours of travel, in order to enter the United States. The test must be a Viral Test (nucleic acid amplification test or viral antigen test) approved by the relevant national authority for the detection of COVID-19.

Alternatively, individuals who have previously tested positive and have recovered from COVID-19, may present documentation of a positive test result and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health professional confirming the individual has been cleared for travel.

Individuals should be prepared to provide the test results and/or letter to the airline carrier prior to boarding their flight to the United States and to Customs & Border Protection (CBP) during inspection and admission into the United States at the Port of Entry.

Additionally, upon arrival into the United States, international travelers will be required quarantine upon arrival to the United States. The required quarantine period will likely be between seven and ten days, however the Administration has asked the CDC to complete a review and confirm the appropriate quarantine period for all international travelers upon arrival into the United States.