US president Joe Biden has outlined the new rules for foreign travellers entering the country when the Covid travel ban is lifted next month.
From 8 November, most incoming visitors to the US will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and have a negative PCR or antigen test within three days of departure.
Travellers must provide evidence of having received a vaccination from an “official source” at least two weeks prior to departure.
Airlines will have to check passengers’ vaccination status before boarding. They will also be required to keep personal information on file for 30 days for contact tracing.
The lifting of the ban is widely seen as opening the doors to the return of international travel at scale for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
There are a number of exemptions to the new guidance. Children aged between 2-17 travelling with at least one vaccinated adult do not need to show proof of vaccination, but will still need to provide proof of a negative test.
The orders also exempt Covid-19 vaccine trial participants, those who cannot have the vaccines for medical reasons, those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons and people travelling on non-tourist visas from countries with low-vaccine availability.
Airlines can choose to accept both digital and physical proof of vaccination. The White House said it would "work closely with the airlines to ensure that these new requirements are implemented successfully."
A White House official said: "We have taken the deliberate steps of giving this time to ensure implementation goes as smoothly as possible, particularly with something that's wide-ranging. As with anything of this scale, there may be moments where travellers have issues or questions in the first few weeks of implementation. We understand the importance of international travel and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the new system on November 8."
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
