For comprehensive information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#.
1. Who must be vaccinated to travel to the United States?
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant, you must be fully vaccinated to travel to the United States by plane. Only limited exceptions apply. The vaccination requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), or travelers to the United States on an immigrant visa.
2. What vaccines are accepted?
Vaccines that are approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or that are listed for Emergency Use by the World Health Organization are accepted.
These vaccines include the following:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Sinovac
Please visit the CDC website for the list of accepted COVID-19 vaccines.
3. What does it mean to be “fully vaccinated”?
You are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine (for example, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson).
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series (for example, Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca).
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines at least 17 days apart.
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated.
4. How are the 14 days calculated?
Your last dose must have been given a full 14 days before the day you board your flight to the United States. You are considered fully vaccinated on the 14th day after the vaccination series was completed. For example, if your last dose was any time on October 1, then October 15 would be the first day that you meet the 14-day requirement.
5. What documents are acceptable proof of vaccination?
Acceptable proof of COVID-19 vaccination:
- Vaccination certificate with QR code, digital pass via Smartphone application with QR code (e.g., Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health vaccination certificate with QR code, United Kingdom National Health Service COVID Pass, European Union Digital COVID Certificate).
- Printout of COVID-19 vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provider (e.g., the CDC vaccination card or Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health vaccination card).
- Digital photos of vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record or vaccination certificate from official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider), or a mobile phone application without QR code.
All forms of proof of COVID-19 vaccine must have:
- Personal identifiers (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) that match the personal identifiers on the passenger’s passport or other travel documents.
- Name of official source issuing the record (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider).
- Vaccine manufacturer and date(s) of vaccination.
6. Can a traveler present the CDC COVID-19 vaccination card from the United States?
Yes.
7. Does the proof of vaccination need to be in English and Spanish?
Airlines must be able to confirm proof of vaccination and review other required information, and they should determine when translation is necessary for these purposes. If your documents are in a language other than English, you should check with your airline before travel.
8. Does the proof of vaccination need to be “apostillado”?
No.
9. Do travelers need a negative Covid-19 test to enter the United States in addition to the vaccine?
Yes. ALL air travelers, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, two years of age or older are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel. Air travelers must be tested with a viral test which could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
Alternatively, travelers may provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel (i.e., a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
For more information on the testing requirement, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html.
