DESTINATIONS

Rules for travelling to the

USA from the UK
explained: tests, vaccines
and more

Everything you need to know about how to

visit America

BY SARAH JAMES
13 June 2022

Getty Images

The US eased travel restrictions for visitors

from the UK in November 2021, with rules
around testing eased in June 2022. Find out
what all this means for your trip.

Can I travel to the USA?

On Monday 20 September 2021, the White
House confirmed that it would lift most
restrictions on fully vaccinated
international travellers, allowing them to
enter the US for the first time since March
2020. We were on the first flight out in early
November 2021, so have first-hand
experience of the process. 

The first British Airways flight to New York from

London Sarah James

What Covid tests do I

need to travel to the
USA?
As of June 2022, the requirement for air
travellers to show proof of a negative test to
enter the USA has been dropped. 

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"We are able to take this step because of the

tremendous progress we've made in our
fight against the virus. We have made
lifesaving vaccines and treatments widely
available and these tools are working to
prevent serious illness and death, and are
effective against the prevalent variants
circulating in the US and around the
world," a senior official said in a statement. 

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West Village in New York Getty Images

Do I need to be
vaccinated to go to the
USA?
Yes – most international air travellers need
to show proof of being fully vaccinated to
enter the USA. Any vaccine approved for
use by the World Health Organisation or by
the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) will be accepted, including
AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech
and others. The final vaccine dose must
have been administered at least 14 days
before travelling. 

Can unvaccinated
people travel to the USA?
To enter the USA unvaccinated you must
have been granted an exception or be a US
Citizen, US National, or US Lawful
Permanent Resident. You can find out if you
qualify as an exception to the rules by
reading the list outlined by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Do I need to wear a face

mask in the USA?
In mid-April US authorities ended the
national requirement to wear a face mask
on public transport, including planes,
trains, taxis, and buses, following a ruling
by a judge that the mandate was unlawful –
however, passengers are still encouraged to
wear masks. 
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Rules on wearing masks differ in each state,

so it's important to check before you travel,
however there are currently no states
requiring people to wear masks in public
spaces. You may be required to wear a mask
in certain settings, such as healthcare
facilities. 

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