Understanding current travel restrictions:

Can we travel internationally right now? The answer is yes… and no. Let’s sort it out.

Everything you need to know about the how, where and when of overseas travel.

Let me guess: You saw a picture on social media of your friend from high school / co-worker / neighbor’s daughter-in-law / favorite Insta influencer, livin’ their best life on a pristine, white sandy beach with endless turquoise ocean behind them and thought, “Wait… What?”  Yes, there are some countries accepting U.S. tourists at this time, and a lot of them are what the travel industry colloquially refers to as “sun and sand” destinations, -hence the beaches, pools and palm trees you might be seeing popping up in your feed.  While most of these are in the Caribbean, Mexico, and some Central American nations, there are countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America who are open to U.S. citizens, all subject to a wide variety of restrictions.

Most nations that are open right now have requirements regarding proof of a negative COVID test; many require health attestations you must fill out, print, and present upon arrival or before departure; many require mandatory quarantine periods upon arrival (ranging in length from 5-14 days, depending on the country); some countries require proof of specific types of travel insurance that cover COVID-related complications.

Some of the rules are pretty confusing to understand.  Mexico, for example, requires no testing at all to enter, and you can fly right in.  But if you wanted to drive across the border?  Not allowed.  No non-essential travel across the land border, to discourage the spread of COVID-19.  But you can fly in…

The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales) is still legally allowing U.S. visitors (subject to a whole host of restrictions), but simultaneously “strongly discouraging” visitors.

The United States has a list of countries (Brazil, the UK, pretty much all of Europe, South Africa, just to name a few) whose visitors are barred from entering the U.S., period. However, U.S. citizens who have gone to one of these countries are allowed to return to the U.S. (More on returning to the U.S. in just a minute!)

It suffices to say there’s no easy way to sum up what is required of travellers going international, because each nation (and even some airlines!) has different requirements, and they can change on a dime. Your best resource to find out EXACTLY what a country does and does not allow is by visiting the State Department’s website where you can get detailed information for every single country. This link will take you directly to that web page. If you’re interested in traveling somewhere, this is also information your travel advisor should be able to provide.

So, great! You’ve gotten to that beach, but what next?

Fortunately, the United States’ rules for returning home are straight-forward, but they still take some careful planning.

The other important thing travellers need to be aware of is that the cost of the test and the logistics of taking it, getting it processed and documented are all their responsibility.  Included below is a breakdown of the differences between the two accepted tests. 

There are some resorts in the “sand and sun” destinations that are including testing on-site as a part of their packages, and there are rumblings that some international hotel chains may add that service in the future at their locations, but for the time being they all seem to be coalescing in the Caribbean and Latin America.

What is NOT VALID is an anti-body test.  These tests reveal if you had a past infection.  Again, they are not the same as a COVID-19 test, and you will not be allowed to board your flight if this is the test result you bring.  

You must also bring an official attestation form, filled out and printed, to the airport.  While I think some people have started to become aware of the testing requirements for international travel, this necessary form appears not to be common knowledge. 

And finally, the CDC strongly recommends you get tested 3-5 days after you’ve returned home, that you quarantine for 7 days after returning home (even with a negative test result) and that if you DON’T re-test when you get home, to quarantine for 10 days. Whew.

These rules are set to be in effect for the rest of 2021, right up to New Year’s Eve.

“Hannah, what happens if I test positive?”

If you test positive before you are to return home, you will have to isolate and delay your travel until you are well and are able to show a negative COVID test.  

It brings up some important questions: Are you prepared for the cost of isolating in a foreign country for a week or more?  What is the healthcare system like in your destination?  Are you prepared for any fees or penalties for changing your return flight?  What will happen if you can’t get home for work / kids / school / animals on the date that you anticipated?

You might also be tearing at your hair and asking, “AH, why has the government made this so hard?!  I just want to be freeeee!”  I get it, and I’m going to be super honest with you: It’s hard because they are trying to discourage people from traveling internationally, during a global pandemic.  That’s the truth of it.  It’s hard because it’s supposed to be hard.

So to answer our original question, can we travel internationally, right now?  Yes.  It is possible.  To some places.  And if you choose to this year, I strongly suggest using a travel advisor.  The information is constantly shifting, and you want someone whose job it is to be on top of it for you.  And if you run up against complications with testing, travel delays and reschedules, or you do need to stay in your destination longer than planned, that travel advisor support is going to be invaluable.  

If you have any other questions about international travel right now, please, reach out!  I promise to keep you updated as information changes.  :)

‘Til next time, Travellers,

Hannah