Americans are facing a summer of travel chaos with confusing rules on where they can go, what they need to do once they’re there, and whether that country still has any lockdown restrictions or curfews that may make it an undesirable place to be.
Across the board, if you leave America, you have to obtain a negative COVID-19 test to get back in once your trip is over.
Travel to America from most countries is allowed, aside from those on Biden’s banned list which includes Europe, the UK & Ireland, China, Iran, South Africa and India. American citizens can enter the US from anywhere so long as they have a negative COVID-19 test.
These are the countries that Americans can visit now, the countries they’ll be able to visit soon, and the countries which have shown no signs of letting Americans in again any time soon.
OPEN NOW TO AMERICANS
CARIBBEAN
Most Caribbean countries are open to Americans but they require varying forms of testing before arrival, mandatory COVID-19 insurance in case you become infected there.
Barbados requires everyone to temporarily quarantine in a government-approved hotel or villa or apartment, until they receive a second negative COVID-19 test, taken at that property, after their first test at the airport on arrival. Then they are free to roam the island.
Bermuda is operating on the same system. Vaccinated travelers still have to test negative twice and unvaccinated travelers have to test negative twice, four days apart, quarantining in between tests.
The Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Monserrat are not open to US travelers.
SOUTH AMERICA
All of South America is open to US travelers with varying levels of restrictions like negative tests and/or quarantine with the exception of Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, which remain closed.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America, including Mexico, is open to US travelers, aside from the Cayman Islands.
UK
From May 17, Americans can visit the UK from May 17, provided they quarantine for ten days on arrival and test negative.
The US has been added to the UK’s ‘Amber list’ of countries; travel is accepted from those countries but with certain rules.
Americans can return directly to the US from the UK, but non-US citizens cannot unless they have a waiver from the embassy for exceptional circumstances.
GREECE
Greece has been open to Americans since April 19. Fully vaccinated Americans do not need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated Americans have to provide a negative PCR test from within 72 hours of arriving.
CYPRUS
Americans have been able to travel to Cyprus since March 1. No quarantine is needed with a negative PCR test.
CROATIA
Americans can visit Croatia but they have to prove two things; a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of arrival or full vaccination status AND full payment of a hotel, villa or apartment for the duration of their stay.
ITALY
Americans can enter Italy on flights operated by Delta, American and United because they offer testing for passengers. Passengers on those flights do not need to quarantine.
ICELAND
Open to Americans but they have to test negative on arrival, whether they are vaccinated or not.
TURKEY
Open with negative PCR test. Lockdown restrictions like curfews are still in place in much of the country.
MONTENEGRO
Open to Americans with full vaccination status or proof of negative PCR before arrival.
SERBIA
Open with proof of PCR or antigen test within 48 hours of arrival.
GEORGIA
Open with proof of full vaccination status or multiple negative COVID-19 tests over several days if unvaccinated.
THAILAND
Americans can travel to Thailand but they have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The UAE is open to Americans but they have to obtain a negative COVID-19 test and quarantine on arrival. Each state has different quarantine rules. Dubai enforces a ten day quarantine with negative tests on the fourth and eighth day.
AFRICA
These African countries are open to US tourists with varying degrees of restrictions; South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Cabo Verde, Morocco, Seychelles.
Travel from the remaining countries is still closed.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea is open to US tourists but they have to quarantine in a government-designated hotel, and pay for it, for two weeks on arrival.
MALDIVES
Travel is allowed but testing is mandatory on arrival.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka has introduced the world’s first ‘bio bubbles’ concept where international travelers can visit without restrictions, but they aren’t allowed to mingle with locals.
OPENING TO AMERICANS SOON
EUROPE
A date has not been formally announced and it’ll depend on each country if there are rules for quarantine or testing, but the EU is introducing a digital vaccine system from July 1.
That is likely to pave the way for Americans to visit, if not sooner.
Even after the vaccine passport, some countries can impose rules on US travelers like quarantine and testing, even if they are vaccinated.
Americans should also consider what the situation is in the country they want to visit; many still have lockdown restrictions like curfews.
In an interview over the weekend, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told The New York Times: ‘Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines. This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union.
‘Because one thing is clear: All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A’
They include Moderna, Pfizer and J&J’s shot.
*SPAIN – JUNE 7
Americans can visit from June 7. No other countries have indicated yet what they will do individually after the vaccine passport program is introduced.
NO SIGN OF OPENING TO AMERICANS ANY TIME SOON
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
MOST OF THE MIDDLE EAST (With the exception of Lebanon, the UAE and Jordan which are open with some restrictions)
ISRAEL (Closed to US citizens unless they have family in Israel)
CHINA
JAPAN
RUSSIA
ARGENTINA
CHILE
URUGUAY
INDIA
MOST OF ASIA (Only Thailand and South Korea are open to American tourists. South Korea has a 2 week hotel quarantine rule)
…. AND WHO CAN (AND CAN’T) COME TO AMERICA?
Travel to the US is allowed from every country in the world, with a negative COVID-19 test, except from the following countries. (US citizens can always enter America from overseas).
A non US citizen cannot enter America if they have been in any of these countries 14 days or less before their flight;
UK
EUROPE (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
INDIA
SOUTH AFRICA
IRAN
CHINA