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It’s Official: Here is When People Can Enter the US and With Which Vaccines

3 years ago
1 Comment
by Charlie
a toy airplane on top of a passport and a map
Written by Charlie

We now know when people from Europe, the UK, India, China and more will be allowed to enter the US and which vaccines are approved for entry.

Last month, we wrote about how the US was going to be opening up to many foreigners from nations around the world again (notably, those from Europe who have been banned for tourist reasons since March of 2020). At the time, the announcement was “sometime” in November. Now, we know when the US border doors will open and more.

When Foreigners Can Enter the US and More

The White House just announced that fully vaccinated foreign nationals can enter the US land and air borders starting November 8.

Here are the countries who are cleared for their nationals to fly into the US as of that date:

  • The Schengen nations in Europe (26 countries)
  • The UK
  • Ireland
  • China
  • India
  • South Africa
  • Iran
  • Brazil

As with all travel to the US from Europe in the last year and a half, the US is putting the burden of checking for vaccinated status on the airlines instead of at the point of entry only. In addition, vaccinated travelers will still need to show a negative Covid test as well.

Kevin is the White House Assistant Press Secretary.

Which Vaccines Can Foreign Nationals Have to Enter the US

The CDC’s initial guidance had specified that foreign nationals will be able to enter the US by being fully vaccinated with the following vaccines (these are approved either by the FDA and/or the WHO):

  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covidshield
  • Sinopharm
  • Sinovac

Off the list is the Russian developed vaccine, Sputnik, and Covaxin which is used in India, at least initially. This means that those who have been vaccinated with vaccines not on the list but are from countries which are cleared for entry as of November 8 will not initially be allowed to travel to the US.

With this new date just a few weeks away, if you have travel in the weeks that follow, particularly from Europe, be prepared for long lines at check-in as the airlines deal with checking all of these additional documents for travel – as well as due to the fact that many more people will be free to travel to the US.

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

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1 Comment

  • The negative COVID test in addition to the vaccine needs to go. It’s preventing international air travel from meeting its full potential and is absurd.

    If we are going to be fair, let’s also apply this to the influenza vaccine and do an flu test at least 24 hours prior to departure.

    Coming back from Italy and Greece this year, that was our biggest concern, getting a false positive on the COVID test and being forced to quarantine in an unknown hotel for a week or so.

    Stop the madness!