On Sept. 20, the Biden administration announced its plans to ease the COVID-19 travel ban on all international travelers coming to the United States beginning November 2021, and instead require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, along with proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to the U.S. It is expected that fully vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 testing within 72 hours prior to their departure to the U.S., and travelers who are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test one day before their travel to the U.S. International travelers who are not fully vaccinated will also be required to undergo testing again after their arrival. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will specify the specific vaccines that will qualify under the new rule.

It is expected that the presidential travel ban affecting individuals from the Schengen area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, China and India will be lifted in early November, to give enough time for airlines and U.S. government agencies to get ready for these changes. Though an official announcement has yet to appear on the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites, multiple news outlets, as well as consular websites, are referencing this announcement. The rule will apply to all travelers to the U.S. instead of those only from the designated regions. Some limited exceptions should be available, such as children; COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants; and humanitarian exceptions for people traveling for an important reason and who lack access to vaccination. Nevertheless, travelers who fall under these exemptions, including U.S. citizens, will be required to provide proof of a negative test taken within one day of their flight, and provide proof that they have purchased a viral test to be taken after their arrival in the U.S., in order to board the aircraft. International travelers who are exempted from the vaccine requirement may be required to be vaccinated upon arrival to the U.S.