What you need to know about the new US rules on international air travel

Nov. 7 (Reuters) – The Biden administration’s new rules requiring most foreign nationals to be vaccinated before flying to the United States go into effect at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on November 8.

Here’s what you need to know:

* Beginning November 8, foreign air travelers to the United States will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of their vaccine status before boarding a plane to travel to the United States, at a few exceptions.

* Passengers will need to show an “official source” indicating their vaccination status, and airlines will need to match name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on proof of vaccination.

* The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said it will accept vaccines approved or authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and those listed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

* All travelers must produce a negative viral test result within three days of travel to the United States. Unvaccinated U.S. citizens and other exempt individuals must provide a negative test performed within one day of travel.

* Children under 18 are excluded from compulsory vaccination, but children aged 2 to 17 must pass a pre-departure test. Unvaccinated foreign nationals under the age of 18 will not have to self-quarantine upon arrival.

* If you are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can be tested three days before departure, but if an unvaccinated child is traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults, they will need to be tested the day before departure .

* Exemptions include some participants in the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, those who have valid medical reasons for not getting the vaccine, and those who must travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons, but they will need a letter issued by the US government affirming the urgent need to travel.

* The CDC said there is no exceptions for vaccine needs “for religious reasons or other moral beliefs”.

* Non-tourist travelers from nearly 50 countries with nationwide vaccination rates of less than 10% will be exempt from the requirements but must agree within 60 days to be vaccinated under most conditions.

* Travelers must sign a certificate that they have been vaccinated and that they are warned that “willfully providing false or misleading information may result in criminal fines and imprisonment”.

* Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) plans to issue a safety directive which provides the legal basis for airlines to check vaccination records.

* The CDC has also issued a Contact tracing order which requires all airlines serving the United States to collect and retain for 30 days and disclose to the CDC if necessary contact information, including telephone numbers, email addresses and US addresses that will allow those responsible health to track infections. Collection requirements come into effect on November 8.

* The CDC has published a travel evaluation tool on Mondays for people planning international trips, including a long question and answer section for travelers.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Stephen Coates

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