At the beginning of the corona pandemic, then US President Donald Trump imposed an entry ban on March 11, 2020, and since then travelers from Europe have no longer been admitted to the United States – at least not without one of the rare special permits or via long detours through third countries. The number of infections in Europe is now skyrocketing again. Nevertheless, the entry restriction will be significantly relaxed this Monday. Fully vaccinated people are allowed to re-enter the United States from 0.01 a.m. on November 8th. The most important questions and answers:
What exactly will change on November 8th?
Travelers from Europe are welcome back to the US provided they are fully vaccinated. There are few exceptions, for example for travelers under the age of 18 or genesis whose illness was not more than 90 days ago. Travelers must also present a negative Covid test prior to departure. Airlines and ship operators are only allowed to board passengers who meet these requirements. The vaccination requirement also applies to passengers in transit at airports and at land borders; only the test certificate is omitted there. In addition, everyone must independently undergo a Covid test between the third and fifth day after arrival.
Why do you still have to be tested before entering the country by plane?
All air travelers aged two and over must present a negative Covid test before boarding the plane. For vaccinated persons and minors traveling with them, the sample may have been taken a maximum of the third day before the start of the flight. Unvaccinated adults with a special permit and their children must have a negative test that is no more than one day old. The US authorities explain these requirements with the risk of infection: There is an increased risk of spreading the virus and spreading future variants, especially on flights where you come into contact with many people and over a long period of time.
Do you need a visa to enter the country?
The visa and other entry requirements remain unchanged. The best information about this can be found on the website of the US embassy in the country of residence. For tourists from Germany and other Schengen countries, electronic registration via the is usually sufficient for a stay of up to 90 days ESTA-System. A visa is required for study, work or longer travel stays. The processing time for visas can be longer than usual because the embassies are still not running at full capacity due to Covid.
Are European vaccination cards recognized?
Yes, the digital EU vaccination certificate will explicitly accepted by the USA, the airlines are responsible for the control. In some states and localities, vaccination cards are also required in everyday life, for example when entering a restaurant. Most of the time, the digital version is recognized without any problems; an official ID may also be required.
Travelers wait at the Chicago airport check-in counter.
(Photo: Antonio Perez / Imago / ZUMA Wire)
Why did it take so long for the entry ban to be relaxed?
When President Donald Trump left office, he wanted the entry ban to expire at the last minute on January 26, 2021, less than a week after the transfer of power to Joe Biden. However, he had promised in the election campaign to fight the pandemic resolutely and extended the entry ban. The move sparked criticism because by that time European states had long been planning to open their borders.
But it was only when the number of Covid cases in the USA fell significantly in the autumn and that of those vaccinated in many countries rose steadily that Biden’s people signaled a willingness to talk. The USA also used the easing of the entry restrictions as a kind of peace offer to Europe and France in particular: Before that, the tone had become rougher due to the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan and the broken submarine deal between France and Australia.
How is the pandemic affecting travel in the US?
The rules vary widely, from being very relaxed like in Florida to very strict like in California; Travelers should find out in advance which regulations apply at the travel destination. In many places, a mask is required in publicly accessible interiors, as well as in public transport. In some cities, a vaccination card is required when entering a restaurant.
In some popular travel destinations such as New York, there are currently significantly fewer people than before the pandemic, and many shops and restaurants are closed. In those places where larger numbers of visitors gather, long queues quickly form. The national parks have also posted record visitor numbers in the past few months.
Reservations have become unavoidable in some parts of the country, and rental cars in particular are sometimes fully booked months in advance. Due to difficulties in the logistics chain between China and the USA, prices have also risen in many places, for example for food, but also for hotels and other accommodations. The pandemic has also exacerbated the social differences, especially in the cities: violent crimes are on the rise, and homeless people live in tent cities in parks.
Which vaccinations are recognized?
For entry into the USA, the authorities accept all those vaccines that are either FDA approved or listed on the World Health Organization’s emergency list. This grants access to the USA with all vaccines commonly used in Western Europe. This also applies to the Chinese vaccines, because they have received emergency approval from the WHO. The Russian preparation Sputnik V, on the other hand, is missing from the list, as is Covaxin from India. So anyone who has received one of these two vaccines will be denied entry to the USA for the time being.
Who is considered vaccinated?
Fully vaccinated is valid for the US authorities 14 days after full vaccination. So you can only board a plane on the 15th day. Booster vaccinations do not play a role when entering the country. They are recognized in the USA and recommended for some risk groups, but at least not currently required.
Why are people vaccinated with Sputnik V not allowed to enter the country?
The official justification for this is technocratic: The US government relies on the CDC, which in turn relies on the marketing authorization in the USA and the emergency list of the World Health Organization. Sputnik V cannot be found in either category, although over 125 million cans have already been produced. The WHO had initiated a test procedure for Sputnik V, but it recently put it on hold due to concerns about the quality of production in the Russian manufacturing plants. Russia senses Western protectionism behind this. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the state investment fund RDIF, which finances Sputnik V, recently claimed that “pharmaceutical giants are deliberately trying to narrow Sputnik and absorb the markets themselves out of competitive rivalry”.
Who can claim an exception?
Europeans need an exemption, if you want to travel to the USA unvaccinated. For example, they have to assert medical reasons that rule out a vaccination, such as an allergy to an ingredient or another medical contraindication. The current list of exceptions can be found on the CDC website. In special humanitarian hardship cases, the US authorities also grant exceptions upon request. Travelers from countries where vaccines are not available can also obtain an exemption, but must be immunized upon arrival.
What are the rules for children?
On entry, children between the ages of two and 18 are accepted subject to those rules that apply to their parents. If all parents are fully vaccinated, the children are also treated in the same way and can bring a test result up to three days old. If, on the other hand, at least one parent is not vaccinated, this also determines the children’s status, and the test may only be a maximum of one day old. Infants under two years of age are exempt from these provisions.