The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we travel. If you feel comfortable to start traveling again, bravo, I’m with you! I’m all for safely doing the things that bring us joy. However, there are unique situations to navigate. During the pandemic, my travels slowed down, but I have still taken a few international trips. Being vaccinated, I felt more comfortable traveling, but there were still unique challenges and I’m still cautious. When abroad I follow all local restrictions but also my own comfort which means lots of testing and mask-wearing. The pandemic is still affecting the way we travel in 2022, so it’s essential to stay on top of the requirements for air travel. Depending on your destination, you may be required to bring proof of a negative COVID test or even your vaccination status. Here are some helpful tips so you can navigate travel safely in 2022:

International Travel

As the world slowly opens back up for travel, some great flight deals are available. Airlines are also offering more flexible cancellation policies. It’s important to know what your airline is offering before booking travel when it comes to illness and COVID. There are also various safety regulations in place in different countries. It’s important to research the current restrictions that are in place in the country you plan to travel to ahead of time. It is also important to note that regulations can change quickly, so continue to monitor the government websites in your destination country as your trip approaches. Many countries require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for entry. Some of these countries may also require a recent negative test result. And certain countries will allow you to either present proof of vaccination or a recent negative test result. Again, each country has different regulations, so visit the government’s travel website for the most up-to-date and accurate information. To learn about country-specific vaccination and testing requirements, visit the US Department of State Travel website.

Returning to Or Traveling to the United States

As of January 2022, when returning to the United States after an international trip, all air passengers must show a negative COVID-19 test taken within a day before travel to the United States regardless of vaccination status. In addition, all non-immigrant, non-US citizen air travelers are required to be fully vaccinated and show proof of their vaccination status before being allowed on an airplane back to the United States.

Travel Within the United States

There are not as many COVID testing requirements for domestic travel, but the CDC website provides helpful information on traveling safely during the pandemic. Certain US cities, like New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and others, require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test for indoor dining and events. Hospitals and COVID testing sites are overwhelmed in some cities, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on taking a test in your destination city and know you may have to be patient. Before traveling to Hawaii, you must also have proof of vaccination or a negative NAAT COVID test. Travelers who arrive without valid proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination will face a strict 5-day quarantine.

Self Tests

Some testing services allow you to order a testing kit to bring on your trip. You simply take the test while being monitored online by a health professional before travel. Double-check before ordering a self-test that it is CDC-compliant for travel and re-entry into the United States. Some services that sell CDC-compliant self-tests are:

• Video Supervised Rapid Test For Travel – Qured – $39
• COVID Test Kits & Cue Reader for At-Home Results Cue Health – $49.99/month membership
• Abbott’s BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag At-Home Test Kit 6 Pack – eMed – $150
• Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test with eMed Telehealth Services for Travel – 2 Pack – Optum – $69.99

Airline Resources

Your airline may have additional testing requirements, so check their website before you fly. Airline websites also have helpful information on the specific type of test you’ll need to fly and where to upload or provide your information. You can visit your airline’s website for more details but here are a few links to major domestic carriers:

• Delta
• United
• American Airlines
• JetBlue

Resources for Safe Travel in 2022

It’s crucial to know where to find reliable information about testing and vaccination requirements for travel. Make sure you take updated photos of your vaccine card after your booster shot and keeping it in a separate album has helped me easily find it when I’m dining out or traveling and don’t want to keep the hard copy in my purse. Here are a few resources that can help you to find accurate and up-to-date travel information:

International Travel

• The CDC has a map on travel recommendations by destination. This map can provide helpful information on the current COVID-19 situation in other countries.
• Visit the US Department of State Travel website for country-specific information, such as testing and vaccination requirements, as well as where to find COVID testing sites in that country.
• To learn about testing requirements in another country in more depth, visit the government’s website for your destination country. For example, you can search “Does [country name] require COVID testing before entry?” Just make sure you choose the government’s travel website for reliable information.
• Forbes Advisor published a helpful article with the vaccination and testing requirements for some domestic and international travel destinations. Be sure to double-check the local requirements for a country before you book your trip, though!

Domestic Travel

• For helpful tips on domestic travel, visit the CDC website.