Can I travel during COVID-19?

Traveling during COVID-19 pandemic increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. We highly recommend that you delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. Please do not travel if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to a person with COVID-19.

With the recent rise in Delta Variant, it is strongly recommended that travelers use appropriate precautions like wearing face masks, avoiding crowd, staying 6 feet away from anyone who didn’t travel with you, washing hands regularly and minimize indoor activities.

Below you will find current covid status, travel restrictions and recommendation for some of our popular travel destinations. Stay tuned as we add more. Feel free to reach out or comment below if you have questions or need information on other destinations.

COVID-19 status, travel recommendations and restrictions Across the world

United States

More than 37 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 625,000 have died of COVID-19. Over 100,000 of new cases are reported daily nationwide. U.S has placed states and territories in 4 categories based on daily case rates.

1. RED: 25+ daily new cases per 100,000 people indicating unchecked community spread.
2. ORANGE: 10-24 daily new cases per 100,000 people indicating escalating community spread.
3. YELLOW: 1-9 daily new cases per 100,000 people indicating potential community spread.
4. GREEN: <1 daily new case per 100,000 people indicating close to containment.

For the latest status of each state and territory, visit this page. While there are no official mandates for each zone, travelers should exercise extreme caution while in RED and Orange states.

Domestic travelers

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put out the following recommendation for all domestic travelers.

The following states have additional restrictions and recommendations:

1. Alaska: Travelers and returning residents are not required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival. However, anyone who tests positive is still not allowed to travel. Travelers are “advised” to submit a Travel Declaration and Self-Isolation Plan and arrive with a negative molecular based COVID-19 test.
2. Hawaii: Vaccinated travelers are required to upload vaccination record document to Safe Travels and printed out prior to departure and the traveler must have a hard copy in hand when arriving in Hawaii. Hawaii will also accept vaccine records that are digitally validated by Digital Health Pass Partners (CLEAR and CommonPass). Travelers who use one of the State’s partners to link their digitally validated vaccine records with Safe Travels may enjoy expedited processing at the airport (no secondary visual inspection of paper vaccine records). If you are not vaccinated or aren’t able to provide vaccination record, you must have a negative result from a test taken from a Trusted Testing and Travel Partner no more than 72 hours before the trip. If you arrive without the negative test, you must self quarantine for 10 days.
3. Illinois: Any unvaccinated people traveling from RED, ORANGE and YELLOW states and territories are advised to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 10-day period upon arrival. Vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine or receive a negative test provided more than 2 weeks has passed since the final dose was administered and they are asymptomatic. It is recommended that you bring a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination records while traveling.
4. Maine: For Travelers from a state that’s experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Maine CDC will apply testing and quarantine protocols to all travelers from that state. Travelers from those states must sign a Certificate of Compliance, which indicates a negative COVID-19 test result, commitment to quarantine in Maine for 10 days, or that quarantine in Maine was completed.
5. New Mexico: Visitors are strongly advised to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days and to get a COVID-19 test upon their arrival in or return to New Mexico. Some travel restrictions in New Mexico are now enforced at the county level, so be sure to check your specific destinations for local restrictions before you go.
6. Puerto Rico: Vaccinated travelers must upload their official vaccination cards to the Travel Declaration Form portal. Unvaccinated travelers are required to provide evidence of either a PCR molecular or antigen COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. If the traveler arrives without a test, they must upload either a PCR molecular or antigen COVID-19 test taken on the Island, within 48 hours of arrival, or they will receive a $300 fine. If the uploaded result is negative, the quarantine is lifted. If the result is positive, the person must isolate and follow the local isolation protocol at his/her own expense.

While most states do not require proof of vaccination, some counties or local businesses may require proof of vaccination. Check before you go and if possible, carry your vaccination card with you.

International travelers

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put out the following recommendation for all international travelers.

Italy

More than 4.5 million people in Italy have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 128,000 have died of COVID-19. Thousands of new cases are reported daily. COVID Green pass is mandatory for many indoor social activities and travel. To get a Green pass, you need to get vaccinated or have a negative test. Regions are divided into 4 categories based on Rt Index.

1. WHITE: No regional restrictions. No lockdown. No curfew. Everything is open. Restaurants and bars may open for indoor dining and drinking. Only limitation is national mask regulation.
2. YELLOW: Restaurants and bars are open until 11 pm for outdoor dining/drinking. Food and drink delivery is allowed at any time. All shops are open. Museums and attractions are open. Booking ahead is essential. Indoor gyms are open. Schools are open. Unrestricted intra-regional travel, travel to yellow and white regions permitted. Curfew from 11 pm every night until 5 am.
3. ORANGE: Restaurants and bars are open for takeaway only until 6 pm, though delivery is allowed at any time. Gyms and non-essential shops are closed. Museums and attractions are open. Booking ahead is essential. Schools are open for under-12s. Restricted regional travel, no extra-regional travel. Curfew from 11 pm every night until 5 am.
4. RED: Restaurants and bars are open for takeaway only until 6 pm, though delivery is allowed at any time. Gyms and non-essential shops are closed. Schools are closed. Museums and attractions are closed. No intra-regional travel, no extra-regional travel. Curfew from 11 pm every night until 5 am.

Currently, only Sicily region is Yellow and rest of the regions are white. You can view most upto date status of each region here.

Domestic travelers

Covid green pass are mandatory to visit leisure venues, cultural sites, indoor seating areas at bars and restaurants, long-distance trains and flights within Italy.

International travelers

1. Citizens and residents of EU countries, Schengen area, Israel, Andorra or the Principality of Monaco are required to fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy and present the EU Digital COVID Certificate on arrival.
2. Travelers from Canada and Japan are required to  fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy and present a COVID-19 Green Pass issued by the Health Authorities their home country.
3. Travelers from United States are required to  fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy and present a CDC White Card issued by U.S. health authority.
4. Travelers from the UK are required to fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy, present a negative certificate for a rapid molecular or antigen test performed in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy and undergo fiduciary isolation and health surveillance for 5 days. At the end of the isolation period, they will have to perform a new molecular or antigen test.

For more details and other countries, see this link.

Belize

More than 16,000 people in Belize have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 350 have died of COVID-19. Hundreds of new cases are reported daily. Travelers are required to wear a face mask when in public spaces.

All travelers, (ages 5 and above) both vaccinated and unvaccinated entering at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), will be required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel or a negative result from any approved Antigen Rapid Test taken within 48 hours of travel. If you aren’t able to produce the proof, a COVID-19 test will be administered at the airport for a fee of USD $50 per passenger.

All travelers entering Belize through the Northern and Western Borders will be administered a Rapid Test for COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, at their own expense. No external COVID-19 PCR or Rapid Test will be accepted at these points of entry.

Belize has instituted a temporary travel ban on persons who have travelled to or originated from or have transited the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh due to the rising numbers of persons in these countries infected with the COVID-19 virus.

All arriving passengers who test positive will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 14 days at the passengers’ expense.  It is therefore recommended that you obtain travel insurance prior to your trip. All Tourists also must book their stay at approved Gold Standard Hotel. List of Gold Standard Hotels can be found here.

Greece

More than 580,000 people in Greece have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 13,500 have died of COVID-19. Thousands of new cases are reported daily. It is mandatory to wear a face mask in indoor spaces, including public transport. Travelers might need proof of vaccination to enter indoor public places including restaurants, cafe and clubs.

Domestic travelers

All travelers 12 years or older traveling on domestic flights or ferry traveling to island destinations must provide one of the following:

• Official proof of vaccination, or EU digital COVID-19 card
• Negative COVID-19 test with a PCR test performed within the last seventy-two (72) hours prior to the scheduled travel time or with a rapid antigen test within the last forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled travel time.
• Proof of recovery from COVID-19 either by presenting a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 30 days after having tested positive, the certificate is considered valid for at least 30 days and at most 180 days after the initial positive result; or by presenting a positive COVID-19 Αntigen, PCR or RT-PCR test result issued at least 30 days and at most 180 days before arrival. 

International travelers

All travelers must provide one of the following:

• A negative molecular test (PCR) for COVID-19 (performed by taking Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal smear) up to 72 hours before the scheduled arrival Or a negative forty-eight-(48) hour diagnostic Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19 (Rapid Test) prior to scheduled arrival of the flight. 
• Proof of vaccination.
• Proof of recovery from COVID-19 either by presenting a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 30 days after having tested positive, the certificate is considered valid for at least 30 days and at most 180 days after the initial positive result; or by presenting a positive COVID-19 Αntigen, PCR or RT-PCR test result issued at least 30 days and at most 180 days before arrival. 
• EU digital COVID certificate issued accordingly to EU requirements in digital or paper form. 

All visitors from air, land or sea, will be subject to random tests upon arrival. Upon being tested, travelers move to their final destination.  In the event of a positive result, they will be contacted and placed on a minimum 10-day quarantine, with expenses covered by the Greek state.

France

More than 6.5 million people in France have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 114,000 have died of COVID-19. Over 10,000 of new cases are reported daily. Restrictions have been almost entirely lifted in mainland France. You must wear a mask in indoor public places except for places where a health pass is required.

Domestic travelers

All travelers 12 years or older will need a health pass for long-distance trips by plane, train and coach. You will also need a health pass to access leisure and culture venues, events, bars, restaurants, malls, hospitals (except if you are admitted for urgent care). The pass must prove that you

1. Are fully vaccinated OR
2. Have been tested (PCR or antigen) with a negative result within the last 48hrs OR
3. Have recovered from COVID-19, attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result, at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old.

Passes can be digital (on the TousAntiCovid app) or in paper form (proof of vaccination or test result). The French health pass is interoperable with the EU Digital COVID Certificate scheme for travel within the European Union, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican.

International travelers

France has classified countries into Red, Orange and Green based on their Covid-19 risk factor. Vaccinated travelers can travel to France with no restrictions but they must provide proof of vaccination and a sworn declaration stating that they have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection and they they have not been in contact with anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to their journey.

Unvaccinated travelers from Green countries are required to present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 72 hours before the flight. Travelers from Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Spain, the Netherlands or Portugal, must take their test less than 24 hours before the flight. If you have previously contracted COVID-19, instead of a negative test result you may present a certificate of recovery dated more than 11 days and less than 6 months prior to the date of arrival. You may be subject to a random test when you arrive in France, passengers who test positive will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 7 days at the passengers’ expense.

Unvaccinated travelers from orange and red countries can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel.

For most up to date information and list of Red, Green and Orange countries, click here.

Taiwan

More than 16 thousand people in Taiwan have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 800 have died of COVID-19. Less than 10 new cases are reported daily. The pandemic continues to subside and the situation is under control in Taiwan. However, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that it will maintain the Level 2 epidemic alert which means masks must be worn at all times when outside and public transit except when consuming food. For more details, visit Taiwan’s CDC official website.

All travelers coming to Taiwan and transit passengers are required to provide a certificate of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued within three days prior to boarding the flight to Taiwan. After travelers arrive in Taiwan, if following investigations find that travelers have provided a false or an incorrect test result or they refuse, evade or obstruct the related quarantine measures, such travelers may face a fine of between NT$10,000 to NT$150,000 according to Articles 58 and 69 of the Communicable Disease Control Act. Furthermore, the criminal liability of the Offenses of Forging Instruments or Seals may be imposed on such travelers for their act of providing a false or an incorrect test result. The CECC stated that a certificate of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result must be issued by a medical institution deemed qualified by the local government in the traveler’s place of departure. In principle, such a certificate shall be written in English, Chinese, or both Chinese and English (bilingual version). Such a certificate shall include the following information: the name on the passport of the traveler, the date of birth or passport number of the traveler, specimen collection date and test report date, the virus name, testing method, and the result. Related details and measures to comply with are listed below. More details on the official site.