COVID-19 Vaccine and Test Requirement for all Air Passengers traveling to the United States

9 MINUTE READ

November 5, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new order for all air passengers traveling to the United States. Effective November 8, 2021, before boarding a flight to the U.S. from a foreign country, all air passengers – age 2 years or older – are required to present a negative COVID-19 viral test result, within a time period based on their vaccination status, or present documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days.

U.S citizens, Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), and immigrant visa holders who are fully vaccinated will need to present airlines with proof of vaccination and of a negative COVID-19 test administered three (3) days before their flight.
U.S. citizens, LPRs, and immigrant visa holders who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered one (1) day before their flight’s departure.
All non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status and of a negative COVID-19 test administered three (3) days before their flight.

Exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited. For additional information, please visit the State Department website, including Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for International Travel.

Changes to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Exceptions

Currently, in the 14 days prior to entry into the United States, or during transit to the United States, travelers must not have entered or transited any locations barred by Presidential Proclamation. Starting November 8, 2021, this proclamation will be no longer be in effect. For additional information, please see Safely Resuming Travel by Vaccine Requirement and Rescission of Travel Restrictions on Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom (travel.state.gov).

Passport Services

U.S. Embassy Malta makes every effort to offer sufficient appointments for U.S. citizens in Malta to receive passport and other American Citizens Services despite restrictions on social distancing mandates, and other restrictions in Malta related to the COVID pandemic. Please consult the U.S. Embassy website for further information on services in Malta and to schedule an appointment.

The Embassy will announce the resumption of full consular services when resources and local conditions allow. We appreciate your patience and regret the inconvenience.

The U.S. Embassy in Malta encourages U.S. citizens seeking COVID-19 medical information to review the Government of Malta’s Ministry of Health website.

Visa Services

The Consular Section is only accepting applications from residents of Malta who can provide proof of Maltese residency at their appointment. This includes Maltese residency cards or Maltese passports. Applications for residency must be completed prior to your appointment.

New COVID19 Vaccine Requirement for entry into the United States effective November 8, 2021

On October 25, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation (P.P.) titled “A Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic” which revokes P.P.s 9984, 9992, 10143, and 10199 which suspended entry into the United States of noncitizens who had been physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, or India in the 14-day period prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States and replaces these regional restrictions with a global vaccination requirement for adult noncitizen nonimmigrants traveling to the United States by air. This Presidential Proclamation and accompanying updated test-to-travel requirements are effective on November 8 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. From November 8th, 2021, travelers must demonstrate proof of vaccination as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prior to boarding a U.S. bound aircraft. More details regarding what constitutes full vaccination are available on the CDC website including information about accepted COVID-19 Vaccines, proof of vaccination and required testing.

Please see our visa page to apply.

Actions to Take:

Monitor the CDC website for the latest guidance regarding testing requirements.
Check with your air carriers or travel representative prior to departure for the United States.
Check the U.S. Embassy Malta webpage on COVID-19 page for updated information on COVID-19 related to the availability of testing.
Visit state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Click here for our Travel to the U.S. FAQs.