Travel Internationally Post-COVID? Find Out About Entry Requirements Before You Start Packing.
COVID had put international travel to a halt. In the past 20 months, we all witnessed that many tradeshows/conferences had either been canceled or postponed aiming at preventing the transmission of the disease. Earlier this month, the U.S lifted the travel ban for fully vaccinated international travelers, after an almost 600-day restriction. The same thing is happening around the world- we are seeing more and more countries easing the entry policy, however, it is noteworthy that the entry requirements are varied by country.
Taking the top 5 trade partners of the U.S. (2020) as an example:
Mexico:
- U.S. citizens are permitted to enter.
- Travelers who enter Mexico by land may be denied admission if the purpose of the visit is considered non-essential.
- PCR test is not required for entry.
- Health screening procedures are in place at points of entry.
Canada:
- U.S. citizens are permitted to enter.
- Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may enter Canada from the United States for essential or non-essential travel. All travelers are required to use the ArriveCAN system to enter their travel information.
- PCR test taken within 72 hours of their arrival at a land border or scheduled air departure is required.
- Health screening procedures are in place at points of entry. Fully vaccinated travelers are not subject to a 14-day quarantine.
China:
- U.S. citizens with valid residence permits and visas can make entry under certain very limited conditions.
- PCR NAT and IgM antibody test with negative results are required for entry.
- All inbound travelers are required to quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival; testing, including blood, oral, nasal, and anal swab tests, is required for release from quarantine.
Japan:
- Starting from November 30, 2021, Japan temporarily suspends the entry of all foreign visitors from around the world.
Germany:
- U.S. citizens and legal residents who are fully vaccinated are allowed to enter. Unvaccinated travelers will need to demonstrate an important need to travel.
- A digital registration is required for travelers who have spent time in an RKI-designated high-risk or virus-variant area.
- All travelers age 12 and older must submit proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the last 6 months, or a negative test; PCR and rapid antigen are both accepted.
- Health screening procedures are in place at points of entry.
The international travel rules change very frequently, especially with the spread of the Omicron variant. At least 44 countries have imposed travel restrictions from several African countries. Japan, Israel, and Morocco have banned all foreign travelers from entering.
If you are planning for a trip to a foreign destination, it is always a good idea to check travel advisories. Last but not the least, Department of States has very detailed, up-to-date information on its site, if you are looking for country-specific information.
Finally, if your company is currently planning for exhibiting in any foreign trade show in 2022, do not forget that the ISTEP grant can potentially be a great financial resource to help offset some of your costs. Most approved companies receive 50% reimbursement (maximum reimbursement amount varied by programs).