cdc travel vaccination

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Vaccines for Travelers

Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Depending on where you travel, you may come into contact with diseases that are rare in the United States, like yellow fever. Some vaccines may also be required for you to travel to certain places.

Getting vaccinated will help keep you safe and healthy while you’re traveling. It will also help make sure that you don’t bring any serious diseases home to your family, friends, and community.

On this page, you'll find answers to common questions about vaccines for travelers.

Which vaccines do I need before traveling?

The vaccines you need to get before traveling will depend on few things, including:

• Where you plan to travel . Some countries require proof of vaccination for certain diseases, like yellow fever or polio. And traveling in developing countries and rural areas may bring you into contact with more diseases, which means you might need more vaccines before you visit.
• Your health . If you’re pregnant or have an ongoing illness or weakened immune system, you may need additional vaccines.
• The vaccinations you’ve already had . It’s important to be up to date on your routine vaccinations. While diseases like measles are rare in the United States, they are more common in other countries. Learn more about routine vaccines for specific age groups .

How far in advance should I get vaccinated before traveling?

It’s important to get vaccinated at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. This will give the vaccines time to start working, so you’re protected while you’re traveling. It will also usually make sure there’s enough time for you to get vaccines that require more than 1 dose.

Where can I go to get travel vaccines?

Start by finding a:

• Travel clinic
• Health department
• Yellow fever vaccination clinic

Learn more about where you can get vaccines .

What resources can I use to prepare for my trip?

Here are some resources that may come in handy as you’re planning your trip:

• Visit CDC’s travel website to find out which vaccines you may need based on where you plan to travel, what you’ll be doing, and any health conditions you have.
• Download CDC's TravWell app to get recommended vaccines, a checklist to help prepare for travel, and a personalized packing list. You can also use it to store travel documents and keep a record of your medicines and vaccinations.
• Read the current travel notices to learn about any new disease outbreaks in or vaccine recommendations for the areas where you plan to travel.
• Visit the State Department’s website to learn about vaccinations, insurance, and medical emergencies while traveling.

Traveling with a child? Make sure they get the measles vaccine.

Measles is still common in some countries. Getting your child vaccinated will protect them from getting measles — and from bringing it back to the United States where it can spread to others. Learn more about the measles vaccine.

Find out which vaccines you need

CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz helps you create a list of vaccines you may need based on your age, health conditions, and more.

Take the quiz now !

Get Immunized

Getting immunized is easy. Vaccines and preventive antibodies are available at the doctor’s office or pharmacies — and are usually covered by insurance.

Find out how to get protected .

Disclaimer Policy: Links with this icon ( ) mean that you are leaving the HHS website.

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot guarantee the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not mean that HHS or its employees endorse the sponsors, information, or products presented on the website. HHS links outside of itself to provide you with further information.
• You will be bound by the destination website's privacy policy and/or terms of service when you follow the link.
• HHS is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on private websites.

For more information on HHS's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers .

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Symptoms and Complications
• How It Spreads
• Vaccination
• Plan for Travel
• Measles Cases and Outbreaks
• Measles Resources
• Clinical Overview
• Vaccine Recommendations
• For Health Departments
• Lab Testing

Related Topics:

• View All Home
• Measles cases in the United States originate from unvaccinated international travelers.
• You should be vaccinated against measles at least 2 weeks before international travel.
• Call your doctor immediately if you think you or your child have been exposed to measles.

Who is at risk

You are at risk for measles if:‎, before international travel, do not travel if you are sick‎, protect yourself against measles.

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine . You should plan to be fully vaccinated against measles at least 2 weeks before you depart . If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you're not protected, you should still get a dose of MMR. The MMR vaccine protects against all 3 diseases.

• Two doses of MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles.
• One dose provides 93% protection.

Call your doctor or your local health department; or locate a health center or clinic near you to schedule an appointment for the MMR vaccine. CDC does not recommend measles vaccine for infants younger than 6 months of age.

Infants under 12 months old who are traveling

• Get an early dose at 6 through 11 months.
• Another dose at 12 through 15 months.
• A final dose at 4 through 6 years.

Children over 12 months old

• Get first dose immediately.
• Get second dose 28 days after first dose.

Teens & adults with no evidence of immunity*

*Acceptable evidence of immunity against measles includes at least one of the following:

• Written documentation of adequate vaccination
• Laboratory evidence of immunity
• Laboratory confirmation of measles
• Birth in the United States before 1957

After international travel

Watch your health for 3 weeks after you return . Measles is highly contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.

Call your doctor immediately if:‎

• If one person has measles, 9 out of 10 people around that person will also become infected if they are not protected.
• People who are infected can spread measles to others from 4 days before a rash develops through 4 days after the rash appears.
• High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
• Runny nose (coryza)
• Red, watery eyes ( conjunctivitis or pink eye )
• Rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)

Countries having measles outbreaks

Measles remains a common disease in many parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Each year, an estimated 128,000 people die from measles. Many countries and popular travel destinations have experienced measles outbreaks in recent years. These include the UK, Israel, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Ukraine, the Philippines, and more.

Before your next trip:‎

U.s. measles outbreaks from international travel.

In the United States, measles cases originate from international travel.

The disease is brought into the United States by unvaccinated people who get infected in other countries. Typically, 2 out of 3 of these unvaccinated travelers are Americans. They can spread measles to other people who are not protected against measles, which sometimes leads to outbreaks.

Since measles is still common in many countries, unvaccinated travelers bring measles to the United States, and it can spread. Protect yourself, your family, and your community with the MMR vaccine , especially before traveling internationally.

Measles (Rubeola)

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can be dangerous in babies and young children. The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine.

For Everyone

Health care providers, public health.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Coronavirus Updates

Cdc says travel is safe for fully vaccinated people, but opposes nonessential trips.

Rachel Treisman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people on Friday, lifting certain requirements while continuing to advise mitigation measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing. Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people on Friday, lifting certain requirements while continuing to advise mitigation measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people, lifting certain testing and self-quarantine requirements and recommending precautions like wearing a mask and avoiding crowds. But health officials continue to discourage nonessential travel, citing a sustained rise in cases and hospitalizations.

The CDC updated its website on Friday to reflect the latest scientific evidence, writing that "people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States."

The announcement comes less than a month after the CDC first released updated guidance about gatherings for fully vaccinated people, which it described as a "first step" toward returning to everyday activities.

Air Travel Is Opening Up Again, But That Doesn't Mean The Pandemic Is Over

The CDC considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive the last dose of vaccine. Those individuals will no longer need to get tested before or after travel unless their destination requires it, and do not need to self-quarantine upon return.

The new guidance means, for example, that fully vaccinated grandparents can fly to visit their healthy grandkids without getting a COVID-19 test or self-quarantining as long as they follow other recommended measures while traveling, according to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Those measures include wearing a mask over their nose and mouth, staying 6 feet from others and washing their hands frequently. Masks are required on all planes traveling into, within or out of the U.S., under an executive order issued by President Biden.

But Walensky, speaking at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing on Friday, nonetheless discouraged all nonessential travel, citing a continued increase in the seven-day average of cases and hospitalizations.

"While we believe that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves, CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the rising number of cases," Walensky said.

CDC Director Fears 'Impending Doom' If U.S. Opens Too Quickly

She said that while vaccinated people can do more things safely, most Americans are not yet fully vaccinated. Those who are not must have a negative test 1-3 days before they travel under CDC guidance. They must either get tested 3-5 days after they return and self-quarantine for 7 days, or self-quarantine for 10 days with no test.

Walensky said on Monday that there is more travel occurring now than throughout the pandemic, including the winter holidays. She acknowledged that people have been looking to get away over spring break or take advantage of what they perceive as a "relative paucity in cases," and she said the country was seeing an uptick in cases as a result.

"The thing that's different this time is that we actually have it in our power to be done with the scale of the vaccination," she said. "And that will be so much slower if we have another surge to deal with as well."

The U.S. is already seeing an uptick in domestic travel, and many Americans are looking to book trips in the coming months in what experts described to NPR as a sign of "clear pent up demand for travel."

As the country's supply of COVID-19 doses has grown, so has Biden's goal for the number of shots in arms during his first 100 days, doubling the target to 200 million by the end of this month. Many states have already expanded eligibility to all adults or are set to do so in the coming weeks, well ahead of the president's May 1 deadline.

According to NPR's vaccine tracker , 16.9% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, and 30% has had at least one dose. Researchers estimate that 70% to 85% of the country would need to have immunity for COVID-19 to stop spreading through communities.

International travel restrictions remain

The CDC is not lifting travel restrictions barring the entry of most non-U.S. citizens from places including China, Brazil, South Africa and parts of Europe. It will continue to require airline passengers entering the U.S. to get a test within three days of their departure and show proof of a negative result before boarding.

The travel industry has been pushing for some of these restrictions to end. A group of 26 organizations sent a letter to White House COVID-19 czar Jeffrey Zients urging the federal government "to partner with us to develop, by May 1, 2021, a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictions."

While Some Spring Breakers Swarm Beaches, Many Stay Home, Dreaming Of Summer Travel

"To be clear, at this time, we do not support removal or easing of core public health protections, such as the universal mask mandate, inbound international testing requirement, physical distancing or other measures that have made travel safer and reduced transmission of the virus," they wrote. "However, the data and science demonstrate that the right public health measures are now in place to effectively mitigate risk and allow for the safe removal of entry restrictions."

Travel and tourism have taken a considerable hit because of the pandemic with industry groups noting that overseas travel to the U.S. declined by 81% in 2020, causing billions of dollars in losses. Without lifting international travel bans, the U.S. Travel Association estimates that some 1.1 million American jobs will not be restored and billions in spending will be lost by the end of the year.

"Fortunately, enough progress has been made on the health front that a rebound for domestic leisure travel looks possible this year, but that alone won't get the job done," Roger Dow, the association's president and CEO, said in a statement . "A full travel recovery will depend on reopening international markets, and we must also contend with the challenge of reviving business travel."

Fauci Expects Surge In Vaccinations To Keep A 4th Coronavirus Wave At Bay

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• COVID-19 vaccine

• Chikungunya
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hib ( Haemophilus Influenzae type b)
• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Meningococcal ACWY
• Meningococcal B
• Pneumococcal
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
• TBE (Tick-borne Encephalitis)
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Yellow Fever
• Zoster (Shingles)
• VISs Overview
• Translations
• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
• Influenza (Inactivated or Recombinant)
• Influenza (Live Intranasal)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella)
• Multi-Vaccine
• PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate)
• PPSV (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide)
• RSV Preventive Antibody – IIS
• Smallpox/Monkeypox
• Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria)
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• VIS Translations Vaccine-specific VISs translated into dozens of languages
• Vaccine History Timeline Notable milestones in immunization going back to 400 BC
• CDC Recommended Schedules Current immunization schedules from CDC
• ACIP Vaccine Recommendations As endorsed and published by CDC
• Search All Clinical Resources
• All Patient Handouts
• All Resources for Staff & Providers
• Addressing Vaccination Anxiety
• Administering Vaccines
• Adolescent Vaccination
• Adult Vaccination
• Contraindications & Precautions
• Documenting Vaccination
• Healthcare Personnel
• Managing Vaccine Reactions
• Parent Handouts
• Pregnancy and Vaccines
• Q&As by Diseases and Vaccines
• Schedules for Patients
• Screening Checklists
• Standing Orders Templates
• Storage & Handling
• Strategies & Policies
• Vaccine Confidence
• Vaccine Recommendations
• Vaccine Confidence Overview
• Alternative Medicine
• Alternative Schedules
• Importance of Vaccines
• Improving the Vaccination Experience
• MMR Vaccine
• Religious Concerns
• Responding to Parents
• Unprotected People Stories
• Vaccine Hesitancy
• Vaccine Safety
• Image Library Overview
• Meningococcal
• Vaccination
• Vaccine Manufacturers
• Vaccine Apps
• Email News Services
• Immunize.org Partners
• Webinars & Videos Our library of educational videos and webinar recordings
• Ask the Experts Overview
• View All Questions
• View All Video Questions

Vaccine Topics

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)

General Topics

• Billing & Reimbursement
• Combination Vaccines
• Scheduling Vaccines
• Travel Vaccines
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
• CDC Recommended Schedules
• ACIP Vaccine Recommendations
• Additional CDC Resources
• Package Inserts & EUAs
• Additional FDA Resources
• Vaccine-Specific Requirements
• State Exemptions
• State Immunization Websites
• Additional State Resources
• WHO Position papers on vaccines and other vaccine-related resources from the World Health Organization
• About IZ Express
• Current Issue
• Browse All Issues
• Website Updates
• Press Releases
• Official Release Repository Chronological listing of vaccine-related announcements from FDA, CDC, and ACIP
• Calendar of Events Immunization-related events, including national conferences and training programs, plus Immunize.org webinars
• Publication Archives Repository of our publications since 1994, including IAC Express (now IZ Express), Needle Tips, and more
• Board of Directors
• Recognition
• Our Founder
• Publication Archives
• Our History Through Film
• Corporate Membership Program

Patient Safety Honor Rolls

• Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll
• Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll
• MenB Vaccination Honor Roll
• Honor Rolls Honorees
• The Immunize.org Becky Payne Award
• Immunize.org In the News

Home / Ask the Experts / Travel Vaccines

Ask the Experts: Travel Vaccines

Note: The travel vaccines section of Ask the Experts contains information only on vaccines not routinely recommended in the United States.

What are the CDC recommendations for use of the oral cholera vaccine, CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, Emergent BioSolutions)?

The FDA-licensed cholera vaccine CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, by Emergent BioSolutions) is currently unavailable in the United States. The manufacturer temporarily halted production in December 2020. CDC published ACIP recommendations for its use in September 2022, available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7102a1.htm .

CVD 103-HgR is recommended for travelers ages 2–64 years old going to areas of active toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 transmission. Criteria for “active” cholera transmission for a given country and a table classifying countries according to transmission levels are found at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/cholera-travel-information .

Vaccination against cholera is not routinely recommended because cholera is rare in travelers and most travelers do not visit areas of active transmission. However, disease is more likely to occur in travelers who may have limited access to safe food and water in outbreak settings, including outbreak response workers. Clinicians should consider these factors in addition to the level of cholera transmission in the destination country, length of stay, patient’s age and history of pre-existing medical conditions, and the availability of intravenous hydration when assessing a traveler’s risk for cholera infection and the need for vaccination. Other WHO-prequalified cholera vaccines not licensed in the United States may be available in the destination country.

All travelers to cholera-affected areas should follow safe food and water precautions and proper sanitation and personal hygiene measures as primary prevention strategies against cholera infection. Travelers who develop severe diarrhea should promptly seek medical attention for rehydration therapy.

Are there other cholera vaccines available outside the United States?

Other oral cholera vaccines have been prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO). These vaccines are not available in the United States and ACIP has not provided recommendations on use of these vaccines. To learn more about these vaccines, visit the World Health Organization Cholera Vaccines page: www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera .

For further information from CDC about cholera vaccines and preventing cholera, visit www.cdc.gov/cholera/prevention/cholera-vaccines.html and wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/cholera-travel-information .

The package insert for the oral cholera vaccine CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, Emergent BioSolutions) states that effectiveness and safety have not been established for revaccination. Does ACIP have any recommendations on revaccination?

ACIP has not made recommendation related to revaccination or booster doses with the FDA-licensed oral cholera vaccine, CVD 103-HgR. As more information becomes available, CDC will update its recommendations accordingly.

Does live oral cholera vaccine CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, Emergent BioSolutions) need to be administered at an interval from other live oral or injectable vaccines?

With one exception, you do not need to consider the timing of this vaccine relative to other vaccines. According to CDC’s “General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization”, concerns about spacing between doses of live vaccines not given at the same visit applies only to live injectable or intranasal vaccines. The one exception is administration of Ty21a oral typhoid vaccine and oral cholera vaccine. The CVD 103-HgR buffer might interfere with the enteric-coated Ty21a formulation. For this reason, ACIP recommends that the cholera vaccine should be administered at least 8 hours before ingesting the first dose of Ty21a vaccine.

Can a traveler who is taking antibiotics also receive the FDA-licensed oral cholera vaccine, CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, Emergent BioSolutions)?

Antibiotics administered before or after receiving the CVD 103-HgR vaccine might diminish the effectiveness of the vaccine because the immune response to the vaccine relies on the live attenuated vaccine organisms replicating within the small intestine. We do not know what the optimal interval is between receipt of antibiotics and the Vaxchora vaccine. CDC refers clinicians to the package insert which specifies that CVD 103-HgR should not be given to patients who have received oral or parenteral antibiotics during the preceding 14 days. A duration of fewer than 14 days between stopping antibiotics and giving CVD 103-HgR might be acceptable under certain circumstances, such as if travel cannot be avoided during that 14-day interval.

The package insert, however, does not specify an optimal minimum duration between the completion of CVD 103-HgR vaccination and starting antibiotics. In certain circumstances, antibiotics might be clinically necessary after the vaccine (to treat an unrelated infection), thus clinical discretion is recommended.

Is there any concern with taking the FDA-licensed oral cholera vaccine (Vaxchora) and antimalarial medication?

Chloroquine might diminish the immune response to CVD 103-HgR. The vaccine manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions, recommends that CVD 103-HgR be administered 10 days or more before starting chloroquine. Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, is often used for malaria prophylaxis. The manufacturer does not recommend administration of the vaccine with oral antibiotics and does not recommend administering CVD 103-HgR to a person within 14 days prior to vaccination. The optimal duration between completion of CVD 103-HgR and then starting doxycycline is unknown.

Is there a yellow fever vaccine shortage?

Following a multi-year shortage, in April 2021, the FDA-licensed yellow fever vaccine, YF-Vax (Sanofi) resumed availability for purchase in the United States. Providers with a current Yellow Fever Vaccination Stamp issued by their state or territorial health department may order YF-VAX from the manufacturer.

Locations that administer yellow fever vaccine can be found on CDC’s yellow fever vaccination clinic search page at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-fever-vaccination-clinics/search .

Healthcare providers should refer to the section titled “Yellow Fever and Malaria Information, by Country,” in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2024 (“The Yellow Book”) for information about the countries that require yellow fever vaccination for entry and the countries where CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination. If a country does not have an entry requirement, CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccination if the traveler’s itinerary does not include travel to a yellow fever–endemic area. This section is available at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/preparing/yellow-fever-vaccine-malaria-prevention-by-country .

When not given on the same day, is the interval between yellow fever and MMR vaccines 4 weeks (28 days) or 30 days? I have seen the yellow fever and live virus vaccine recommendations published both ways.

The CDC’s General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization generally recommends that live parenterally or nasally administered vaccines not given on the same day should be separated by at least 28 days. Despite this general principle, limited data suggest that coadministration of yellow fever vaccine and MMR may diminish the immune response. The CDC travel health website recommends that yellow fever vaccine and other parenteral or nasal live vaccines should be separated by at least 30 days, if possible. If yellow fever vaccine and another injectable live-virus vaccine are not administered either simultaneously or at least 30 days apart, CDC advises that providers might consider measuring the patient’s neutralizing antibody response to vaccination before travel. CDC recommends contacting the state health department or the CDC Arboviral Disease Branch (970-221-6400) to discuss serologic testing. For details, see the 2024 Yellow Book section on spacing of vaccines and immunobiologics: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/preparing/vaccination-and-immunoprophylaxis-general-principles#spacing .

Is a vaccine for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) available in the United States?

Yes. TBE is caused by a flavivirus transmitted by ticks in certain regions of Asia and Europe. Most infections are asymptomatic, but it can cause meningitis and encephalitis. In August 2021, the FDA approved a TBE vaccine, Ticovac (by Pfizer), for people age 1 year or older. The dose for people age 16 years and older is 0.5mL, and for children and adolescents up to age 15 years is 0.25mL. The primary vaccination schedule includes 3 doses, and a booster dose can be given if ongoing exposure or re-exposure to TBE virus is expected. TBE vaccines are also available in many countries overseas where TBE virus is present. For more information from CDC about the TBE vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/tick-borne-encephalitis/hcp/vaccine/index.html .

Travelers to what areas should consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)?

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a disease caused by a flavivirus transmitted by tick bite in certain areas of Europe and Asia. It may also be transmitted through the consumption of unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected cows, goats, or sheep. CDC provides details of TBE-endemic areas, but notes that the risk of TBE in endemic areas is variable within risk areas and from year-to-year. Additional geographic information is available from CDC: www.cdc.gov/tick-borne-encephalitis/data-maps/ .

Travelers moving or traveling to a TBE-endemic area and likely to have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary should be vaccinated for TBE. TBE vaccination may be considered for other travelers to TBE-endemic areas based on their likely exposure to ticks during their activities, their risk of a poor health outcome, and their personal perception and tolerance of risk.

What are the ACIP recommendations for use of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine (Ticovac, Pfizer)?

In February 2022, ACIP voted on the following recommendation or TBE vaccination: TBE vaccine is recommended for people who are moving or traveling to a TBE-endemic area and will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary.

In addition, TBE vaccine may be considered for persons traveling or moving to a TBE-endemic area who might engage in outdoor activities in areas ticks are likely to be found. The decision to vaccinate should be based on an assessment of their planned activities and itinerary, risk factors for a poorer medical outcome, and personal perception and tolerance of risk. For more information about TBE vaccine from CDC, visit www.cdc.gov/tick-borne-encephalitis/hcp/vaccine/index.html .

This page was updated on August 21, 2023 .

Our Affiliated Sites

Get tips to avoid decisions that may decrease your Social Security benefits at our free webinar Sept. 19.

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

AARP MEMBERSHIP 

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products, hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 

• right_container

Work & Jobs

Social Security

• AARP en Español

• Membership & Benefits
• Members Edition
• AARP Rewards
• AARP Rewards %{points}%

Conditions & Treatments

Drugs & Supplements

Health Care & Coverage

Health Benefits

AARP Hearing Center

Advice on Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

Your Health

What to Know About Vaccines

Brain Health Resources

Tools and Explainers on Brain Health

25 Ways to Get a Flatter Stomach

Scams & Fraud

Personal Finance

Money Benefits

View and Report Scams in Your Area

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

AARP Money Map

Get Your Finances Back on Track

How to Protect What You Collect

Small Business

Age Discrimination

Flexible Work

Freelance Jobs You Can Do From Home

AARP Skills Builder

Online Courses to Boost Your Career

31 Great Ways to Boost Your Career

ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Tips to Enhance Your Job Search

Get More out of Your Benefits

When to Start Taking Social Security

10 Top Social Security FAQs

Social Security Benefits Calculator

Medicare Made Easy

Original vs. Medicare Advantage

Enrollment Guide

Step-by-Step Tool for First-Timers

Prescription Drugs

9 Biggest Changes Under New Rx Law

Medicare FAQs

Quick Answers to Your Top Questions

Care at Home

Financial & Legal

Life Balance

LONG-TERM CARE

​Understanding Basics of LTC Insurance​

State Guides

Assistance and Services in Your Area

Prepare to Care Guides

How to Develop a Caregiving Plan

End of Life

How to Cope With Grief, Loss

Recently Played

Word & Trivia

Atari® & Retro

Members Only

Staying Sharp

Mobile Apps

More About Games

Right Again! Trivia

Right Again! Trivia – Sports

Atari® Video Games

Throwback Thursday Crossword

Travel Tips

Vacation Ideas

Destinations

Travel Benefits

Camping and RV Ideas

Fun Camping and RV Journeys

Exploration

25 Great Ways to Explore

Train Travel

How to Find Great Train Deals

AARP National Park Guide

Travel to Pinnacles in California

Entertainment & Style

Family & Relationships

Personal Tech

Home & Living

Celebrities

Beauty & Style

TV for Grownups

Fall TV Preview

Kevin Costner’s Big Bet

Looking Back

Take Our ’80s Music Quiz

Sex & Dating

7 Dating Dos and 7 Don'ts

Get Happier

Creating Social Connections

Friends & Family

Veterinarians May Use AI to Treat Pets

Home Technology

What's Inside Your Smartphone

Virtual Community Center

Join Free Tech Help Events

Creative Ways to Store Your Pets Gear

Meals to Make in the Microwave

Wearing Shoes Inside: Pros vs. Cons

Driver Safety

Maintenance & Safety

Trends & Technology

AARP Smart Guide

How to Clean Your Car

We Need To Talk

Assess Your Loved One's Driving Skills

AARP Smart Driver Course

Building Resilience in Difficult Times

Tips for Finding Your Calm

Weight Loss After 50 Challenge

Cautionary Tales of Today's Biggest Scams

7 Top Podcasts for Armchair Travelers

Jean Chatzky: ‘Closing the Savings Gap’

Quick Digest of Today's Top News

AARP Top Tips for Navigating Life

Get Moving With Our Workout Series

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

The Latest Rules on COVID-19 Vaccines and Travel

Proof of vaccination can be as important as your passport.

Sheryl Jean,

Just as people began to resume travel, the super-contagious omicron variant has caused a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 

As a result, travelers face renewed restrictions and a doubling down on precautions to reduce the risk of infection.

But while vacation planning was more or less put on hold in the early days of the pandemic, COVID fatigue and a greater sense of security among the vaccinated have made many Americans determined to return to activities that bring meaning and pleasure to their lives. “As we enter year three, people don’t want to miss out on the things that are so important in life, and one of those things is travel,” says Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights email subscription service. “People want to have something to look forward to again.”

These days, though, your COVID-19 vaccination status will affect where you can go in the world — and what's safe to do. Keyes and other experts answer some key questions about vaccines and travel.

Do you need to be vaccinated to travel within the U.S.?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying travel until you’re fully vaccinated (two weeks after receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) to protect yourself from getting COVID-19 and spreading it. Consult your doctor before travel if you have a serious health issue or a weak immune system. (You also shouldn’t travel if you feel sick, tested positive for COVID, are awaiting COVID-19 test results or have been exposed to someone with the virus.)

Hawaii is currently the only state that requires visitors to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test to avoid mandatory quarantine. Travelers must create an online account to enter trip information and upload vaccination or testing data.

Some big cities, including Washington , Chicago, Minneapolis, New York and San Francisco , require people to show proof of vaccination to eat inside a restaurant and attend a concert.

Do you need to be fully vaccinated to cruise?

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT

Basically, yes. Since most cruises resumed in spring 2021 or later, all major cruise lines require passengers to be fully vaccinated, with few exceptions, but mandates vary by company, ship and destination. In addition, cruisers may need to show proof of full vaccination in the countries they visit or certain onshore venues, including museums and restaurants.

But note that the CDC has advised travelers against taking U.S. or international cruises, even those who are fully vaccinated and have a booster. On Dec. 30 it raised its warning level for cruising to its level 4, or “do not travel,” category, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases aboard ships. Almost all ships have reported cases of COVID onboard (indicated within a color-coded chart on the CDC site).

AARP® Dental Insurance Plan administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company

Dental insurance plans for members and their families

Do you need a COVID-19 booster shot to travel?

Most travel does not require a COVID-19 booster , though that may be changing. The governor of Hawaii recently said that state soon may require travelers from other U.S. states and territories to have a booster shot in addition to being fully vaccinated.

And Spain has just announced that starting Feb. 1, it will require all U.S. travelers to prove they’ve been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before their departure to Spain, plus proof of a booster if their final vaccine was more than 270 days earlier.

The CDC recommends that everyone, including people who already have had COVID-19, get a booster shot when eligible in order to travel. A booster may take one to two weeks to reach peak protection.

What are the COVID-19 vaccination rules for international travel?

You can travel internationally if you’re fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, but expect to face various vaccination, testing or quarantine requirements throughout the world.   

In France, for instance, you need to be fully vaccinated and offer proof of a negative COVID test. Officials will scan your vaccination data to create a digital health passport with a QR code, which you’ll need to go into any restaurant or museum in France. In Greece, you don’t need to show proof of vaccination to enter the country, but you will need to do so to enter public spaces like restaurants.

Meanwhile, the CDC advises against travel to both countries (among many around the world), due to high COVID-19 rates, regardless of your vaccination status.

That means travel to other countries requires careful planning, and staying up to date on the latest requirements, says Keyes. “There’s not only more bureaucracy and documentation involved, but changing guidance — and changing pretty frequently.”  

Online resources to consult while planning international travel include:

• The CDC map of COVID-19 risk levels, travel recommendations and restrictions by destination.
• The website of the U.S. Embassy in your destination country. The U.S. State Department lists U.S. embassies by country at usembassy.gov , and provides a  map  with country-specific information on COVID-19 restrictions, requirements and risk levels (which are sometimes higher than the CDC’s risk assessments, often due to factors other than COVID).
• Your destination’s official government or tourism board website.
• Your airline’s website, which should have information about flight requirements and may provide information about the country you plan to visit.  

Should you carry your paper vaccination card?

Some travel providers or venues may require your original CDC-labeled paper vaccination card, but many places will accept a digital image (meaning you can just keep a photo of the card on your smartphone).

There is no national registry for electronic health records, but some states, including California and New York, offer digital health passports to help people manage their COVID-19 data. If you received a vaccination outside your home state, it may be difficult to get a digital passport because each state registry is different.

Some private organizations also offer digital health passports or mobile apps. Apple’s Health app, for example, lets you upload your COVID-19 vaccination record and display it in its Wallet app.

The International Airline Travel Association is testing the IATA Travel Pass with more than 50 global airlines, including AeroMexico and Qantas, to store and manage COVID-19 vaccine and other information. The mobile app is free for passengers to use if their airline is part of the pilot program. Many airlines offer similar online tools for their passengers.

What should you do if you lose your vaccination card?

If you carry around your original vaccination card, you risk losing or damaging it. The CDC recommends photographing your card as backup.

If you need a new one , contact your state health department for a replacement, suggests Vicki Sowards, director of clinical resources for Phoenix-based Passport Health, which provides travel medicine and immunizations at more than 270 clinics across North America. You also can contact the site where you received your vaccine.

Once fully vaccinated, can you travel like you did before the pandemic?

No, experts say, because of the various regulations and guidance that’s constantly changing.

It’s still important to wear a face mask, wash your hands frequently, practice social distancing and take other precautions, Sowards says. Masks are still required on public transportation, including airplanes and trains, and inside travel hubs, like airports.

“There’s risk and you have to assess the degree of risk you’re willing to take,” says Abinash Virk, M.D., an infectious disease and travel expert for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “There are people who want zero risk, so they stay home and limit their activities.” But if you’re fully vaccinated, have received the booster and follow CDC guidance, he adds, your risk of contracting COVID-19 (particularly a life-threatening case of it) is relatively low.

Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work also has appeared in the  Chicago Tribune  and  The Dallas Morning News  and on the American Heart Association's website.

​​ More on Travel ​​

• Coronavirus and Travel: What you should know ​
• The benefits of 'slow travel' ​
• ​What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work also has appeared in the  Chicago Tribune  and  The Dallas Morning News  and on the American Heart Association’s website.

MORE FROM AARP

Or Call: 1-800-675-4318

Enter a valid from location

Enter a valid to location

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

+ Add Another Flight

Enter a valid destination location

Enter a valid checking in date

Enter a valid checking out date

Occupants of Room

Occupants of Room 1:

Occupants of Room 2:

Occupants of Room 3:

Occupants of Room 4:

Occupants of Room 5:

Occupants of Room 6:

Occupants of Room 7:

Occupants of Room 8:

Enter a valid date

You didn't specify child's age

There are children in room 1 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age for room 1

There are children in room 2 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 2

There are children in room 3 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 3

There are children in room 4 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 4

There are children in room 5 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 5

You have more than 6 people total

Please select a trip duration less than 28 days

There must be at least 1 traveler (age 12+) for each infant in a lap

Enter a valid From location

Enter a valid start date

Please select a Pick Up Time from the list

Enter a valid drop location

Enter a valid drop off date

Please select Drop Off Time from the list

Select a valid to location

Select a month

Enter a valid going to location

Enter a valid from date

Enter a valid to date

AARP VALUE &

MEMBER BENEFITS

Denny's

15% off dine-in and pickup orders

AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia: Vacation Packages

$50 gift card of your choice when booking any flight package

$20 off a Walmart+ annual membership

AARP® Staying Sharp®

Activities, recipes, challenges and more with full access to AARP Staying Sharp®

SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS

Advertisement

Supported by

What to Know About Testing and Vaccine Requirements for Travel

Do you need to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test for your next trip? Check this guide before traveling domestically or abroad.

• Share full article

By Concepción de León

As vaccinations ramp up and regulations loosen for people in the United States, many are planning travel for summer and beyond, with experts predicting that July 4 will be the biggest travel weekend since the beginning of the pandemic.

But with regulations shifting, people might have questions about testing or vaccination requirements for their trips. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently eased travel recommendations to more than 100 countries. On June 18, the European Union added the United States to its “safe list” of countries , meaning that both vaccinated and unvaccinated American travelers should now be able to visit the 27 member countries, but these member states are allowed to set their own requirements and restrictions for travelers.

In the United States, the C.D.C. has advised that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in most places and released new travel guidelines that said domestic travel is safe for them. But travelers must take note of local advice and regulations, as these can vary state by state.

Here’s everything you need to consider about testing and vaccinations before you travel within the U.S. or internationally.

Are there testing and vaccination requirements for domestic travel?

For most places, no. You do not need to be vaccinated for any domestic travel. Hawaii is the only state that requires a negative test for travel.

In Hawaii, the test must be administered within 72 hours of arrival and the results uploaded to its Safe Travel platform to avoid a mandatory quarantine when entering the state.

Alternatively in Hawaii, you can also provide proof that you’ve recovered from Covid-19 in the past 90 days, including both a positive test result and a letter from a doctor clearing you to travel.

The state’s governor, David Ige, said this month that people who received their vaccination in the state of Hawaii may bypass testing and quarantine requirements starting on June 15, and that anyone vaccinated in the U.S. will be able to enter Hawaii without testing once the state has reached a 60 percent vaccination rate.

If you are unvaccinated, you should continue to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing protocols while traveling domestically, the C.D.C. said . You can use the C.D.C.’s Travel Planner to check guidelines by state.

What are the testing and vaccination rules for international travel?

While testing and vaccination requirements vary by destination country, everyone arriving in the U.S. — even vaccinated Americans — must present a negative test result upon entry .

Many nations are still closed to American travelers. Those that are open may require a negative test, proof of vaccination or evidence of recovery (or a combination of these) to enter.

The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that American travelers, regardless of vaccination status, provide proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure, quarantine upon arrival and take two additional tests during their stay. Children under 11 are exempt from these requirements, as are some other people depending on their reason for travel.

Some European countries have been allowing in Americans who are vaccinated or who can show a negative test. Americans are on the European Union’s “safe list” of countries, but while the bloc aims to take a coordinated approach to travel this summer, member states will be allowed to set their own requirements for travelers from individual countries, which could include testing and vaccination.

The E.U. “safe list” also applies to Europe’s border-free Schengen Zone, which includes non-E.U. countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

Canada is still closed to Americans , with few exceptions, and will remain so until at least early July, said Patty Hajdu, the country’s minister of health, in a news conference in June.

The U.S.-Mexico land border is closed for nonessential travel until at least June 21, but air travel is allowed and the country does not require a negative test for entry. Because of its high risk level, the C.D.C. recommends that travelers be fully vaccinated before traveling to Mexico.

Consult the C.D.C.’s inventory of international travel health notices for more information on regulations by country.

“Travelers should always check with their airline and the embassy of the country they are visiting to ensure they have the proper documentation required to enter the country,” said Perry Flint, a spokesman for The International Air Transport Association, a global airline industry group.

What test should I take, and where and when?

To enter the U.S., travelers must show a negative result to a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) — PCR is a type of NAAT test — or an antigen test, also known as a rapid test, taken in the three days before departure, according to the C.D.C .

Some airports offer on-site testing, such as Heathrow Airport in England, or Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport in Italy.

Josh Alexander, a New York-based luxury travel agent for Protravel International, said that many international hotels, including most Four Seasons hotels and resorts , are offering on-site rapid tests for free or at a nominal cost.

Testing at local clinics is also available in many places, though you should check availability at your destination ahead of time and book if you can. It may also come at a high cost. Mr. Alexander said that PCR tests abroad can range from $50 to $150.

The C.D.C. said that it allows for a three-day time frame rather than 72 hours to allow flexibility in the time of day the test can be taken. For instance, if you are flying out on a Friday, the test may be taken at any time on Tuesday.

But, when it comes to international destinations, Mr. Alexander recommends erring on the side of caution when timing your test by calculating it based on time of arrival at your destination.

“Rules are constantly changing,” he said, “so we’re just trying to always tell people they should always be as conservative as possible to eliminate any gray area.”

What are the requirements for minors?

The C.D.C. testing recommendations apply to all children 2 years and older, which means your toddler also needs to deliver a negative Covid-19 test to enter the U.S. from abroad. When traveling, children should wear masks, practice social distancing and wash hands often, the C.D.C. said .

“If the kids are age 12 and older, get ’em vaccinated,” said William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, in an email.

If you’re traveling to a country within the European Union that is open to travelers from the U.S., children who cannot be vaccinated should have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival at your destination, and additional testing may be required upon arrival.

Travelers should check with their airline or destination country website for relevant requirements.

What if I want to go on a cruise?

Rules vary from one cruise line to another, with some planning to require that all passengers and crew be vaccinated, and others adopting a hybrid model.

But recent laws passed in Florida and Texas banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination to use their services may complicate this plan.

Celebrity Cruises, set to be the first U.S. cruise ship to restart operations on June 26 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said it’s optimistic that a resolution would be reached in time . It is requiring that guests 16 years and older be vaccinated, while children will be tested at the terminal.

Carnival Cruises said on Monday that its first ship would set sail from the Port of Galveston, in Texas, on July 3 and would be available only for vaccinated passengers. Norwegian, which will begin to operate cruises from Miami in August, said it will require the same through October 31 and has threatened to skip Florida ports if the state does not allow cruise lines an exemption from the law banning vaccine requirements.

Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement on June 7 that “the current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect, especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us.”

“As a result, our alternative is to operate our ships from the U.S. during the month of July with vaccinated guests,” she said.

But even if you are vaccinated, you must also consider the requirements of the country where the cruise is disembarking. The Caribbean island of St. Maarten, for instance, where Celebrity Cruises started sailing on June 5, requires a negative test in addition to proof of vaccination.

What documents should I bring with me if I travel?

This will also depend on where you’re going, but a good rule of thumb is to carry your physical vaccine card, if you have it, and proof of a negative test, if it is required.

Mr. Alexander, the travel agent, recommends people bring the original documents. While a number of digital health certificates — which show vaccine status and test results — are in the works, he said, they are not yet widely accepted. You should check, also, that your document is in the correct language. The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that test results be in English, Spanish or French.

CommonPass , from the Geneva-based nonprofit the Commons Project Foundation, and the I.A.T.A. Travel Pass are two apps providing digital access to vaccine and testing records for travel. The European Union will be releasing its own digital Covid certificate for E.U. citizens by July 1, though it is unclear whether Americans will be able to use it.

You should check with your airline to see if the app you want to use will be accepted at your destination. Both the CommonPass and I.A.T.A. websites list destinations and airline partners accepting the digital health certificates.

Mr. Alexander added that some countries, such as Croatia, may also require proof of a return flight or confirmation of your hotel booking or other accommodation, though this is rare. In South Africa, which has implemented a curfew, travelers may need to show their flight ticket to law enforcement officers to show they are allowed to be in transit.

But these shifting regulations should not dissuade people from traveling, Mr. Alexander said.

“If you’re vaccinated and you’re following safe precautions, you can still have a great experience,” he said.

Concepción de León is a travel reporter based in New York. More about Concepción de León

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked