The Latest Global Travel Restrictions

The latest updates on coronavirus-related global travel restrictions shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

—

The one constant throughout most of 2020 has been the coronavirus. The global pandemic is showing no signs of easing. Cases are once again surging in the United States and in Europe. Although it is still serious, this second wave is not quite the public health crisis we saw during the first wave. Death rates are have dropped significantly from the first wave of cases. Treatment options have improved, and the average age of those hospitalized is also falling. Both lead to better outcomes for patients. But until there is a vaccine, we’re unlikely to see the global travel get back to normal.

Planning Travel Just Isn’t Easy

In much of the world, countries have discouraged or banned travel outright. We’ve tried to keep up with the latest on these global travel restrictions. Our definitive guide to the places Americans can visit is a helpful starting point. But with new rules being adopted or changed seemingly overnight, it’s virtually impossible to keep up.

If you are making travel plans, do some digging on current restrictions. Not just for the place you’re planning to visit, but also any countries you may be passing through. Each country has its own restrictions, and you’ll need to understand how those restrictions apply to your travels.

Most important, build some flexibility into your trip. Because now more than ever, the best laid plans may fall apart at a moment’s notice.

Updating the Latest Conditions

We’ve seen some good news in travel. Hawaii has finally implemented its overdue testing program, meaning travelers can choose pre-travel testing instead of quarantine upon arrival. And one of my favorite places, Belize, has finally reopened for American visitors, after an earlier postponement.

But for every bit of good news, there is some bad. Canada has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases. The border between the United States and Canada remains closed to non-essential travel. In addition, the European Union has just removed Canada from its list of approved countries. Thus, residents of Canada will not be allowed to visit Europe in the near future.

In this post, we’re covering the key updates we’ve seen. And since we’re on the subject of Canada…

Canada

The U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep their common border closed to non-essential travel until November 21st. The border was first closed in March. Since then, the two governments have simply extended the closure on a month-by-month basis.

It’s frustrating to be cut off from such a close neighbor. My wife and I recently visited the San Juan Islands. We could see Vancouver Island across the strait. Our phones were connected to a Canadian wireless network for a time. But even though we could travel more than 2,000 miles across the United States to the San Juans, we couldn’t go further.

Americans can still travel through Canada on their way to Alaska. But there are specific restrictions, including a limit to the length of time you can be in the country. Some Americans were using the “Alaska Loophole” to take a trip to Canada, and authorities have since cracked down.

Mexico

Mexico and the U.S. have also closed their land border to non-essential travel. As with Canada, officials are extending the closure on a month-to-month basis. But anyone who’s crossed the southern border into Mexico knows that there are usually almost no border formalities. According to one report, as much as 70% of border crossings between El Paso and Juarez are non-essential. But if you go, understand that you may be turned around. And at minimum, wait times to get back into the United States are often hours long.

The border closure does not apply to air and sea travel. If you’re traveling by air, you won’t run into any major issues. Mexico is open for tourism, and you can easily fly to your destination. There are no major restrictions — no pre-travel testing nor quarantine required.

Currently, the country is operating under a “traffic light” system, and each Mexican state will be designated green, yellow, orange or red. When states receive a green or yellow designation, they are open with varying levels of precaution. When a state receives an orange designation, capacity restrictions for non-essential businesses (such as restaurants) are enforced. And in red states, only essential businesses are permitted to remain open. At the moment, no Mexican state is operating under a red designation.

Europe

The European Union and Schengen Area still bars U.S. residents from visiting. Since July 1st, when the European Union began publishing a safe list of countries from which non-essential tourist visits would be permitted, the U.S. has been excluded.

Canada was included among the initial list of 19 countries. But that was then. Today, with a new safe list going into effect, residents of Canada are losing their access to most European travel. Europe’s new safe list includes just these 12 countries:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• San Marino
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Uruguay
• Vatican City

Four of these countries are not members of the E.U. or the Schengen Area, but they remain integral parts of Europe and are automatically included. These countries are Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. Until the end of 2020, the United Kingdom is considered part of the E.U. for travel purposes and is thus not listed.

The European list serves only as a recommendation to its member states. Individual countries within the bloc are sometimes being even more stringent, while others have enacted entirely different sets of rules. But for Americans, and now Canadians, you’re probably not going to Europe anytime soon.

Travel Within Europe

Travel within Europe hasn’t been much better. The E.U. developed the safe list in part to return the bloc to its mostly open borders. It would have barred visitors from at-risk countries outside the E.U. and Schengen Area. And that, in theory, would have allowed Europeans to travel freely between member states.

Instead, Europe remains a patchwork of confusing restrictions and ever-changing rules. But soon, a new “traffic light” system might alleviate some (but not enough) of the confusion. A new website called Reopen EU will classify regions of Europe as either red, orange, green, or grey depending on the local epidemiological situation. This new system will offer a consistent standard of risk assessment, but it remains voluntary and is not without controversy. There appears to be nothing in the new system that would unify the regulations across Europe. In other words, Lithuania might treat a traveler arriving from an “orange” country differently than Greece might. Ultimately, I’m not sure what the point is. But if nothing else, the Reopen EU website has some helpful information for intra-European travelers.

Ireland

Ireland is one of the few European countries that will allow American visitors, but only with a 14-day quarantine. It is also the poster child for a country that has jumped the shark with its latest global travel restrictions.

Ireland has developed a “green list.” They require travelers arriving from any country NOT on that green list to quarantine upon arrival. At the moment, there are precisely… um, zero countries on the green list.

On November 8th, Ireland will introduce Europe’s new traffic light system for arriving travelers. Those arriving from countries or regions with a green designation will not need to quarantine upon arrival. Those arriving from a red or orange country will have a choice: quarantine or pre-travel testing — i.e., proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. The new rules apply only to countries within the European Union and Schengen Area, but it seems like a big step forward. Because if Ireland’s plan works, why wouldn’t they extend the testing solution to… American travelers?

United Kingdom

Great Britain requires arrivals from any country NOT on its travel corridors list to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Scotland sometimes excludes additional countries, but not always. Wales and Northern Ireland are following the same travel corridors list as England.

Effective October 25th, England’s travel corridors list includes these countries, territories, and regions:

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Azores (Portugal)
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• The Canary Islands (Spain) — effective Sunday 10/25
• Cayman Islands
• Channel Islands (Bailiwicks of Jersey, Guernsey)
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Denmark — effective Sunday 10/25
• Dominica
• Estonia
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• Gibraltar
• Germany
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• The Isle of Man
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Macau
• Madeira (Portugal)
• Malaysia
• Maldives — effective Sunday 10/25
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pitcairn Island
• The Seychelles
• Singapore
• South Korea
• South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
• Saint Barthélemy
• St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• St Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• St. Pierre and Miquelon
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Remember, the U.K. will require travelers from any place NOT on their travel corridors list to self-isolate for 14 days.

Central America | Caribbean

The Bahamas

It’s been a rough few months for The Bahamas. After opening to tourists on July 1st, they quickly shut it down due to rising cases. But on November 1st, The Bahamas will make another attempt at normalcy.

Travelers will need to be tested up to three times prior to and during their stay. The first test is a COVID-19 PCR test. Visitors will take this test no more than 7 days before they arrive in The Bahamas. Anyone presenting test results older than 7 days will be denied entry (the limit is just 5 days until 10/31). Visitors will upload those results as part of their online Health Visa application.

Visitors will also undergo two rapid antigen tests. The first will happen upon arrival in The Bahamas. The second will occur on the fifth day of a stay, after 96 hours. Visitors heading home on Day 5 can skip the final test.

The good news is that these testing protocols will replace visitor quarantines, or what they’ve been calling “vacation in place.”

Belize

After a delay, Belize reopened the country on October 1st. They’ve stuck with their original plan, which is built on testing and approved “Gold Standard” accommodations and tours.

Costa Rica

By November 1st, Costa Rica will allow visitors from across the globe to enter the country, provided they meet the usual visa requirements. This is essentially a return to normal. Costa Rica is even eliminating its COVID-19 PCR testing requirement, effective October 26th.

To visit Costa Rica, you must complete a Health Pass form online and have medical insurance that covers coronavirus-related treatment and accommodations. If your policy does cover this, or you’d like to make things quick and easy, you can buy a policy to cover your stay from one of two Costa Rican companies:

• INS
• Sagacor

Panama

Panama reopened to foreign visitors on October 12th. Visitors will be required to provide negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taking within the 48 hours prior to arrival. That’s probably not going to be enough time, but Panamanian health authorities are offering a second option.

If you arrive without a negative test result in hand, they’ll administer a COVID-19 rapid test, and you’ll pay $50. Visitors must also fill out an electronic affidavit before travel. The affidavit will affirm that you are well, haven’t been exposed to COVID-19 in the past two weeks, and will abide by the health mandates in Panama.

United States

The United States has its own set of rules. On an international level, the federal government bans travelers who’ve been in any of the following countries within the past 14 days:

• China
• Iran
• European Schengen Area
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• Brazil

The Trump Administration issued these proclamations in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. They have not been updated since.

States with Quarantine/Testing Regulations

Many U.S. states have their own travel restrictions, but there have been few significant changes to the rules in the past couple of months. Most are spelled out in our definitive guide to where Americans can travel.

Hawaii

Only two states have implemented any big changes to their travel rules recently, but Hawaii’s loom the largest. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hawaii has strictly enforced a 14-day quarantine rule for all visitors.

But on October 15th, the state finally reopened to quarantine-free travel, thanks to a pre-travel testing option. To participate, travelers must secure a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from one of Hawaii’s trusted testing partners, including CVS and Walgreen’s.

Visitors will need to register for a Safe Travels Hawaii account before traveling, where they will upload their test results. The PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to the flight’s departure to Hawaii. If results aren’t available in time for the trip, the state requires visitors to quarantine at their accommodations until the results come back.

New Mexico

The only other big change in the last couple of months has been in New Mexico, where the quarantine rules were relaxed.

Until early September, all visitors were required to self-isolate for 14 days. Since then, the state has relaxed those rules and anyone arriving from these states will not need to quarantine: California, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Hawaii, and DC.

Northeastern States

Most states have NOT enacted additional requirements, neither for quarantine or testing. But there are some exceptions, primarily in the Northeastern part of the country.

• Connecticut — Working in tandem with New York and New Jersey, the state requires visitors from select states to quarantine for two weeks.
• District of Columbia — Requires visitors from select states to quarantine for two weeks.
• Maine — The state requires visitors to either quarantine for two weeks or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to arrival. Visitors from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are exempt.
• Massachusetts — Travelers to this state can claim an exemption from quarantine rules if they are traveling from a select number of “lower risk” states, or if they can provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to arrival.
• New Hampshire — Visitors from most states are supposed to self-quarantine for two weeks. When arriving at accommodations, visitors will be asked to affirm that they’ve stayed at home during the two prior to visiting the state. Residents of surrounding New England states are exempt.
• New Jersey — Working in tandem with New York and Connecticut, the state requires visitors from select states to quarantine for two weeks.
• New York — Working in tandem with Connecticut and New Jersey, the state requires visitors from select states to quarantine for two weeks.
• Pennsylvania — Requires visitors from high risk states to quarantine for 14 days.
• Rhode Island — Arrivals can bypass quarantine requirements with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Otherwise, international arrivals and arrivals from any state with a positivity rate greater than 5% must quarantine for two weeks.

All Other States with Restrictions

• Alaska — Requires a negative COVID-19 PCR test or quarantine upon arrival.
• Illinois — No statewide quarantine, but the City of Chicago requires visitors from select states to quarantine for two weeks
• Ohio — Requires travelers arriving from a state with a 15% or higher positivity rate to quarantine for 14 days.
• Kansas — The state has a unique set of quarantine rules, including a requirement that anyone who’s been to a mass gathering (500 or more) must quarantine. In addition, visitors from select states and countries must also quarantine. As of 10/22, the rule applies only to Andorra and North Dakota. Finally, anyone who’s returned from a river or sea cruise must quarantine. All quarantines are for two weeks.

Unless a link is otherwise provided, you can otherwise find more info on all these states in our definitive guide to the places Americans can visit.

Final Thoughts

The latest news on global travel restrictions presents a mixed bag. But if you look closely, we’re starting to trend in the right direction. It’s refreshing to see some countries reopening safely. People are learning how to protect themselves and others. And governments are figuring what restrictions work, and which ones don’t.

You’re Safe on a Plane… When you Mask Up

We know masks work to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In fact, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense found that there is virtually no risk of catching the virus on airplanes. I’ve felt completely comfortable on airplanes since I first got back to flying in May And if flying is safe, then safe travel is simply a matter of taking all the precautions we should already be taking at home.

Reopen or Stay Closed?

I understand when countries continue to close their borders to tourism, at least when those places have a very low rate of COVID-19 infections. The Bahamas learned this lesson the hard way when they reopened and COVID-19 cased spiked.

But of course, there was a very good and important reason to reopen. Tourism is a major economic driver in The Bahamas. And across the globe, countries and industries rely on tourists to put food on their tables.

So we need to travel again. But each place will need to find its own way forward. In New Zealand, where COVID-19 is nearly non-existent, they may want to wait awhile longer. In Jamaica, where tourism is a vital industry, they’ve been receiving tourists all summer.

If you travel, show respect for the health and well-being of people you come in contact with. Especially if you’re lucky enough to go to a place where COVID-19 infection rates are low. The last thing any of us would want is to be responsible for new infections away from home.

(All Photos by Shutterstock)