While Europe is stripping back its Covid hurdles, Britain’s favourite long-haul destination remains a trickier proposition – although its mask mandates, at least, are being jettisoned. 

America’s lengthy travel ban finally ended on November 8, 2021, yet restrictions linger more than five months on. All visitors, including children aged two or older, must show a negative Covid-19 test (either PCR or rapid antigen) taken no earlier than the calendar day before boarding their flight. Furthermore, proof of full vaccination is required, with non-vaccinated travellers only permitted to visit in exceptional circumstances. All passengers are required to fill out an Attestation Form at check-in that verifies each person’s vaccination status and negative Covid test, and they need to provide full contact details while in America. 

Happily, once these conditions are met, visitors are free to travel around the US as they did before the pandemic. Even the country’s strict mask mandates, which required their use on public transport and planes – including for children as young as two – have, as of April 18, been overturned.

Read on for the full rules for US travel.

Can I travel to the US?

British citizens can travel to the USA once more, but they must show evidence of both Covid vaccination and a negative test.

The US authorities will accept any Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These are the AstraZeneca, BIBP/Sinopharm, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac vaccines. More details are on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Embassy websites. 

Before boarding a flight to the US, passengers are required to show a negative test result taken no more than one day before travel (if your flight is on June 1, for example, the test should have been taken at any time on May 31 or June 1). All air passengers to the USA are also required to provide contact information to their airlines before boarding. You should check with your airline before you travel for more details. Full requirements for pre-travel testing can be found on the CDC website.

Do not forget, also, the pre-existing requirement to get a visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need.

What are the rules for children? 

Children 17 and under are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two do not need to take a pre-departure test.

Are flights operating?

While all the scheduled airlines offering flights to and from the USA have resumed services since last November, not all destinations have been restored. British Airways will not offer flights back to Baltimore, Nashville and New Orleans at least until later in the spring, while San Jose will not be back on the radar until June, and it seems likely the volume of seats will not return to pre-pandemic levels until early 2023, meaning prices may well be higher for a while. Virgin Atlantic launches a new service, four times a week, to Austin, Texas, on May 25.