Biden Administration to Suspend COVID Testing Requirement for International Travelers

Beginning Sunday, June 12, international air travelers will no longer be required to show a negative COVID test result to board flights to the United States, Biden Administration officials have indicated. Nonimmigrant travelers remain subject to U.S. COVID vaccination requirements, however.

The issue

The Biden Administration is suspending COVID testing requirements for travelers from abroad, reportedly effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01am ET, according to numerous reports citing Administration officials. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is expected to announce that air travelers will not be required to show negative COVID-19 test results before boarding international flights to the United States.

The COVID testing requirement was imposed in January 2021 and, until the suspension takes effect, applies to all travelers age 2 and older, including U.S. citizens. Under the most recent iteration of the requirement, travelers are required to show a negative COVID test result obtained within one day of travel to the United States.

What this means for travelers

The suspension of the testing requirement is welcome news for international travelers.  However, the Administration is expected to revisit the suspension after 90 days. Testing requirements could be reinstated in the event of a new variant of the coronavirus or other public health concern.

Though the testing requirement has been suspended, nonimmigrant foreign nationals remain subject to U.S. COVID-19 vaccination requirements unless they qualify for an exception.