U.S. Ended Covid Vaccine Air Travel Requirements May 11, 2023

International air travellers no longer have to show proof of Covid vaccination when arriving in the US. The Biden administration lift the requirement on 11 May, 2023 and coinciding with the end of the coronavirus public health emergency in the country.

Vaccine rules also lifted for federal employees and contractors. The US had one of the few remaining pandemic travel restrictions. The lifted restriction also did apply to non-US travellers entering via land ports of entry and ferries.

In a statement on May 1st the White House said “we are now in a different phase of our response when these measures are no longer necessary”. This change as example, will allow Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, 35, to play at the US Open this year of 2023.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner is not vaccinated and he was forced to miss 2022 tournament. He also faced similar issues, same year, with the Australian Open and was deported for his vaccination status before getting a chance to defend his title.

Representative Brian Higgins, who represents Buffalo and Niagara Falls in New York State, said this is good news for Canadians crossing into the US. “While long overdue, this last lifting of pandemic restrictions is certainly welcome news and critically important as we seek opportunities to encourage a robust cross-border exchange that delivers shared prosperity,”

The Brazilian government, in turn, declared that the lift was an excellent news for Brazilian travelers since the United States is the preferred destination for millions of international travelers.

In april, President Joe Biden signed a bill ending the Covid-19 national emergency - which allowed the US to implement sweeping measures in health and welfare systems to combat the country’s response to the virus. Canada ended their Covid-19 vaccine requirements for international air travellers in October of 2022.