As more and more of the U.S. population is vaccinated, the American tourist is becoming an ever-more desirable visitor worldwide. Some countries have already reopened their borders to Americans, and more are set to do so soon.
Where, specifically, can Americans travel right now… and what are the current restrictions you’ll face as we begin to retake to the skies to explore the great big beautiful world of ours?
Where Can Americans Travel Right Now?
If you’re looking to get on a plane today, the following countries are your top options. Some of them, like Mexico, never actually closed their borders to Americans. Others have opened their borders in the last year or so, provided you meet a handful of entry requirements.
Negative PCR tests (taken anywhere from 48 hours to 5 days before travel) are required to gain entry almost anywhere in the world right now. Proof of vaccination and proof of recovery (in the form of a certificate from a doctor or a positive test between 11 and 180 days old) increasingly can qualify as acceptable alternatives to a PCR test.
In some cases, including Albania, the Dominican Republic, and, again, Mexico, you’ll encounter little or no requirements to gain entry.
Without further ado, here’s the list of countries currently welcoming Americans across their borders. The further good news is that you won’t be required to quarantine upon arrival.
That said, we should point out that the CDC rates almost all of these countries as “Level 4: COVID-19 Very High Risk.” The exceptions are Saint Maarten (rated “Level 3: COVID-19 High”) and Belize (rated “Level 2: COVID-19 Moderate”).
| REGION | COUNTRY | OPEN SINCE | REQUIREMENTS |
The Caribbean | Bahamas | May 1, 2021 | PCR test taken within 5 days of departure, online travel health visa, rapid antigen test taken on 5th night of stay (for stays over 4 nights) |
| Jamaica | March 11, 2021 | Fill out an online Travel Authorization Card, PCR test taken with 72 hours of travel, stay within the “tourism corridor” | |
| Saint Lucia | June 4, 2020 | Fill out an online form, PCR test taken within 5 days before departure (some restrictions on movement within first 14 days) | |
| Saint Maarten | July 2020 | PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival or antigen test taken 48 hours before arrival | |
| Saint Vincent | July 1, 2020 | PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure | |
| Turks & Caicos | July 22, 2020 | PCR test taken no more than 5 days before arrival | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | June 1, 2020 | PCR or antigen test taken no more than 5 days before arrival | |
| Belize | Oct. 1, 2020 | PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel, be tested at the airport, or present proof of vaccination | |
| Brazil | July 30, 2020 | PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel | |
| Colombia | Sept. 1, 2020 | PCR test taken no longer than 96 hours before departure | |
| The DR | July 1, 2020 | None | |
| Ecuador | March 22, 2021 | PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel or antigen test | |
| Mexico | Always | None | |
| Nicaragua | Sept. 1, 2020 | PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel | |
| Panama | Oct. 12, 2020 | PCR test or antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival | |
| Peru | Nov. 1, 2020 | PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Antigen test or proof of recovery certificate also accepted | |
| Albania | July 1, 2020 | Temperature check at airport | |
Europe | Croatia | April 2021 | PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery |
| Greece | April 19, 2021 | PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival or proof of vaccination | |
| Iceland | April 6, 2021 | Proof of vaccination plus free airport test (must isolate up to 24 hours while waiting for results) | |
| Montenegro | June 1, 2020 | PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival (with exceptions for those fully recovered or vaccinated) | |
| Turkey | June 12, 2020 | PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel | |
| Dubai (UAE) | July 7, 2020 | PCR test taken within 96 hours of arrival, register a health declaration on an app, and have health insurance | |
Asia | Dubai (UAE) | July 7, 2020 | PCR test taken within 96 hours of arrival, register a health declaration on an app, and have health insurance |
To return to the States after having been abroad, you’ll need to provide a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery before boarding your flight.
Where Else Will Americans Be Able To Travel Soon?
Chances are good that, by this summer, all 27 member nations of the EU will be added to the list of places Americans can visit.
According to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, “All 27 member states [of the EU] will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by the E.M.A (European Medicines Agency).”
All three vaccines being used in the States—Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson—are E.M.A.-approved.
The European Commission will recommend a change in travel policy that incorporates vaccine certificates or passports, though it’s not clear when this change will happen. It depends on the ongoing technical discussions about vaccine passports and how they can be made broadly readable and effective.
Though the European Commission’s overarching travel policies are set to change soon, individual member states reserve the right to impose stricter entry guidelines on visitors. They may opt to deny citizens from certain nations entry or to impose unique requirements, such as quarantines on arrival.
That said, countries in Europe’s southern rim—Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Greece—are hugely dependent on tourism income, especially from American tourists. Chances are that they will jump at the opportunity to welcome Americans back to their shores as soon as possible.
In fact, a few already have. Both Croatia and Greece have been allowing American tourists into their countries since April, provided they meet respective entry requirements.
Sophia Titley
Editorial Director, Overseas Living Letter
