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From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8

• The U.S. is launching a new travel system on Nov. 8.
• Vaccinated foreign air travelers will need to show proof of full vaccination and test for COVID-19.
• The new travel system also adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit.  

The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists .  The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . 

The move by the White House will essentially have the U.S. drop its travel ban on dozens of countries while also making entry more challenging for the unvaccinated. The new system will allow entry for foreign nationals only with vaccinations approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and would add testing requirements for unvaccinated Americans.

Here’s what we know about the new travel requirements:

What are the entry requirements for foreign nationals?

Starting Nov. 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers   will need to show proof of full vaccination as well as a pre-departure negative coronavirus test taken within three days of travel before they can board a plane to the U.S. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include:

• Digital or paper verifiable record, such as a vaccination certificate or a digital pass with a QR code.  
• Nonverifiable paper record, such as a printout of a COVID-19 vaccination record or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• Nonverifiable digital record, such as a digital photo of a vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record, downloaded vaccination certificate or a mobile phone application without a QR code.  

The U.S. will accept nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests, and antigen tests. The rules will go into effect for passengers on planes leaving for the U.S. at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 8.  

Airlines will collect basic personal contact information   from all U.S.-bound travelers for contact tracing. Airlines are required to keep the information on hand so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   can reach out to travelers who may have been infected or exposed to COVID-19.

Masking will be required, but there will be no quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated children .

► US  travel bans: How COVID-19 travel restrictions have impacted families and couples

The change will make entering the U.S. possible for travelers from countries now listed on the U.S. travel ban, which prohibits entry for travelers who have been in any of the regions within the past 14 days. The travel ban  took effect in early 2020 and includes :

• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• The European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)

Currently, the U.S. asks international air passengers only to get tested within three days of their flight to the U.S. and show either the negative test result or proof of recovery  from COVID-19 before boarding. 

What about the land borders with Mexico and Canada?

New travel rules will also take effect for foreign nationals arriving by land or passenger ferry.

Starting Nov. 8, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can cross the land borders for nonessential reasons such as tourism or visiting friends and family . These travelers will need to verbally attest to their reason for travel and vaccination status and be prepared to show proof of vaccination  upon request. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept both digital and paper records showing proof of vaccination, including documents not in English.   Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country.  

CBP will spot-check travelers' vaccination documents, and those without documented proof of vaccination can be denied entry. Travelers under 18 will be exempt from the vaccination requirement as long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, according to Matthew Davies, CBP's executive director of admissibility and passenger programs.  

The new travel rules will go into effect as soon as a port of entry opens on Nov. 8, or at midnight for ports that operate 24 hours a day changes will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 8 for ports that operation 24 hours a day.  

U.S. citizens reentering the country should also bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, trusted traveler program card, enhanced driver's license or enhanced tribal card. 

Entry rules along the border will change again in early January, with all travelers – including those traveling for essential purposes – required to show proof of full vaccination. 

► US land borders: Travelers in Mexico and Canada plan their next US visit after new land border policy announced

Which vaccines does the US accept for travel?

The CDC has announced that vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel. White House officials expect the CDC to approve the same vaccines for travelers entering the U.S. by land or ferry.  

The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech, the last of which has received the FDA's full stamp of approval.

Vaccines with WHO approval for emergency use include:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield 

The CDC confirmed that it would accept a mix-and-match approach to vaccinations. Travelers who have any combination of FDA- or WHO-approved vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated.

The new travel policy does not accept foreign travelers who have had COVID and received just one shot in a two-dose series. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration will "continue to review" its entry requirements.  

► Covaxin gets WHO emergency approval: Travelers vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US   

► 'You feel lonely and left out': These fully vaccinated travelers want to visit the US. They may not be allowed in.

How do the new rules affect kids? 

Foreign nationals under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two will not need to take a pre-departure COVID test.

Kids 2 and older traveling with a fully vaccinated adult can test three days prior to departure, while children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults will need to get tested within one day of departure. 

Currently, all air passengers 2 or older, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, need to show a negative coronavirus test to fly to the U.S.

What are the entry requirements for Americans?

The new travel system adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

Starting Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to take a test one day before departure and test again upon arrival in the U.S. 

► New travel rules: What US travelers need to know about the new COVID rules for international flights

Entry requirements will not change for vaccinated Americans. They will still need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before departure. 

Americans will not need to be fully vaccinated to board international flights to the U.S.

Are there any exemptions?

There is a limited set of travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement for entry.

Children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants and travelers with adverse reactions to the vaccines – such as people who have had severe anaphylactic allergic reactions to a prior COVID-19 vaccine –  will be exempt.

People traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with less than 10% of its population vaccinated who need to enter the U.S. for emergency or humanitarian reasons are also exempt from the vaccine requirement. There are about 50 countries considered to have low vaccine availability at this time.

These exempt travelers will generally need to show that they will comply with public health mandates, including a requirement to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they plan to stay more than 60 days.  

Unless they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, unvaccinated travelers  must agree to be tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after their arrival and quarantine for seven days, even if their post-arrival test comes back negative. 

Unvaccinated travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also agree to self-isolate if their post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. 

Unvaccinated children under 18 will not need to quarantine but will still need to take a post-arrival test. 

► Who is exempt?: These select groups of unvaccinated foreign travelers can enter the US

The CDC will not give exemptions  to people who object to the vaccinations due to religious or moral convictions. 

There will also be testing accommodations for travelers who can prove they recently recovered from the coronavirus. These travelers will need to show a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before their flight's departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official saying they are cleared for travel.  

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz . 

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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

• Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
• During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
• Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

• More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

• Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
• Children under 18 years of age;
• Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
• Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
• Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
• Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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• Section 1 - Improving the Quality of Travel Medicine Through Education & Training
• Section 2 - Perspectives : Travelers' Perception of Risk

The Pretravel Consultation

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Lin Hwei Chen, Natasha Hochberg

The pretravel consultation offers a dedicated time to prepare travelers for health concerns that might arise during their trips. During the pretravel consultation, clinicians can conduct a risk assessment for each traveler, communicate risk by sharing information about potential health hazards, and manage risk by various means. Managing risk might include giving immunizations, emphasizing to travelers the importance of taking prescribed malaria prophylaxis and other medications (and highlighting the risks of not taking them correctly), and educating travelers about steps they can take to address and minimize travel-associated risks. The pretravel consultation also serves a public health purpose by helping limit the role international travelers could play in the global spread of infectious diseases.

The Travel Medicine Specialist

Travel medicine specialists have in-depth knowledge of immunizations, risks associated with specific destinations, and the implications of traveling with underlying conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive consultation with a travel medicine expert is indicated for all international travelers and is particularly important for those with a complicated health history, anyone taking special risks (e.g., traveling at high elevation, working in refugee camps), or those with exotic or complicated itineraries. Clinicians aspiring to be travel medicine providers can benefit from the resources provided by the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) and might consider specialty training and certification (see Sec. 1, Ch. 4, Improving the Quality of Travel Medicine Through Education & Training ).

Components of a Pretravel Consultation

Effective pretravel consultations require attention to the traveler’s health background, and incorporate the itinerary, trip duration, travel purpose, and activities, all of which determine health risks ( Table 2-01 ). The pretravel consultation is the best opportunity to educate the traveler about health risks at the destination and how to mitigate them. The typical pretravel consultation does not include a physical examination, and a separate appointment with the same or a different provider might be necessary to assess fitness for travel. Because travel medicine clinics are not available in some communities, primary care physicians should seek guidance from travel medicine specialists to address areas of uncertainty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers’ Health website also has materials and an interactive web-tool to guide primary care physicians through a pretravel consultation.

Personalize travel health advice by highlighting likely exposures and reminding the traveler of ubiquitous risks (e.g., injury, foodborne and waterborne infections, vectorborne diseases, respiratory tract infections—including coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]—and bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections). Balancing cautions with an appreciation of the positive aspects of the journey can lead to a more meaningful pretravel consultation. In addition, pay attention to the cost of recommended interventions. Because some travelers are unable to afford all the recommended immunizations and medications, prioritize interventions (see Sec. 2, Ch. 15, Prioritizing Care for Resource-Limited Travelers ).

Table 2-01 The pretravel consultation: medical history & travel risk assessment

Health background.

Past medical history

• Allergies (especially any pertaining to vaccines, eggs, or latex)
• Medications
• Underlying conditions

Special conditions

• Breastfeeding
• Cardiopulmonary event (recent)
• Cerebrovascular event (recent)
• Disability or handicap
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (history of)
• Immunocompromising conditions or medications
• Pregnancy (including trimester)
• Psychiatric condition
• Seizure disorder
• Surgery (recent)
• Thymus abnormality

Immunization history

• Routine vaccines
• Travel vaccines

Prior travel experience

• High-elevation travel/ mountain climbing
• Malaria chemoprophylaxis
• Prior travel-related illnesses

Travel Risk Assessment (Trip Details)

• Countries and specific regions, including order of countries if >1 country
• Outbreaks at destination
• Rural or urban destinations
• Season of travel
• Time to departure
• Trip duration

Reason for travel

• Education or research
• Medical tourism (seeking health care)
• Visiting friends and relatives
• Volunteer, missionary, or aid work

Travel style

• Accommodations (e.g., camping/ tent, dormitory, guest house, hostel/ budget hotel, local home or host family, tourist/ luxury hotel)
• "Adventurous" eating
• Independent travel or package tour
• Level of hygiene at destination
• Modes of transportation
• Traveler risk tolerance
• Travel with children

Special activities

• Animal interactions (including visiting farms, touring live animal markets)
• Cruise ship
• Cycling/motorbiking
• Disaster relief
• Extreme sports
• High elevations
• Medical care (providing or receiving)
• Rafting or other water exposure
• Sexual encounters (planned)

Assess Individual Risk

Traveler characteristics and destination-specific risk provide the background to assess travel-associated health risks. Such characteristics include personal health background (e.g., past medical history, special conditions, immunization history, medications); prior travel experience; trip details, including itinerary, timing, reason for travel, travel style, and specific activities; and details about the status of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases at the destination. Certain travelers also might confront special risks. Recent hospitalization for serious problems might lead to a decision to recommend delaying travel. Air travel is contraindicated for patients with certain conditions. For instance, patients should not travel by air <3 weeks after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction or <10 days after thoracic or abdominal surgery. Consult relevant health care providers most familiar with the traveler’s underlying illnesses.

Other travelers with specific risks include those who have chronic illnesses, are immunocompromised, or are pregnant. Travelers visiting friends and relatives, long-term travelers, and travelers with small children also face unique risks. More comprehensive discussion on advising travelers with additional health considerations is available in Section 3. Determine whether recent outbreaks or other safety notices have been posted for the traveler’s destination by checking information available on CDC Travelers’ Health and US Department of State websites and other resources.

In addition to recognizing the traveler’s characteristics, health background, and destination-specific risks, discuss anticipated exposures related to special activities. For example, river rafting could expose a traveler to schistosomiasis or leptospirosis, and spelunking in Central America could put the traveler at risk for histoplasmosis. Flying from lowlands to high-elevation areas and trekking or climbing in mountainous regions introduces the risk for altitude illness. Inquire about plans for specific leisure, business, and health care-seeking activities.

Communicate Risk

Once destination-specific risks for a particular itinerary have been assessed, communicate them clearly to the traveler. Health-risk communication is an exchange of information in which the clinician and traveler discuss potential health hazards for the trip and any available preventive measures. Communicating risk is one of the most challenging aspects of a pretravel consultation, because travelers’ perception of and tolerance for risk can vary widely. For a more detailed discussion, see Sec. 2, Ch. 2, . . . perspectives: Travelers’ Perception of Risk .

Manage Risk

Vaccinations.

Vaccinations are a crucial component of pretravel consultations, and the risk assessment forms the basis of recommendations for travel vaccines. Consider whether the patient has sufficient time to complete a vaccine series before travel; the purpose of travel and specific destination within a country will inform the need for vaccines. At the same time, the pretravel consultation presents an opportunity to update routine vaccines (Table 2-02) and to ensure that eligible travelers are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations .

Pay attention to vaccine-preventable diseases for which immunity might have waned over time or after a recent immunocompromising condition (e.g., after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant). Asking whether travelers plan to travel again in the next 1–2 years can help them justify an immunization for travel over several years (e.g., rabies preexposure, Japanese encephalitis) rather than only the upcoming trip. Provide travelers with a record of administered immunizations and instructions to follow up as needed to complete a vaccine series.

Table 2-02 The pretravel consultation: vaccines to update & consider 1

Abbreviation: HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.

1 Based on Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines, current as of October 21, 2021

Malaria Prevention

Self-treatable conditions.

Despite health care providers’ best efforts, some travelers will become ill. Obtaining reliable and timely medical care during travel can be problematic in many destinations. Consequently, consider prescribing certain medications in advance to enable the traveler to treat common health problems. Box 2-01 provides a list of some of the most common situations for which travelers find self-treatment useful.

Travel health providers need to recognize conditions for which travelers might be at risk and provide information about appropriate self-diagnosis and treatment. Keys to a successful treatment strategy include sharing a simple disease or condition definition, recommending or prescribing treatment, and educating the traveler about the expected outcome of treatment. As an example, for travelers’ diarrhea, inform travelers that most symptoms can be managed with fluid replacement plus loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate; prescribe travelers antibiotics they can carry with them for use in selected cases of incapacitating diarrhea (see Sec. 2, Ch. 6, Travelers’ Diarrhea , and Sec. 2, Ch. 7 . . . perspectives: Antibiotics in Travelers’ Diarrhea—Balancing Benefit & Risk ); and tell them to seek medical attention if symptoms persist for 24–36 hours or are particularly severe.

With some activities in remote settings (e.g., trekking), the only alternative to self-treatment would be no treatment. Pretravel counseling might result in a more accurate self-diagnosis and treatment than relying on local medical care in some areas. In addition, the increasing awareness of substandard and counterfeit drugs in pharmacies in certain countries makes it important for travelers to bring quality manufactured drugs with them from a reliable supplier (see Sec. 6, Ch. 3, . . . perspectives: Avoiding Poorly Regulated Medicines & Medical Products During Travel ).

Encourage travelers to carry a travel health kit with prescription and nonprescription medications and review each traveler’s medication list for possible drug–drug interactions. More detailed information for providers and travelers is included in Sec. 2., Ch. 10, Travel Health Kits , and Section 3 has supplementary travel health kit information for travelers who have additional health needs and considerations.

Box 2-01 The pretravel consultation: self-treatable conditions

The following list includes common situations for which travelers might find self-treatment useful. The extent of self-treatment recommendations offered to travelers should reflect the remoteness and difficulty of travel and the availability of reliable medical care at the destination. Recommended self-treatment options for each of the listed diseases are provided below or in the designated sections of this text.

ALTITUDE ILLNESS: Sec. 4, Ch. 5, High Elevation Travel & Altitude Illness

HIV EXPOSURE (OCCUPATIONAL): Sec. 9, Ch. 4, Health Care Workers, Including Public Health Researchers & Medical Laboratorians

JET LAG: Sec. 8, Ch. 4, Jet Lag

MALARIA: Sec. 5, Part 3, Ch. 16, Malaria

MOTION SICKNESS: Sec. 8, Ch. 7, Motion Sickness

TRAVELERS’ DIARRHEA: Sec. 2, Ch. 6, Travelers’ Diarrhea

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS: common among many women; carrying a prescribed antibiotic for empiric treatment can be helpful.

VAGINAL YEAST INFECTIONS: self-treatment course of patient’s preferred antifungal medication can be prescribed for people who are prone to infections, sexually active, or who might be receiving antibiotics for other reasons, including doxycycline for malaria chemoprophylaxis.

Address Special Health Risks

Travelers with underlying health conditions require additional attention to health issues related to the destination and activities. For instance, travelers with a history of cardiac disease should carry medical reports, including a recent electrocardiogram. Asthma can flare in a traveler visiting a polluted city or from physical exertion during a hike; recommend that travelers discuss with their primary care provider a plan for treatment and carry necessary medication in case of asthma exacerbation.

Instruct travelers on how to obtain travel medical insurance and direct them to resources that provide lists of reputable medical facilities at their destination (e.g., the ISTM website; the  American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene website; the US Department of State’s Your Health Abroad website). Advise travelers to identify any allergies or serious medical conditions on a bracelet or a card to expedite medical care in emergency situations (see Sec. 3, Ch. 4, Highly Allergic Travelers ). Section 6 provides more information on preparing for and obtaining health care abroad.

Educate to Change Behavior

The pretravel consultation provides another setting to remind travelers of basic health and safety practices during travel, including frequent handwashing, wearing seatbelts, using car seats for infants and children, safe sexual practices, and COVID-19 prevention. Organize topics into a checklist and place priority on the most serious and frequently encountered issues ( Table 2-03  and Box 2-02 ). In addition, address general issues (e.g., preventing injury, sunburn). Written information is essential to supplement oral advice and enables travelers to review the instructions from their clinic visits. CDC’s Travelers’ Health website provides educational material. By giving advice on health risks and self-treatable conditions, clinicians can minimize the traveler’s need to seek medical care while abroad and possibly help them return to good health faster.

Table 2-03 The pretravel consultation: key discussion topics

TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED RISK

DISCUSSION POINTS

Altitude illness

• Determine if the itinerary puts the traveler at risk of altitude illness.
• Discuss preventive measures (e.g., gradual ascent, adequate hydration, medications to prevent and treat).

Bloodborne pathogens

• Avoid potential exposures (e.g., injections, piercings, tattoos, shared razors).
• Inform travelers who will provide health care overseas what to do in case of needlesticks or bloodborne pathogen exposures; discuss use of HIV postexposure prophylaxis.
• See Box 2-02 for summary on sexual health recommendations for travelers.

Disease-specific counseling

• Advise travelers to prepare for exacerbations or complications from underlying disease(s).
• Remind travelers to keep medications and supplies in carry-on luggage, to keep medications in their original prescription bottles, and to carry copies of their written prescriptions.

Environmental hazards

• Advise travelers to avoid walking barefoot to reduce their chances of certain parasitic infections.
• Advise travelers to avoid wading or swimming in freshwater where where risk for schistosomiasis or leptospirosis is possible.
• Caution travelers to avoid contact with animals to reduce the potential for bites and scratches that can transmit rabies. This is particularly important advice for the parents of young children.
• Remind travelers to apply sunscreen to sun- exposed skin.

Immunizations

• Discuss indications for, effectiveness of, and adverse reactions to immunizations.
• Discuss benefit of antibody titers when past vaccine records are unavailable or unreliable, particularly for hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
• Review routine immunizations and travel immunizations indicated for the specific itinerary and based on the traveler's medical history.
• Screen for chronic hepatitis B for people born in countries with HBsAg prevalence ≥2% (see Map 5-07 ).

Malaria, yellow fever, & other vectorborne diseases

• Define vectorborne disease risks at the destination.
• Discuss personal protective measures and recommended insect bite precautions.
• For itineraries where malaria transmission is a risk: discuss risks and benefits of malaria chemoprophylaxis and recommended chemoprophylaxis choices.
• For itineraries where yellow fever virus transmission is a risk (see Sec. 2, Ch. 5, Yellow Fever Vaccine & Malaria Prevention Information, by Country , and Sec. 5, Part 3, Ch. 16, Yellow Fever ): assess individual traveler precautions and contraindications for receiving yellow fever vaccine; discuss risks and benefits of vaccination; discuss alternatives to vaccination for travelers at increased risk for adverse events from yellow fever vaccine.

Personal safety

• Advise travelers to look for security bulletins related to their destination and consider areas to avoid.
• Discuss precautions travelers can take (including avoiding excess alcohol consumption) to minimize risk for traffic accidents, personal assault, robbery, or drowning.
• Provide information on travel health and medical evacuation insurance.

Respiratory illnesses

• Consider influenza self-treatment for high-risk travelers.
• Discuss diseases and destinations of particular concern.

Travelers’ diarrhea and other food/waterborne illnesses

• Discuss food and water safety.
• Discuss antibiotics for self- treatment, adjunct medications (e.g., loperamide), and staying hydrated.
• Recommend strategies to decrease risk of diarrhea.

Abbreviation: HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen

Box 2-02 The pretravel consultation: summary of sexual health recommendations for travelers

Before travel.

• Get recommended vaccinations, including those that protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Get recommended tests for HIV and treatable STIs. Be aware of STI symptoms in case any develop.
• Obtain condoms to carry on trip.
• Consider preexposure prophylaxis medication for HIV for high-risk travelers.
• Review local laws about sexual practices and obtain contact information for medical and law enforcement services.
• If pregnant or considering pregnancy, review whether Zika virus infection is a risk at destination.

During Travel

• Use condoms consistently and correctly to decrease the risk of HIV and STIs.
• If indicated, be prepared to start taking medications for HIV postexposure prophylaxis or unintended pregnancy within 72 hours after a high-risk sexual encounter.
• Never engage in sex with a minor (<18 years old), child pornography, or trafficking activities in any country.
• Report suspicious activity to US and local authorities as soon as it occurs.

After Travel

• Avoid exposing sexual partners at home. See a clinician to get recommended tests for HIV and STIs.
• Get treatment for all diagnosed, treatable STIs.

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Lin H. Chen, Natasha S. Hochberg

Bibliography

Freedman DO, Chen LH. Vaccines for international travel. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019;94(11):2314–39.

Hatz CFR, Chen LH. Pre-travel consultation. In: Keystone JS, Freedman DO, Kozarsky PE, Connor BA, Nothdurft HD, editors. Travel medicine, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2019. pp. 25–30.

Hill DR, Ericsson CD, Pearson RD, Keystone JS, Freedman DO, Kozarsky PE, et al. The practice of travel medicine: guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(12):1499–539.

International Society of Travel Medicine. The ISTM Body of knowledge for the practice of travel medicine, revised 2017. Atlanta: International Society of Travel Medicine; 2017. Available from: www.istm.org/bodyofknowledge2

Kozarsky PE, Steffen R. Travel medicine education—what are the needs? J Travel Med. 2016;23(5):taw039.

Leder K, Chen LH, Wilson ME. Aggregate travel vs. single trip assessment: arguments for cumulative risk analysis. Vaccine. 2012;30(15):2600–4.

Leder K, Torresi J, Libman MD, Cramer JP, Castelli F, Schlagenhauf P, et al. GeoSentinel surveillance of illness in returned travelers, 2007–2011. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(6):456–68.

Leung DT, LaRocque RC, Ryan ET. In the clinic: travel medicine. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jan 2;168(1):ITC1–16.

Steffen R. Travel vaccine preventable diseases—updated logarithmic scale with monthly incidence rates. J Travel Med. 2018;25(1):tay046.

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What’s Going on With the Testing Requirement for Travel?

The requirement to test for Covid before flying to the United States is hated by many travelers and the U.S. travel industry. But the government shows no sign of getting rid of it.

• Share full article

By Heather Murphy

• Published May 19, 2022 Updated June 10, 2022

[Update: The United States will lift the virus testing mandate for international air travelers on June 12. Read more here .]

As countries, including Canada and Britain , have lifted their Covid testing requirements for vaccinated visitors in recent months, some Americans are irate that they still have to show a negative test to board a flight back to the United States.

Jason Miller, a 37-year-old software engineer who lives in Texas, is so frustrated with the rule that he recently sent letters to the White House and several lawmakers and began encouraging others to do the same. “I support the C.D.C., still wear a N95 mask when in crowds and when I travel,” he said. But, he no longer feels that the rule provides value, in large part because “the testing has not stopped variants from entering the country.”

Other travelers have posted similar comments on social media, and a good portion of the travel industry in the United States has made clear it feels the same way.

But they have gotten little satisfaction from the Biden administration and public health officials.

On May 6, Jen Psaki, then the White House press secretary, said she was “not aware of a timeline” for ending the testing requirement and that the administration would base its decision on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation. As to what, specifically, the C.D.C. is using to determine whether testing is still necessary, an agency spokeswoman offered the vague explanation that it “is looking at different indicators” and “evaluating all guidance and orders based on the latest science and state of the pandemic.”

The obligatory test has not just created logistical hassles, it has fundamentally shifted the experience of traveling internationally, travelers say.

“It was always in the forefront of my mind,” said Danielle Bradbury, 42, who recently spent 12 days in Israel for her job developing medical devices while her husband cared for their two children back in Boston. “Every time I left the hotel, I asked myself, how much risk of not being able to get home am I putting myself in?”

Why was testing started in the first place?

In January 2021 , when the C.D.C. first instituted the rule that all U.S.-bound travelers 2 years and older had to show a negative test or proof of recovery before boarding a flight, the United States joined a sea of countries experimenting with different ways to slow the virus’s spread across borders. A statement from the State Department announcing the requirement played up the difficulty in getting a test abroad, suggesting that the rule also aimed to discourage Americans from traveling internationally. At that point fewer than 10 percent of Americans were vaccinated and case counts were rising, hitting a record of more than 300,000 new cases on Jan. 8.

Testing was not the first travel limitation the United States had deployed. In the winter of 2020, President Trump banned visitors from China, much of Europe , Brazil and Iran. When President Biden took office he layered the testing requirement on top of the travel bans. (He also expanded the ban to India .)

In late 2021, the United States pivoted away from country-specific bans and doubled down on testing, shortening the window from within three days of travel to one day, even for vaccinated Americans. By then it had become clear that vaccinated people could also spread the coronavirus . (Most unvaccinated visitors from abroad were prohibited from entering the country, even with testing.)

How effective has the policy been?

It depends how you define success, said Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert, a professor of health policy at Stanford University. If success was reducing the number of infected people who flew to the United States, he said, the testing requirement achieved that.

“It certainly prevented people who tested positive from getting on planes and it almost certainly prevented some amount of transmission on aircraft and in airports,” he said.

The exact number of infected people who were prevented from boarding planes is unknown, however, because no one tracks whether a passenger cancels a flight because of Covid. Most of the evidence is anecdotal; lots of people have stories about testing positive before flying home.

If success means keeping new variants out of the country, then it failed, said Dr. William Morice , the chair of lab medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic.

“The reality is that none of these measures have prevented the rapid global spread of any variant of concern,” he said.

But if success was not preventing the arrival of new variants, but instead delaying their arrival so that hospitals and authorities could be more prepared, then it may have worked. Mark Jit , a professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who has studied the effectiveness of travel requirements, said that this is what testing does well.

“Testing can prevent the peak from being reached so quickly,” he said.

Still, once a variant is already widespread in a country, he found, a travel test has little effect.

Why are many countries getting rid of testing requirements now?

Explanations from authorities include readiness to enter a new phase of the pandemic, high vaccination rates and a determination that new variants are manageable.

“The current variant is making people less ill and the number of people being admitted to intensive care is limited,” the Netherlands government said in a typical statement in March, as it ended travel testing, among other Covid-related recommendations.

What’s the argument for getting rid of the U.S. requirement?

The primary argument is that it’s not doing enough good to rationalize the hassle.

Dr. Tom Frieden, who was the C.D.C. director during the Ebola outbreak of 2014, was among those who made this point. “Between super-effective vaccinations that we have and Paxlovid, which is a super-effective treatment, Omicron is less deadly than flu most years and we don’t require people to test for flu before they get on a plane,” he said. “If a more dangerous variant emerges,” he noted, “that’s a very different situation.”

Others argue that it doesn’t make sense to inconvenience so many people for a system that’s full of holes. Antigen tests — one option for travelers to the United States — are notoriously unreliable in the early stage of infection, said Anne Wyllie, a microbiologist at the Yale School of Public Health. For this reason she called the requirement “hygiene theater.”

The testing requirement is not just annoying for travelers, it’s economically damaging, according to the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group. In a recent letter to Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the White House Covid coordinator, signed by more than 260 businesses, including airlines, cruise operators, casinos, tourism boards, Disney Parks and a zoo, the group said “the economic costs associated with maintaining the measure are significant.”

“Given the slow economic recovery of the business and international travel sectors, and in light of medical advancements and the improved public health metrics in the U.S., we encourage you to immediately remove the inbound testing requirement for vaccinated air travelers,” the group wrote.

A survey commissioned by the group found that 46 percent of international travelers would be more likely to visit the United States without the requirement. A similar survey by the Points Guy, a site that specializes in traveling with credit card points and miles, found that more than half of its participating readers would be more likely to travel abroad without the requirement.

What’s the argument for keeping the policy?

Meegan Zickus, who runs a Facebook group for people with weakened immune systems, said that testing has become more important since the mask requirement went away. Without a testing requirement, most travelers are not going to bother to test or stay home, even if they suspect that they are infected, she said.

“Judging by the past two years, the only way to protect others is some type of enforced testing,” she said, because “the moral compass points directly to self.”

Dr. Seema Yasmin , a public health doctor and the director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, echoed this point. “I would say that it can give a high level of reassurance when 75 percent of people are not wearing a mask and might even be coughing and sneezing loudly,” Dr. Yasmin said.

(Though airplane ventilation systems appear to significantly mitigate spread of the coronavirus, research suggests that people sitting within a few rows still pose a risk to one another.)

“Some testing is better than none,” said Nathaniel Hafer , a molecular biologist at the UMass Chan Medical School.

Many countries also use testing to incentivize vaccination by waiving the requirement for vaccinated people, said Meghan Benton , a research director at the Migration Policy Institute, which tracks travel requirements. The United States encourages vaccination in its own way by prohibiting most unvaccinated visitors from abroad from entering.

Could a lawsuit end testing the way it did the mask mandate?

Given that there are currently at least four pending lawsuits that challenge the international testing requirement, some wonder whether it might be struck down by a judge’s decision, as the requirement to wear a mask on airplanes and other forms of transport was in April.

Lawrence O. Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown Law, does not think so. The C.D.C. can require testing from visitors entering the country from abroad because of the Public Health Service Act, which was explicitly created to prevent the introduction of dangerous infectious diseases in the United States, he said.

The rule, he said, “would be exceedingly difficult to successfully challenge in the courts, even for the most conservative judges.”

52 Places for a Changed World

The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of the chair of lab medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic. It is Dr. William Morice, not Omrice.

How we handle corrections

Heather Murphy is a reporter on the Travel desk. She welcomes tips, questions and complaints about traveling during the pandemic. More about Heather Murphy

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When traveling to Aruba, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. These include airline updates, filling in the e mbarkation/ d isembarkation card ( ED ) Card, and more! 

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Always verify airline requirements and any travel updates leading up to your travel date. Download your airline's app on your phone for easy boarding pass access,  and flight and gate changes on the day of travel.

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The Aruba ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation) is a mandatory requirement for all individuals, including infants and children, entering Aruba. It is necessary to complete and obtain approval for this document. To access the official ED Card page, kindly use the following link . It is important to note that some services may charge a fee to assist you with this process. While the decision to utilize such services is entirely yours, please note that it can easily be completed independently and free of charge within a few minutes. You can fill in the ED-Card within the 7 days  before your travel to Aruba.

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To avoid long lines at domestic and international security screening points, you can enroll in Global Entry (for US travelers only). Travelers must be pre-approved. Make sure to start the application process well ahead of time, as this includes an in-person interview and rigid background checks. Find the Global Entry application form here

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Visitors are required to consent to comply with the rules and procedures as mandated by the Aruban government. This will include:

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Acknowledgment and consent to follow any and all instructions imposed by the public health authorities of Aruba; this includes, but is not limited to, instructions to be isolated or quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.

For details on the procedures for guests showing symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test result while in Aruba, please refer to our Your Health page.

Timing: Consent to Aruba Government mandates must be completed as part of the ED Card immigration form.

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Upon successful completion of the ED card process, travelers will receive an email confirmation of approval for travel (green checkmark), which must be shown either digitally or in printed form at check-in or upon boarding.

Note: You will need a valid passport and a valid email address that you have access to.

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All visitors will be required to comply with arrival health procedures as mandated by the Aruba Airport Authority and the Government of Aruba.

Prior to travel, visitors should download the Aruba Department of Public Health’s  Aruba Health App . A mobile resource for information on COVID-19 health procedures in Aruba, and faster results for Molecular PCR COVID-19 tests taken in Aruba.

Have any unanswered questions? Use the FAQ section at the bottom of the page to search.

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A Quick Guide to TSA PreCheck

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Table of Contents

What is TSA PreCheck?

Tsa precheck requirements, how much does tsa precheck cost, how to get tsa precheck for free, how to sign up for tsa precheck, tsa precheck interview, is tsa precheck worth it.

Travelers often dread going through TSA security lines, but by signing up for TSA PreCheck, you can save a lot of time and hassle at airport security.

Exactly how much time can you save? We'll put it this way: In April 2024, 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 10 minutes at airport security.

Travelers with TSA PreCheck can use dedicated security lines, keep their shoes on and leave their 3-1-1 liquids and laptops in their bags. These benefits are available when flying on dozens of airlines at over 200 airports.

Here, we answer your questions: What is TSA PreCheck, how much does it cost and how can you get it for free?

» Learn more: Best credit cards for TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is a membership program that offers dedicated airport security lines and streamlined screening at a few hundred airports across the U.S.

Upon approval, members receive a Known Traveler Number that lets the airlines know that you are eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits.

More than 90 airlines participate in TSA PreCheck to provide a smoother airport screening process. Simply add your Known Traveler Number to your flight reservations to receive a "TSA PreCheck" designation on your boarding pass and use the dedicated security lines. On some flights you may not receive TSA PreCheck benefits based on the airline you're flying, which airport you are flying from or TSA procedures.

Children up to 12 years old do not need their own TSA PreCheck membership. As long as they are traveling with an adult who is a member, they can use the TSA Security lanes too. Children ages 13-17 can travel with TSA PreCheck member parents so long as the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the child's boarding pass as well.

Differences between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

While TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are both designed to streamline security checkpoints, each is targeted to a specific type of travel.

TSA PreCheck makes domestic travel simpler, offering dedicated airport security lanes, lower application fees and several locations where you can enroll.

Global Entry, on the other hand, is best for international travelers. This program includes TSA PreCheck benefits, but also simplifies the U.S. customs process when returning from outside the U.S.

This chart highlights some of the similarities and differences between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

The TSA PreCheck program is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents.

Travelers interested in TSA PreCheck must apply online for pre-approval. Once your interview is booked, you are required to bring an unexpired U.S. government-issued photo identification, plus proof of citizenship. Accepted documents include your passport or a driver's license and birth certificate.

Immigrants can learn more about required documentation on the Homeland Security website .

The benefits sound great, but what is the fee for TSA PreCheck? TSA PreCheck costs $78 at Idemia enrollment centers and $85 at Telos enrollment centers. The membership lasts for five years. After the initial application fee, PreCheck renewal only costs $70 if completed online . As detailed below, some travel credit cards will help offset this cost.

The initial $78 fee breaks down to an average of $15.60 per year or $1.30 per month.

While you can pay for TSA PreCheck with your credit card or debit card, you can actually get it for free instead of paying cash. Here are four ways to do just that:

Randomly issued. Some passengers may randomly receive TSA PreCheck as a way to introduce them to the benefits of being a member. Consider this a marketing effort by the Department of Homeland Security to encourage people to sign up for TSA PreCheck.

Military benefits. All active members of the U.S. Armed Forces can receive TSA PreCheck benefits by entering their Department of Defense identification number as their Known Traveler Number. This includes those serving as Reserves and National Guard, as well as cadets and midshipmen attending a military academy.

Redeem rewards. Some airline and hotel loyalty programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus , allow you to redeem miles and points to pay for TSA PreCheck application fees.

Credit card benefits. Many travel cards reimburse TSA PreCheck application fees every four to five years. Among them:

on Chase's website

on Bank of America's website

$0 intro for the first year, then $95 .

Statement credit of up to $100 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS to the card. Available once every 4 years.

Statement credit of up to $100 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to the card. Available once every 4 years.

If your credit card offers reimbursement for the application fee for programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you must pay the fee with the card. You cannot submit a claim for reimbursement if you paid with some other method. Reimbursement will usually appear as a statement credit in your account within two months.

Cards typically offer reimbursement of only one fee once every four to five years. Check the terms and conditions of your card for the specific rules that apply. Note also that these cards only reimburse the application fee for a trusted traveler program. They don't automatically enroll you in the program or guarantee that you'll be accepted by the program. You still have to apply and go through the required screening, which in the case of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry includes an in-person appointment.

Aeroplan® Credit Card .

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card .

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card .

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card .

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card .

The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card .

United Club℠ Infinite Card .

United℠ Explorer Card .

United Quest℠ Card .

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card .

Terms apply.

» SEE the best credit cards that pay for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

TSA PreCheck is open to U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents.

Here's how to pre-enroll for TSA PreCheck online and get your interview set up in five simple steps:

Go to the TSA website and click on "Apply now."

Complete the brief questionnaire confirming your eligibility for the program.

Provide a list of the identifying documents you'll bring along to your interview.

Choose from one of the 600+ enrollment centers and schedule your TSA PreCheck appointment.

Look for an email confirming your appointment.

» Learn more : How to get TSA PreCheck

What happens if your application is declined?

Getting approved for TSA PreCheck is not guaranteed. People can be declined based on security threat assessments, certain criminal convictions and similar reasons.

If you're declined for TSA PreCheck, it is possible to appeal the decision and request reconsideration.

» Learn more : The best airline and hotel rewards loyalty programs this year

The TSA PreCheck interview usually takes less than 10 minutes. It is primarily meant to verify your identification documents and process your fingerprints. For most people, you'll need to bring your driver's license and passport. However, it is best to use this interactive guide from the Department of Homeland Security to answer a few quick questions to know for sure which documents you should bring.

You will also be required to pay the nonrefundable $78 or $85 fee at your appointment. Payment can be made by credit card, company check, cashier's check or money order.

Once you're approved for TSA PreCheck, add your Known Traveler Number to your existing flight reservations and airline loyalty program profiles. This will allow you to use the dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes across the U.S.

» Learn more : TSA PreCheck interview: What to know

Yes. This valuable tool saves you time and frustration at airport security. If you've ever missed a flight due to long security screening lines, you know how critical it can be to get through airport security quickly.

The initial application fee for most people applying through Idemia is $78 for the first five years. It's $70 to renew online thereafter (but you can easily renew for free ). Numerous credit cards will cover the cost for you. However, if you do pay for it yourself, the fee breaks down to less than $2 per month, which is surely worth it — even for the occasional traveler.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.