Some cautious good news and practical suggestions for travelers eager to get back out in the world.
The U.S. State Department lifts advisory to avoid all international travel
The U.S. State Department has lifted the blanket advisory warning against Americans traveling internationally in general. All international countries had been issued a level 4 advisory “do not travel” nearly 5 months ago. The State Department has now dropped this blanket warning. So, what does this mean exactly?
The Covid-19 situation is changing quickly around the world, and many destinations are seeing progress in controlling the outbreak of the pandemic, meaning a Level 4 advisory on all global travel no longer makes sense.
By dropping the blanket advisory, the U.S. State Department can now accurately represent which countries have different levels of risk and safety, including other factors besides Covid-19 (e.g. other illnesses, terrorism, military activity).
Not so fast…many countries still unsafe
The world is slowly reopening, and in due time international travel will be back better and stronger than ever. However there are still many countries where it is not advisable to travel. Destinations where coronavirus is still considered an extremely high risk for travelers include Brazil, India, and Russia.
...And many countries are not welcoming all travelers (yet!)
Travelers coming from the US should take note that although some international countries have dropped to a safe travel rating, they may still be closed to travel from the United States. This is a temporary precautionary measure to help stem the global spread of this devastating virus.
However, there are countries that arenow open or will be opening soon to travelers from the US, and many countries that are open at all are welcoming travelers from Canada, the UK, and Australia.
These destinations include places like Ireland, Cambodia, and South Korea. Countries that are set to open their borders very soon include Thailand and Belize. Check our regularly updatedlist of countries welcoming US travelers now.
Safety should remain on everyone’s mind and just because some countries are allowing travelers into their borders, doesn’t mean they are necessarily the safest option. It’s always best to assess the coronavirus situation in each country before planning your next trip, and recognize circumstances may change between booking and travel.
To start planning, see the full list of countries by safety level and then you can check out which borders are open to you.
More Questions?
Start with our general Travel in the time of Covid-19 General Resources page
