COVID-19 Travel Requirements for International Travel
Arrival to the United States
Effective November 8, 2021, the following protocols were implemented for travel to the United States:
- If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country. Only vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted. Make sure your vaccine and proof of vaccination are acceptable to board a flight to the United States.
If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will NOT be allowed to board a flight to the United States, unless you meet any of the following criteria for an exemption under the Proclamation and Order of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
- Children under 18 years of age
- Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
- Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
- Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
- Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all air passengers two years of age and over entering the United States (including U.S. citizens, Legal Permanent Residents and individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19) to present a negative COVID-19 test result, taken within one (1) calendar day prior to departure to the U.S., or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.
To find out if you qualify to board a flight to the United States, visit the CDC website and answer a series of questions.
Self-Quarantine
According to the CDC, fully vaccinated attendees arriving from an international country are NOT required to self-quarantine prior to participating in AUA2022 activities and programming; however, if you are NOT fully vaccinated and meet any of the above exceptions that permit you to travel to the U.S., you are required to self-quarantine for a minimum of 7 days upon arrival.
Protective Masks
All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Visit the CDC International Travel page for additional information about traveling to the U.S.
Departure from the United States
Requirements to present a negative COVID-19 test before leaving the United States vary by country. It is the responsibility of the attendee to monitor the conditions of your destination country and follow proper testing protocols prior to departure from New Orleans. Please review travel requirements by country.
Note, test results required to depart the U.S. must be from a viral antigen or a nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) test. PCR tests are most commonly accepted for travel purposes.
COVID-19 Testing at Annual Meeting
On-site COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR testing services will be available to support safe arrivals and meet departure travel requirements. Tests will be at the expense of the attendee. We recommend you plan accordingly to allow enough time to retrieve results before your scheduled departure flight.
Visitor Visa Requirements
Several visitors to the United States require a visa to enter the country, unless they are coming from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program and possess a Machine-Ready Passport (MRP). If you require a visa to enter the United States, please check with your local United States Embassy or Consulate to obtain the necessary documentation as soon as possible.
In order to assist you with the visa process, you may request a Letter of Invitation to the AUA Annual Meeting. You can request this letter during the registration process by emailing customerservice@AUAnet.org.
Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to apply for travel authorization at least 72 hours prior to departure through its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Additional information and online application can be found on the Department of Homeland Security's ESTA website.
Questions Regarding the Visa Application Process
For additional information on visa requirements or questions regarding the visa application process, visit the U.S. Department of State website.