COVID-19 Travel Ban & Vaccination Requirement Updates

Please note: The information provided in this post was accurate and up-to-date at the time of posting. Due to the dynamic nature of immigration policy, it is possible that the information or links provided may have changed over time. Users are advised to verify the accuracy and relevance of the content.

October 19, 2021

The White House recently announced plans that travelers (including international students and scholars) will soon be able to enter the United States on the condition that they are fully vaccinated. This would mark a transition away from the travel restrictions that apply to those who had been physically present in China, Iran, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the 26 Schengen Zone countries, Brazil, South Africa and India (as well as those who are currently exempt). Current information indicates that the easing of travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers will be effective on November 8, 2021. 

CDC has reported to the media that only vaccines that are approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted for international travelers seeking to travel to the United States.

As of the date of this update, the vaccines anticipated to be accepted are:

  1. FDA Authorized or Approved: Johnson-Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech

  2. WHO Approved: Johnson-Johnson, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covisheild, Pfizer-BioNTech,Sinopharm and Sinovac.

Berkeley International Office recommends bringing proof of vaccination when traveling internationally. In the interim, advocacy efforts are underway to waive the vaccination requirement for international students and scholars.  We will continue to closely follow developments and will keep our community appraised when additional details are released. You can also find the latest information on our COVID-19 FAQ. 

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