U.S. COVID-19 Testing Entry Requirements for International Travel

The accepted test types are antigen or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), for example: 

*RT-PCR test 
*LAMP test 
*TMA test 
*NEAR test 
*HDA test  

Note: Antibody tests are not accepted. 

Your test result must be documented (on paper or as an electronic copy) and must include all of the following: 

1. Type of test (indicating NAAT or antigen test) 

2. Who issued the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service) and their contact information (for example, their phone number, fax number, or email address) 

3. Date the test was taken – A negative test result must show a COVID-19 test taken within 1 day before departure. If using a recent positive test result with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 instead of a negative COVID test, the positive test must have been taken within 90 days before travel 

4. Two (2) pieces of information on the document to identify the person (e.g., full name plus date of birth or passport number)  

5. The test result

English and the language of the country where you are departing from, on a nonstop flight to the U.S., are accepted languages. If you are connecting through another country before entering the U.S., and your test result is in your origin country’s language, please be aware that tests may be verified at your connection airport where your origin country’s language may not be spoken.  

Delta will make every effort to accommodate test results in other languages. To avoid any travel delays or having to pay to re-test, please make sure Delta agents are able to verify your test results.

Customers are responsible for the cost of their pre-departure tests.

The negative test must occur within 1 day of a direct flight’s departure. If a customer’s itinerary includes one or more connecting flights, the negative test must occur within 1 day prior to the departure of the initial flight. This applies to all customers over the age of 2, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, including U.S. citizens and residents.  

For example, if your flight is at 5 P.M. on Friday, you could board with a negative test that was taken at any time on Thursday, which is one day before your flight. 

Customers who have not completed a test and/or do not have a negative test result will not be allowed to board their flight to the U.S. in accordance with the CDC order.

Customers who receive a positive test result will not be able to fly and are advised to follow the guidelines in the country where the test result was received. In the U.S., CDC guidelines, opens in a new window state that any customer who tests positive should self-isolate for at least 5 days and delay travel to the U.S. until they have recovered from COVID-19.  Internationally, isolation requirements vary, and customers must follow the public health guidelines where they are located before commencing travel. 

Trip Protection, provided by Allianz Global Assistance, offers protection in a number of commonly covered travel situations. Certain, limited claim accommodations, opens in a new window are also being made, such as if you get sick with COVID-19 and can’t fly. Already booked your flight? You may still be able to protect your trip on your My Trips page. Terms apply; coverage may vary in some countries or regions. Review full details. 

As a reminder, Delta’s Health Acknowledgment requires that for the safety of our employees and other customers, customers must wait until they have completed any local public health recommended COVID-19 quarantine or isolation  before traveling. 

If your initial departure flight is delayed by 24 hours or less due to a situation outside of your control, you are not required to be retested. If the delay is more than 24 hours, you are required to retest.

For connections, if your trip is delayed by 48 hours or less due to a situation outside of your control, you are not required to be retested. If the delay is more than 48 hours, you are required to retest.

Yes. Customers who have received the COVID-19 vaccine must still present evidence of a negative test result taken within 1 day before travel, a signed attestation confirming a negative result and provide contact tracing information. 

Under U.S. federal law, the required attestation form for U.S. Citizens and Immigrants (Residents) and for Non-U.S. Citizen/Nonimmigrant states all customers on any aircraft departing from a foreign destination and arriving in or connecting through the U.S. must attest to a negative COVID-19 test result, or recovery from COVID-19 with a recovery certificate, and to being fully vaccinated or qualifying for an exception. Each customer must provide a separate attestation and a parent or other authorized individual may attest on behalf of children ages 17 and under if necessary, but should select the exempt option for children under the age of 2. Please note that there are additional items for non-U.S. citizens and nonimmigrants to attest to.

Documentation of test results can be in paper or electronic form, customers can sign and complete the attestation form electronically or print and complete the paper version for U.S. Citizens and Immigrants (Residents) or Non-U.S. Citizen/Nonimmigrant. If you are flying on a Delta partner airline-operated flight, please print, complete and sign the paper attestation form in advance and take it to the airport. 

Customers will be asked for proof of their negative test result prior to departure and should retain their test results for possible inspection upon arrival in the U.S.

The below list includes those who are exempt from the testing requirement: 

*Children under 2  
*Federal law enforcement and military personnel on orders   
*Customers returning from U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, U.S.V.I)  

Additionally, the negative test requirement does not apply to customers who recently had COVID-19 and can provide both a positive COVID-19 test result dated within 90 days prior to travel and a letter from a healthcare provider or a public health official that states they are cleared to travel. 

Customers flying from the U.S. overseas territories of the USVI and Puerto Rico are not subject to this requirement.

Yes. All customers, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, aged 2 and over flying from an international destination to the United States must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result within 1 day of departure and confirm their negative result by signing an attestation form. 

For those who have recovered from COVID-19, a positive COVID-19 test result taken within 90 days of departure and a certificate of recovery can fulfill the testing requirement. 

We are continuously monitoring safety and security protocols to ensure you have the latest information for your destination's specific entry and exit requirements. 

We strongly encourage you to review the latest travel requirements and restrictions to learn more about current travel restrictions and for resources to help you arrive prepared. Please also confirm any requirements for connecting airport destinations if applicable to your itinerary.

Customers may use a COVID-19 test taken before departing the U.S. if the test was taken no more than 1 day  before their return flight. Any travel that is longer than 1 day will require customers to take a new COVID-19 test prior to entry to the U.S. 

Recovered customers will need to provide a positive COVID-19 test result taken within 90 days of departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel to fulfill the testing requirement.

For more details on what is required, customers should review the CDC’s order, opens in a new window.

Note: The U.S. does not consider someone to be fully vaccinated when they have only received 1 dose of a 2-shot vaccine and have a recovery certification.

No, unvaccinated children under 18 traveling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian who is not required to quarantine do not have to quarantine upon entry to the U.S. Unvaccinated children must take a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after arrival in the U.S.