On December 28, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a press release that it will require all air passengers two years and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to present a negative COVID-19 test result or a documentation of recovery.

The CDC is implementing this requirement to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, given the recent surge in cases in China and the lack of adequate and transparent information being reported from China.

This means that beginning January 5, 2023, air passengers two years and older will be required to (1) get a COVID-19 test no more than two days before their departure from China, Hong Kong, or Macau; and (2) show the negative COVID-19 test result to the airline upon departure. The test must be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or the relevant national authority. Passengers who test positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation of recovery in lieu of a negative COVID-19 test result.

This requirement will apply to the following people:

• All air passengers two years and older regardless of nationality and vaccination status.
• Air passengers traveling from China via a third country and passengers connecting through the United States to another country.
• Air passengers traveling to the United States through Incheon International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport on their way to the United States; these passengers are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test no more than 2 days before their departure to the United States if they have been in China in the previous 10 days.

This means that all air passengers traveling to the United States, regardless of citizenship status and immigration status, will be subject to the above requirements. The immigration team of Nilan Johnson Lewis continues to monitor travel restrictions and will post them on our website as the situation develops.