The countries welcoming US tourists now — and some resources for your visit

By CNN

Published December 10, 2021 7:16 PM

Forrest Brown, CNN

Throughout the pandemic, US passport holders have seen an ever-morphing list of international travel options.

The only constant has been change. But compared with the choices in the spring and summer of 2020, the choices now are plentiful.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether travel to international destinations is a good idea.

The health risks are obvious if you’re not fully vaccinated. Many venues and events of interest to travelers are imposing restrictions or canceling outright because of the most recent Covid-19 surge. Nations might change their rules with little notice after you’ve made plans or you’re already on your trip. You might have to adhere to stricter curfews and mask mandates than you’re used to in the United States. Violations could involve big fines and even jail time.

The US State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide risk assessments by country to help you decide.

What to find out before you go

What follows is a curated list of countries and territories, alphabetically organized by continent or region, where US passport holders are allowed entry for leisure travel.

Click the links by each destination for crucial information on:

• Whether or not you’re required to be fully vaccinated to enter. Some countries on this list accept only fully vaccinated Americans.

• Possible exemptions from rules for the fully vaccinated, people recovered from a recent case of Covid-19 or children.

• Presenting negative results from Covid-19 tests to enter, including time limits to take the test, types of tests allowed and additional tests upon arrival.

• Possible quarantines and durations as well as health screenings upon arrival.

• Health insurance requirements, curfews and lockdowns.

• Different rules if you’re arriving from a third country vs. the United States as well as rules for land and sea entry, which might differ from air arrivals.

• What safety rating the CDC gives the destination

The links to various government and tourism sites next to each country will help you gather the most current information for your journey.

Africa (sub-Saharan)

The United States currently has a travel ban on visitors from eight nations in southern Africa because of the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. However, US travelers are still allowed to enter those eight countries — against CDC advice — and return to the States. There are other African travel favorites not under any US ban, however. The nations of northern Africa can be found in the Middle East and North Africa grouping below.

Asia

Generally, Asian destinations have been much slower to reopen to international tourism than the rest of world. Tourism giants such as Japan and China are still closed to US leisure travelers. However, some places have opened their doors to Americans on vacation.

Australia / Pacific Islands

Americans wanting to get their vacation fix of Australia and nearby New Zealand will have to remain patient. Like Asia, this region has been taking a very cautious approach. Still, there are a few Pacific island groups now allowing US tourists to visit.

Europe

In mid-December, much of Europe remained in the grips of a new Covid-19 wave. US tourists are still allowed to visit most destinations there, although full vaccinations are required in many of the countries.

Middle East / North Africa

Rich in culture and history, destinations in the Middle East and North Africa are also trying to deal with a modern pandemic just like the rest of the world. While some places are inaccessible because of the coronavirus or for other reasons, some favorites are open to US visitors.

North America / Caribbean

North America and the Caribbean now give US leisure travelers plenty of travel options with a relatively short plane ride. Be sure to check disembarking rules if you take a Caribbean cruise.

South America

South America’s pandemic journey has mirrored the rest of the world in terms of mixed responses. Brazil has been wide open for the long haul while Argentina just recently opened to US travelers.

Recently removed from open list

There are destinations that have recently closed their borders to either US travelers specifically or to all tourists. These might be temporary actions, and they could reopen before the next update of this article, so click on the links to see their current status.

Omitted countries

This is a curated list and not a complete catalog of every single destination open to visitors from the United States.

CNN Travel has omitted certain countries if they: had very limited numbers of American travelers before the pandemic; are very isolated or have little to no tourism infrastructure; have ongoing or recent armed conflicts, terrorism or rampant crime and unrest; have a current credible threat of warfare; have antagonistic relations with the US government; or have entry requirements so extensive and complicated that they put the country out of reach of almost all US citizens.

However, you can click here to directly check for the status and entry requirements of any country or territory in the world you wish to visit.

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