Curious about the status of international travel? As the coronavirus pandemic ebbs in parts of the world, some countries are beginning to ease travel restrictions. But not completely: many places, for example, are only allowing domestic visitors or those from certain countries. Others have mandatory 14-day quarantines. And that’s if you can even land at their airport: due to decreased demand, airlines have slashed their flight schedules by up to 70 percent. As the summer ramps up, and with it, the traditional vacation season, many are left wondering: where should I—and where can I—go?
For those in the U.S., the answer is quite limited: Americans are still banned from visiting the European Union, and more and more countries are restricting visitors by the week. (On Sunday, for example, the Bahamas stopped commercial flights from the States.) And then there's the intra-state rules: New York, for example, requires travelers from 31 states to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
Below, a list of international travel status updates by region. This post will be updated frequently, but always check with your embassy or a specific country’s tourism department before booking.
The Caribbean
The region began to open in mid-June and July: for example, Jamaica began welcoming international travelers on June 15, whereas St. Barth’s started a few days later on June 22. Bermuda and the Bahamas opened on July 1, according to their tourism boards. Turks and Caicos was not far behind, reopening on July 22.
But initial reopening plans are evolving: the Bahamas announced that they will no longer be welcoming flights from the United States starting July 22nd. ("International commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers will not be permitted to enter our borders, except for commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced.)
Make sure to check for any newfound visiting requirements before you go: St. Lucia, for example, opened on June 4, but when you check in at the airport, you must present a negative COVID-19 test. Starting on July 15, Jamaica requires an online travel authorization form to be completed before entry.
Central America
Popular tourist destinations, such as Costa Rica and Belize, remained closed to foreign visitors. Panama's international flight ban was recently extended through mid-August, and Guatemala remains under a strict 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
South America
The COVID-19 pandemic is currently peaking in several countries throughout the continent: Argentina has banned commercial flights until September 2020, and Chile’s borders have remained closed since mid-March. Brazil is not accepting foreign visitors through at least July 29.
Europe
Travel restrictions in Europe began loosening on June 15—but mostly just for intra-European travel and a select few international countries. Greece, for example, opened to visitors from the E.U., China, Japan, Israel, New Zealand, and several other countries that have their coronavirus outbreaks under control. (But depending on where you fly in from, you may need to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.) “Maybe no bars may be open, or no tight crowds, but you can still get a fantastic experience in Greece—provided that the global epidemic is on a downward path,” Greek Minister of Tourism Kyriakos Mitsotakis told CNN.
Italy started slowly opening its doors on June 3,, allowing in tourists from the E.U., the United Kingdom, and Monaco. Germany and France followed suit on June 15 (but those coming to France from the U.K. will need to do a mandatory 14-day quarantine).
In early June, Austria opened all of its borders, except with Italy. For those flying into the country, you must show a negative COVID-19 test that is less than four days old (at the Vienna airport, they provide testing onsite) or do a 14-day quarantine. Right now, only visitors from the Schengen area are allowed to travel to Austria.
On July 1, the European Union, as a uniform bloc, opened its borders to those outside of the Schegen area. But that doesn't mean anyone can visit: currently, Americans are banned from entering the European Union member states.
North America
The United States is still off limits for travelers from Europe, China, and Brazil. The U.S.-Canada border is closed to non-essential travel, and Canada itself is closed to most international visitors. Beaches in Mexico began to welcome tourists in June.
Asia
China and South Korea remain closed to outside visitors, and there is currently no indication on when they may open up to international tourists. According to Reuters, Japan is considering letting in tourists from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand in the upcoming months.
Africa
Whereas domestic travel restrictions are loosening in some areas of the continent, foreign traveler bans are still in place in tourist hotspots like Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
India
International flights to India remain suspended.