New Delhi :
April is one of the best months for travel as the weather north of the Equator warms up from the depths of winter.
Additionally, it’s not peak travel season yet as school is still in session so there are fewer crowds and cheaper fares.
These travel restrictions are minimal but are worth paying attention to for international travel.
United States Travel Restrictions
There are no domestic travel restrictions that will impede travel within the United States. However, one federal policy can impact entering the nation.
International Travel Vaccine Mandate
The United States is one of a handful of nations to continue requiring visitors to be fully vaccinated in order to gain entry via airplane. This mandate doesn’t impact returning citizens or lawful permanent residents coming back into the United States.
The Pre-Arrival Testing Requirement Is Waived
Most Western nations implemented a pre-arrival testing requirement for travelers returning from a visit to China, Hong Kong or Macau within the last 10 days. The testing protocol is also applied when traveling through a designated airport.
This testing policy expired on March 10, 2023, as the immediate threat of a coronavirus outbreak lapsed as the gradual reopening of China has been successful so far.
The United States government no longer requires a negative pre-arrival test from any international origination.
Canada Travel Restrictions
There are no restrictions to visiting Canada from the United States. A public mask mandate may still be active in certain provinces and cities. However, Canadians wishing to visit the United States must continue to be fully vaccinated to enter for leisure.
Caribbean Travel Restrictions
There is one more popular Caribbean island that’s open to unvaccinated adults. The Turks and Caicos officially ended its vaccine mandate for visitors 18 years or older effective on April 1, 2023. Additionally, there are no capacity restrictions at restaurants or bars. No additional entry requirements are in effect for the Turks.
This island nation was the last popular tropical destination in the Caribbean to require vaccination.
So, the most visited islands from before the pandemic are now fully open again and also include Aruba, Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Latin America Travel Restrictions
For the most part, travelers can visit Latin America restriction-free. But, a pre-arrival test for unvaccinated visitors applies to these countries:
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Nicaragua
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Europe Travel Restrictions
Europe is open for travel although the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to impede leisure travel to this corner of the world.
In the closing days of March 2023, the U.S. State Department once again urged American citizens to depart Russia.
This repeated warning indicates that the conflict most likely won’t end soon.
Asia Travel Restrictions
Asia continues to be a mixed bag. It’s best to be fully vaccinated when going to this region. Indonesia still prohibits the unvaccinated from visiting. The unvaccinated can enter Japan and the Philippines after receiving a negative pre-arrival test.
Eased China Travel Restrictions
China’s international borders continue to thaw as the country fully reopened for tourism for over 40 countries on March 15, 2023, by issuing new travel visas. The country is also recognizing active multi-year visas issued before March 28, 2020.
Unfortunately, tourists from the United States will need to wait a bit longer to be on the “green list” for tourism.
At the moment, U.S. citizens and residents can only visit China after obtaining a visa for business, work or study after having a negative pre-arrival test result.
Australia And New Zealand Travel Restrictions
Both of the prominent countries in Oceania are fully open for tourism, regardless of vaccination status.
Africa Travel Restrictions
Three of the most-visited African nations have no entry requirements:
- Egypt
- Morocco
- South Africa
Beyond these nations, most destinations are wide open for the fully vaccinated, although a number require a pre-arrival test for the unvaccinated.
One potential illness that can threaten travelers is the Marburg virus, which is a hemorrhagic fever.
As of April 3, 2023, the CDC has only issued travel warnings for Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.
As Tanzania is a popular tourist destination, the country currently has a Level 1—Practice Use Precautions warning from the CDC.
This is the lowest risk level on a three-tier warning system. So far, only eight confirmed cases and five deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization.
While it’s not widespread, it is something to be aware of for African travel.