Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice for the general public

Travelling, especially in crowded places, can increase the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Always take precautions if you’re in a high-risk group. People in high-risk groups (for example, people with diabetes, heart or lung disease, cancer, immunosuppression, history of stroke and/or asthma or people who are 60 years or older) are at an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

While the emergency of COVID-19 is over, COVID-19 is not, and the virus is circulating in all countries. It’s important to know your health status and what this means for you in terms of the risks of COVID-19 when planning for travel.  

There may also be rules and precautions for COVID-19 while you’re travelling and at both where your trip originates and where you are going. Always, follow travel advisories issued by both the country of origin and of destination.

To reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying, ensure that you are fully vaccinated prior to your trip and according to your country’s recommendations, including getting any booster doses if applicable.

Throughout your travel, you may be in areas that are closed, confined, or crowded, which puts you at a higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19. For example, you may be in crowded airports or on public transportation to or from an airport.  It is important that you assess your risk of COVID-19 and follow these simple prevention measures throughout your travel:

• wear a well-fitting mask and keep a safe distance from others, as feasible
• avoid crowds as much as possible
• always practice respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes
• clean your hands regularly
• stay up to date with your vaccinations
• stay home if you are sick and consider not travelling
• get tested if you have symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

Be sure to follow COVID-19 travel policies and rules required by venues, transport operators and travel hubs such as airports, bus terminals and train stations. Get informed before travelling.

As part of public health efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, many national authorities limited travel at different stages of the pandemic or restricted to essential travels. These restrictions have now been lifted in many countries.

Essential travel is defined differently by national authorities in different countries. Essential travel may include travel for emergencies and humanitarian activities (including emergency medical flights and medical evacuation) and travel taken by essential personnel (including emergency responders and those who provide public health technical support, and critical personnel in transport and security sectors, such as seafarers and diplomatic officers). Essential travel may also include repatriations to home countries, as well as cargo transport needed to deliver essential supplies such as food, medicines and fuel. WHO encourages national authorities to facilitate travel for essential reasons at all times. 

All travellers should continue adhering to preventive measures such as mask use, keeping a safe distance from others, and avoiding crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated areas as much as possible. For more information on the kind of mask to use, see As the questions and answers on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Masks.

Getting vaccinated could save your life. COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Most countries have lifted all requirements for travel related to COVID-19.  A few countries still continue exempting travellers who have been fully vaccinated or have proof of recent SARS-CoV-2 status from certain requirements (mainly testing prior to travel or on arrival). Before you travel, make sure you know the requirements and policies in place where your trip originates and at your destination, and abide by them. 

Yes, while this may have changed in many places, you may still be screened when entering or leaving a venue, destination or country. Be sure to know what is required or expected as you plan your travel.

Exit and entry screening may include measures such as interviews, checking temperatures and evaluation of symptoms – including respiratory symptoms, fever, cough or shortness of breath. You may also be asked to provide information about any possible recent exposure you have had to people with COVID-19 symptoms or confirmed diagnoses.

In many countries and regions, public health and social measures, including contract tracing, are no longer in force. However, some venues, destinations and countries may request or require that you download and register with a digital contact tracing app. Where this is applicable, these apps collect information to identify and inform travellers who may have been in contact with a person who has been confirmed to have COVID-19.

Many countries do not require proof of a COVID-19 test result. However, some venues, destinations and countries may still require COVID-19 tests prior to departure or upon arrival as part of their strategies to prevent the spread of disease or surge. COVID-19 tests conducted immediately prior to departure or on arrival are used in an effort to determine the health status of travellers; reduce the likelihood of importing the virus; and/or as a means to detect potential new variants of concern among incoming travellers.

Every destination has its own policies, so it’s important to be aware of testing requirements before you hit the road.

Most airplanes have cabin air filtration systems equipped with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters, which can remove viruses and germs quickly, minimizing the duration of the exposure to any potentially infectious materials produced by a cough or sneeze. The cabin air system is designed to operate most efficiently by delivering approximately 50% outside air and 50% filtered, recirculated air. The air supply is essentially sterile and particle-free.  However, adequate ventilation is just one of the preventive measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Other important measures include wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance whenever possible, and regular hand hygiene.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or loss of speech or movement.

If you become ill during your travel, consider wearing a mask continuously while you travel, regularly clean your hands with hand sanitizer, cover a cough or sneeze with a bent elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance from others wherever possible.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 while you travel or when you arrive at your destination, follow the guidance provided by health authorities. You may be required to quarantine or isolate yourself in accordance with your destination country’s policy.  Your travel companions may also be required to quarantine, since they have been in contact with you. If you become ill during your travel, inform your travel attendant.