Travel during COVID-19 - Defense Centers for Public Health

The following is a summary of official Army travel guidance and can be used to determine the regulations and processes to be followed if required to travel. This is provided for general information, local processes and policies may supersede those referenced here.

At this time, the Department of Defense is assessing travel requirements for fully vaccinated personnel.

General Guidance and Resources

Fully vaccinated individuals, as defined in Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 23), are not restricted from official travel, both domestic and international. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated or who decline to provide information about their vaccination status, are limited to mission-critical official travel, both domestic and international. "Mission-critical" will be determined by the traveler's DoD or Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Component head, who may delegate this authority in writing to his or her Principal Deputy (or equivalent) but no lower.

FHP Supplement 20 provides pre- and post-travel guidance for Service members, DoD family members, DoD civilian employees, and DoD contract personnel, to include: determining whether to travel, travel guidance, and resources. Requirements for travel-associated restriction of movement (ROM) are also specified. Consolidated DoD Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection Guidance

All personnel who are fully vaccinated, and individuals fully recovered from a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID 19 within the past 90 days, are exempt from pre- or post-travel ROM, unless otherwise required by a more restrictive DoD policy. Other host nation requirements can override this exemption, however.

Waiver requests for official travel will follow local and Army policies

International Travel

All personnel conducting international travel to or from the U.S. require a negative test during the 3 days prior to departure. Follow destination instructions if they are more specific. The test can be completed as part of a 7 day ROM and meet pre-travel ROM if done 1-3 days before departure.

All personnel who are fully vaccinated or have fully recovered from a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 90 days are not required to undergo viral testing prior to travel from the U.S. to a foreign country. Host nation requirements may override this exemption.
Latest CDC guidance can be found here and Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States.

Traveling from the U.S.

All personnel conducting international travel require a negative COVID-19 test from a specimen collected within 1-3 days of departure, unless they are fully vaccinated or fully recovered from a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days.

Upon arrival in the foreign country, Service members will ROM for 10 days without testing, or, after an appropriate risk assessment, 7 days with a negative test within 48 hours prior to the end of 7 days. All other DOD affiliates are encouraged to follow the same protocol.
If necessary to ROM pre-arrival to observe applicable host nation public health measures, the individual should follow the process above at an appropriate domicile prior to departure.

Only one ROM is required, either before travel or after arrival.

Travelers returning to the U.S.

All personnel must have a negative COVID-19 test from a specimen collected within 1-3 days of departure, unless they are fully recovered from COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days.

All personnel (including those fully vaccinated) will submit to viral testing 3-5 days after return.

If traveling from, or having traveled through, a foreign country, Service members will ROM for 10 days. After an appropriate risk assessment, ROM may be decreased to 7 days with a negative test within 48 hours prior to the end of 7 days. All other DOD affiliates are encouraged to follow the same protocol.

Domestic Travel

Personnel may conduct unrestricted travel between installations that meet the specific criteria. Consult the COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update.

Follow military installation, State, and local government travel restrictions.

Follow CDC guidance

Safety Resources for Approved Travelers

Quick Reference Table for Official Travel Scenarios

Official Travel Scenario	Pre-Travel Guidance	Post-Travel Guidance
United States to Foreign Country	COVID-19 Testing: Follow Geographical Combatant Command (GCC) / Host Nation (HN) Requirements.	COVID-19 Testing: Yes, within 72 hours of departure. Personnel who are fully vaccinated or fully recovered from a lab-confirmed COVID-19 within the previous 90 days (with clearance documentation from a healthcare provider) are not required to undergo viral testing prior to departure. If destination requires specific test or timing, travelers must follow destination requirements.
	ROM: Follow Geographical Combatant Command (GCC) / Host Nation (HN) Requirements. Only one ROM is required, either before travel or after arrival.	ROM: All travelers will conduct 10-day restriction of movement (ROM) without testing or 7-day ROM with negative test. If GCC / HN requires ROM upon entry, then only one ROM is required at the destination. Personnel who are fully vaccinated or fully recovered from a lab-confirmed COVID-19 within the previous 90 days (with clearance documentation from a healthcare provider) are not required to ROM.
	Travel Waiver: Yes, on a case by case basis. Travel waivers are only required when a Soldier is traveling to or from a restricted location. Refer to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update on https://www.defense.gov.
	Leave: Limited, Commanders may authorize leave necessary for the most direct means of travel. Any personal leave beyond what is needed for direct travel must be taken before administering the COVID-19 test.
	Risk Assessment: Yes, refer to current Force Health Protection Guidance Supplements and HQDA EXORD 210-20, FRAGO 18, Annex DDD

Official Travel Scenario

Pre-Travel Guidance

Post-Travel Guidance

Foreign Country to United States

COVID-19 Testing: Yes, within 72 hours of departure.

Personnel fully recovered from a lab-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection within the previous 90 days (with clearance documentation from healthcare provider) are not required to undergo viral testing.

COVID-19 Testing: Soldiers required to test 3 to 5 days after arrival. Strongly recommended for Family Members, Civilians, and Contractors.

ROM: Not required.

ROM: All unvaccinated Soldiers will undergo a ROM upon arrival at their residence or other appropriate location (10 days or 7 days with negative test).

Fully vaccinated personnel are not required to ROM.

Travel Waiver: Yes, on a case by case basis. Travel waivers are only required when a Soldier is traveling to or from a restricted location. Refer to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update on https://www.defense.gov External Link .

Leave: Yes, refer to AR 600-8-10 (including administrative absences) and local command policies

Risk Assessment: Yes, refer to current Force Health Protection Guidance Supplements External Link

*Note: Travel between and through foreign countries contained wholly within a single GCC area of responsibility, and between GCC areas of responsibility, will be managed by each relevant GCC or GCCs as appropriate.

Official Travel Scenario	Pre-Travel Guidance	Post-Travel Guidance
United States to United States	COVID-19 Testing: Contact gaining command for specific test, timing, or pre-arrival requirements. Personnel fully recovered from a lab-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection within the previous 90 days (with clearance documentation from healthcare provider) are not required to undergo viral testing. If destination requires specific test or timing, travelers must follow destination requirements.	COVID-19 Testing: Comply with military installation, State, and/or local government directives at destination.
	ROM: Contact gaining command for pre-arrival requirements. Fully vaccinated personnel are not required to ROM.	ROM: Comply with military installation, State, and/or local government directives at destination. Fully vaccinated personnel are not required to ROM.
	Travel Waiver: Yes, on a case by case basis. Travel waivers are only required when a Soldier is traveling to or from a restricted location. Refer to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update on https://defense.gov	Exemption: Personnel fully recovered from a lab-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection within the previous 90 days (with clearance documentation from healthcare provider) are not required to undergo viral testing. If destination requires specific test or timing, travelers must follow destination requirements.
	Leave: Yes, refer to AR 600-8-10 (including administrative absences) and local command policies
	Risk Assessment: Yes, refer to current Force Health Protection Guidance Supplements