How to Travel Abroad During COVID-19

Note: CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. For more travel-related information during the COVID-19 outbreak, you can visit the CDC’s website.

COVID-19 has caused a lockdown in many countries. Movement within the country is restricted, and many countries have also completely closed their ports of exit and entry. The U.S. is no exception. Depending on which state you are in, certain restrictions will apply. There is also a limit placed on international travel. One of these limitations is the halt on the processing of new passport applications. 

These travel bans are unfortunate if you had a lovely overseas holiday planned. It is, however, devastating if you have family in your home country that you want or seriously need to visit. What if it is an emergency? Are there any exceptions? We’ll take a look below at whether you can travel to see your family during COVID-19 and what you’ll need to do it.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 (or coronavirus, as it is commonly known) is a severe and highly infectious respiratory disease. The leading cause of the virus spreading is the respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes. It is, however, possible to contract COVID-19 by touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on it and then touching your mouth and nose. 

The COVID-19 signs and symptoms are non-specific, meaning there is a wide range of symptoms that are associated with it. Infected persons can display any combination of the typical COVID-19 symptoms or can even display no signs at all.

Typical signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include: 

• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Coughing up slime 
• Body chills
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle or joint ache or pain

Other, less common, symptoms are:

• Diarrhea
• Nasal congestion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus
• Intensely red eyes, watery discharge from the eyes, swollen eyelids, and light sensitivity.

It is also possible to have the coronavirus without showing any symptoms. Signs and symptoms can take as long as 14 days to show. 

COVID-19 Travel Bans

One of the most devastating factors of COVID-19 is the fact that it is so highly contagious and spreads like wildfire. Many countries have implemented coronavirus travel bans to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19. This means people from foreign countries can’t enter or exit the country. The U.S. is no exception. The Department of State has suspended all routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates. So, applicants can still apply for a visa, but no visas will be processed or issued at this time. You can read more about the different travel restrictions that apply in the U.S. here.

Not only is visa processing suspended for foreigners, but the Department of State has also halted certain services like passport processing. Neither U.S. citizens, permanent residents, nor visa holders in the U.S. will be able to travel abroad.

Passport Processing Halted During COVID-19 Outbreak

Social distancing is an essential strategy in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In keeping with this strategy, all U.S. government offices have closed. These offices include the USCIS and the U.S. Department of State services. As part of this, the Department of State has stopped the issuing of new passports and suspended all expedited services. 

This halt on passport processing will apply to all passport applications after March 20, 2020. 

Some application centers that are still operating on minimal staff. These centers may still accept applications to renew expired passports. The processing time for these will be very delayed, though. So, don’t rely on using your new passport to travel either. The usual window for renewals is about three weeks. You should not expect to receive your renewed passport anywhere in this usual window.

The fact that the Department of State has stopped processing passports could cause you some concern. It’s possible some of your family members in your home country have fallen ill during this health pandemic and possibly even passed away. Is there any way for you to reunite with your family at this time?

The silver lining is, despite the pause on processing, there are very exceptional circumstances under which the Department of State will issue new passports. Let’s take a look.

International Travel During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Despite the indefinite pause on passport processing, the Department of State has confirmed it will continue to issue passports under emergency conditions. But, you will need to prove the nature of your emergency before your passport will be processed. 

Who Qualifies for Emergency International Travel

So, what type of emergencies will qualify you to get a passport for international travel? 

You will qualify if the following is true in your situation:

• There is a serious illness, injuries or death of one of your immediate family members,
• There is an absolute need to travel internationally in the next 72 hours.

Take note this exception does not apply to all family members. It only applies to immediate family members. Immediate family members typically include your spouse, children, parents, brothers, or sisters. 

As you can see, the circumstances under which you can get a passport is very limited. You will also need to show some proof of your emergency. Just saying your family member is sick won’t qualify. 

How to Get an Emergency Passport during COVID-19

So how can you prove to the Department of State that you qualify for an emergency passport? 

You will need the following documents to apply for your emergency passport:

• Proof of your emergency and the nature of your emergency
• In case of the death of your immediate family member, the death certificate. The death certificate must be translated into English.
• In the case of a medical emergency, you will need a letter from the doctor explaining the emergency. The letter also has to be translated into English. 
• A copy of your international flight ticket
• Your travel itinerary
• The full passport application with all the supporting documents you will need for a regular passport application.

If you can provide these documents, you can get a passport for your emergency travels abroad. Before you hop on a plane, do keep in mind the travel restrictions that may apply in the country you are traveling to. Many countries have closed all ports of entry and don’t accept any visitors. So, make sure you do the necessary research beforehand and see whether your emergency will also qualify you to enter your destination country.

Conclusion

Travel bans are necessary during this COVID-19 crisis to help fight and stop the pandemic. The travel bans shouldn’t mean you don’t get to see your family in the time they need you the most, though. If you have a qualifying emergency and you need to travel, you can apply for your emergency passport. Just follow the simple steps above and be reunited with your family.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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