COVID-19 Travel Updates

We look forward to welcoming you to experience Alaska’s wide open spaces. Given the remote location of our state and the limited access that many rural communities have to healthcare facilities, we ask that you are diligent and follow all federal, state, and business COVID-19 travel protocols to keep you and our communities safe. Please check with local jurisdictions and tour operators that you will be using as they may have individual requirements for testing, vaccinations, masking, and traveling to and in respective communities.

Please note that international travelers to Alaska are subject to all U.S. travel restrictions. More information about international travel can be found in the International Travel section below.

Questions on traveling to Alaska? Please read through the information below. E-mail the Alaska Traveler Information line or call 1-907-258-4217, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (AST), Monday through Friday to leave a detailed message. We will get back to you within 72 hours. The Alaska Travel Industry Association continues to provide important and timely travel information regarding COVID-19 and its variants to ensure safe and reliable travel decisions for those visiting the 49th state.

TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS

The State of Alaska does not require COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, or masking for travelers. However, individual businesses and communities may have their own requirements. Please check with businesses, cruise lines, and tour operators for their specific COVID-19 regulations. It is recommended that travelers:

• Get tested and self-isolate if you get sick or develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you are not fully-vaccinated, test before traveling.
• Wash your hands frequently and wipe down high touch surfaces.
• Wear a mask when necessary or requested by individual businesses.
• Know what to do if you test positive for COVID before your trip and what to do if you test positive while traveling.

A special note for fully-vaccinated travelers: 

• Fully-vaccinated travelers are defined as more than two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series, or more than two weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine.
• The CDC states that it is safe for fully-vaccinated travelers to travel within the United States and do not need to test before or after travel unless their destination requires it, nor do they need to self-quarantine.

CRUISING TO ALASKA

 Most cruise lines are requiring that passengers receive their final COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to cruise departure and require pre-travel COVID-19 testing. Please visit each cruise company’s website for information on their vaccination and testing requirements and other COVID-19 protocols.

DRIVING TO ALASKA

CANADIAN COVID BORDER REQUIREMENTS HAVE ENDED: All COVID border requirements for travelers entering Canada by land, air, and sea have ended, including proof of vaccination, usage of ArriveCAN app, and testing requirements. Please see the Government of Canada's COVID-19 travel page for more information.

The U.S. border is open to fully-vaccinated international travelers for non-essential travel with proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security FAQ page for more information. 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

All U.S. international travel restrictions apply to travel to Alaska. Alaska domestic travel guidelines DO NOT supersede international U.S. Centers for Disease Control or Homeland Security travel restrictions or requirements. The U.S Centers for Disease Control requires that all non-U.S. citizen, nonimmigrant passengers (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) arriving to the U.S. from a foreign country show proof of vaccination prior to boarding a U.S.-bound flight. Visit the CDC's Air Travel page for additional details. 

Starting January 5, 2023, passengers 2 years or older traveling to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong, or Macau and passengers who have visited those destinations in the last 10 days are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days prior to flight departure, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status. Passengers who have had COVID-19 within 90 days of travel to the United States can show documentation of COVID-19 recovery instead. Visit the CDC's website for more information on these new requirements.

Thank you for traveling safe!

Alaska — and the families, businesses, and communities that benefit from Alaska tourism — are here for you and will work with you to ensure your dream trip to Alaska becomes a reality. Be sure to research cancellation policies with individual tourism businesses.

More information can be found on the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services dedicated travel information website. We encourage travelers continue to be aware of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel updates.

We look forward to seeing you in Alaska!