travel requirements los angeles

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Entry Requirements & Customs in Los Angeles

Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport. Note: U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere must now also present a passport or other documents compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI; visit www.getyouhome.gov for details). Children 15 and under may continue entering with only a U.S. birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship.

Passport Offices --

• For Residents of Australia -- Contact the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.
• For Residents of Canada -- Contact the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Gatineau, QC K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).
• For Residents of Ireland -- Contact the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie).
• For Residents of New Zealand -- Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.dia.govt.nz.
• For Residents of the United Kingdom -- Visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410.
• For Residents of the United States -- To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website (www.state.gov) or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778 ) for automated information.

For information about U.S. visas, go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Or go to one of the following websites:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600 ) or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission's website at http://canberra.usembassy.gov .

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line (tel. 09042/450-100 ) or by visiting the "Visas to the U.S." section of the American Embassy London's website at www.usembassy.org.uk .

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the Embassy of the USA Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Ballsbridge Dublin 4, Ireland (tel. 353/1-668-8777; http://dublin.usembassy.gov).

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington(tel. 644/462-6000 ), or get the information directly from the website at http://newzealand.usembassy.gov .

Every visitor 21 years of age or older may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 U.S. quart of alcohol; (2) 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars (but not from Cuba), or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3) $100 worth of gifts. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is forbidden to bring into the country almost any meat products (including canned, fresh, and dried meat products such as bouillon, soup mixes, and so on). Generally, condiments including vinegars, oils, pickled goods, spices, coffee, tea, and some cheeses and baked goods are permitted. Avoid rice products, as rice can often harbor insects. Bringing fruit and vegetables is prohibited since they may harbor pests or disease. International visitors may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving, which includes filing form CM 4790. For details regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection, consult your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or U.S. Customs (www.customs.gov).

For information on what you're allowed to bring home, contact one of the following agencies:

U.S. Citizens: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667; www.cbp.gov).

Canadian Citizens: Canada Border Services Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0L8 (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: HM Revenue and Customs, Crownhill Court, Tailyour Road, Plymouth, PL6 5BZ (tel. 0845/010-9000; from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152; www.hmce.gov.uk).

Australian Citizens: Australian Customs Service, Customs House, 5 Constitution Ave., Canberra City, ACT 2601 (tel. 1300/363-263; from outside Australia, 612/6275-6666; www.customs.gov.au).

New Zealand Citizens: New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington, 6140 (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Medical Requirements

Unless you're arriving from an area known to be suffering from an epidemic (particularly cholera or yellow fever), inoculations or vaccinations are not required for entry into the United States.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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Watch CBS News

Travelers Arriving In Los Angeles Now Required To Sign Form Acknowledging Quarantine Recommendation

November 25, 2020 / 8:35 AM PST / KCAL News

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Starting today, travelers arriving in Los Angeles will have to sign a form acknowledging the state's recommended 14-day self-quarantine.

The form, which can be completed at travel.lacity.org prior to or on arrival, will greet arrivals at LAX, Van Nuys Airport and Union Station. All travelers over the age of 16 will be required to sign the form.

Public health officials have been urging people to not travel for the holidays, and the states of California, Washington and Oregon this month issued a travel advisory recommending that people avoid any non-essential out-of-state travel and the people who do travel should self-quarantine for 14 days. Los Angeles County has had a similar recommendation in place, suggesting that people who travel out of the area self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return. However, the recommendations are not mandates.

Despite warnings from state and public health officials like the CDC, AAA expects up to 50 million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving.

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L.A.’s COVID rules: Mask and vaccine guidance for out-of-town visitors

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COVID-19 won’t keep families apart for the holidays this year, but it may still crimp their activities in Southern California. That’s because of the rules that the city and county of Los Angeles have imposed on theaters, restaurants and other venues to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The good news is that if you’re fully vaccinated — and can prove it — there’s little you can’t do as a visitor to L.A. County.

A year ago, when vaccines were still in clinical trials, there was little you could do. Gov. Gavin Newsom placed much of the state under a curfew last year shortly before Thanksgiving, barring people from leaving home for non-essential activities after 10 p.m. As infections surged in L.A. County, health officials here banned outdoor gatherings involving more than one household, allowed only takeout service at restaurants, sharply limited the number of customers at movie theaters and other indoor businesses, and required masks and social distancing seemingly everywhere.

This year, theater companies, concert halls, comedy clubs and other nightspots are back in full swing. Restaurants are seating patrons indoors and out. Family reunions can proceed unimpeded. Mask mandates are still around, but “nonessential activity” has dropped from the lexicon.

Which is not to suggest that COVID-19 has vanished from this Earth. The more time you spend with people from other households, the greater your risk of infection.

Here’s a quick roundup of the requirements that public health officials in the city and county of Los Angeles have in place as we go into the holiday season.

How to handle another COVID holiday season

The 2021 holidays will be much different from 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines. But we aren’t quite back to normal. Here’s what you should know.

Nov. 16, 2021

Where proof of vaccination is required

Under a Los Angeles city ordinance , a slew of indoor businesses are required to demand proof of full COVID-19 vaccination before letting you inside. “Full vaccination” means you had received the second Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shot or the first Johnson & Johnson vaccine shot at least two weeks previously.

The city won’t begin enforcing the ordinance until Nov. 29. But numerous L.A. establishments have been demanding proof of vaccination for several months.

The affected establishments include:

• Restaurants, bars, food courts and coffee shops
• Gyms and group fitness classes
• Shopping centers
• Pool halls, bowling alleys, arcades and card rooms
• Cinemas, theaters and concert venues
• Salons, barber shops and tattoo parlors

Also, outdoor events and attractions in the city that are attended by 5,000 to 9,999 people must require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result obtained within the previous 72 hours. Tests are available free from the city and the county at more than 200 pharmacies, clinics and pop-up sites .

Does your job description now include vaccine bouncer? This is what you need to know

L.A. businesses are set to enforce proof of vaccine requirement.

Nov. 4, 2021

Unvaccinated people can ask for an exemption by attesting to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief that precludes them from getting inoculated, but even in those instances, businesses don’t have to serve them indoors. Instead, businesses can steer unvaccinated customers to outdoor seating or demand proof of a negative COVID test result before allowing them indoors.

In the rest of Los Angeles County, proof of full vaccination is required only at bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs and lounges. Unvaccinated people may use the outdoor portions of those businesses, if they have outdoor space.

How do you prove you’ve been vaccinated?

The city and county offer several ways to document your inoculation :

• Show a vaccination card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the white one), the World Health Organization (the yellow one) or a similar foreign agency.
• If you don’t want to risk losing your card, show a photocopy — either on paper or on your phone.
• Show a digital vaccination record from the state of California or a recognized issuer, such as Healthvana, or a QR code from a company participating in the SMART Health Card program.
• Provide some other form of documentation from a healthcare provider.

You may also be asked to show a photo ID to verify that the vaccination record belongs to you.

If you are unvaccinated and are asked to show proof of a negative COVID test, the city says you’ll need “a printed document, email, or text message displayed on a phone from a test provider or laboratory” that shows your name, the type of test performed, the date of the test and a negative result.

Here’s how to access Healthvana and other COVID-19 vaccination records

If you were vaccinated in L.A. County, you’ll have access to a digital vaccine record through Healthvana. It’s not a vaccine passport, though. There are also other ways to get your COVID-19 vaccination records.

June 3, 2021

Don’t forget your mask

Vaccinated or not, you’re going to need a mask to take advantage of the lighter COVID restrictions.

The county’s public health order states that with very limited exceptions, customers and guests age 2 and older at businesses, venues, public indoor settings, gatherings and large outdoor events must wear a face mask except while eating or drinking, showering or remaining alone in a room. The mask mandate also applies to anyone riding public transit (including taxis and ride-share vehicles), at transportation hubs, indoors at schools or other “youth settings,” at healthcare facilities, at prisons or jails, or at a shelter.

No, you will not have to wear a mask to hike to the Hollywood sign. Just don’t try to grab a grilled lemongrass beef num pang from Gamboge for the trek without one.

8 COVID precautions you can leave behind this holiday season

COVID holidays are here again. Now that we know more about the coronavirus, what can we worry less about?

Nov. 17, 2021

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Jon Healey writes and edits stories for the Los Angeles Times’ Fast Break Desk, the team that dives into the biggest news of the moment. In his previous stints, he wrote and edited for the Utility Journalism team and The Times editorial board. He covered technology news for The Times from 2000 to mid-2005.

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