COVID-19 Information – Waiver Process for Pre-Flight Testing

Last updated:   01/28/21

*** Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel.  Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.  Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

Waivers to the testing requirement may be granted by the CDC on an extremely limited basis when extraordinary emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s health and safety, and testing cannot be completed before travel.  There are no waivers available for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.  Individuals – or air carriers seeking to allow boarding by potentially qualifying individuals – who believe they meet the criteria for a waiver should contact U.S. Embassy Skopje at SkopjeACS@state.gov and provide the information below.  U.S. Embassy Skopje will then submit the request to the CDC for consideration.

The following information must be provided for each passenger:

1. Name (family name/surname, given name), passport number and country
2. Cell phone number including country code of passenger or head of household if family unit
3. Email address of passenger or head of household if family unit
4. U.S. destination address
   1. Is U.S. destination home address?
5. Departure date
6. Flight itinerary
7. Name of submitting entity (if different from passenger)
8. Name of company submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
9. Name of point of contact submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
10. Phone and email address for POC submitting waiver request on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
11. Purpose of travel to the U.S. (provide brief explanation of why urgent travel is needed and how travel will contribute to health and safety of passengers(s))
12. Justification for testing waiver (e.g. no testing available, impact on health and safety)
13. Documentation to support justification for test waiver, if available (e.g. medical records or orders for medical evacuation)

For more information about testing options and more information about the COVID-19 situation in North Macedonia, please see Embassy Skopje’s COVID-19 Information Page.