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COVID-19 Information

Last updated:  10/15/2021

***  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 departure.  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 answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Country-Specific Information

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (High Level of COVID -19 in Liberia) indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. It advises that all travelers to Liberia should be fully vaccinated before travel; unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to Liberia. The Department of State has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory (Reconsider Travel) for Liberia due to COVID-19. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

On August 20, 2021, the Ministry of Health revised its COVID-19 National Guidelines. The new guidelines include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Mask-wearing and handwashing are mandatory in public, as well as social distancing of at least three feet
• Gathering sizes are limited, as is capacity for certain businesses and public transportation
• Persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their contacts are required to comply with the guidelines of health authorities and related health rules
• Refer to the complete COVID-19 National Guidelines on the Ministry of Health website

COVID-19 Testing

• Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Liberia?  Yes
• If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours?  Yes
  • Test results are usually available within three calendar days; for example, test results for samples collected on Tuesday would be received by Friday.  Test results may be delayed based on workload and availability of testing supplies.
• COVID-19 testing is available at the Union Center in Sophia, Congo Town, Monrovia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days per week.  Testing for travelers going to the United States costs $75 USD; testing is free of charge for non-travelers.
• Free COVID-19 testing is also available on a limited basis at JFK hospital. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry is through the gate on Payne Street and 20^th Street. Please go early as capacity is limited. Testing is free of charge for non-travelers only.
• Test results are available at http://www.liberiacovidresult.org.
• For additional information, refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

• Has the government of Liberia approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use?  Yes
• Are vaccines available in Liberia for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes
  • Vaccines are subject to supply availability.
• Which vaccines are available in Liberia?  AstraZeneca and/or Johnson & Johnson
• The Ministry of Health reports COVID-19 vaccines are available at various facilities in Liberia:  Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (Released August 3, 2021).  Monitor local news and the Ministry of Health website for updates and for the mobile unit location or contact the clinic or hospital directly for more details.
• Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
• The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

Entry and Exit Requirements

• Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter?  Yes
• Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry?  Yes
  • All incoming travelers must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result upon arrival at the airport in Liberia regardless of vaccination status.  Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.
  • Travelers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at the traveler’s expense.  Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.
• Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry?  Yes
  • Travelers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at the traveler’s expense.  Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.
  • Incoming travelers will have a mandatory temperature check.
  • All passengers are required to wear a face mask while at the airport and wash their hands.
• A negative COVID-19 test result is required to exit Liberia. Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.  If the link to the online certificates does not work, cut and paste it into a browser (https://liberiacovidtravel.org/). Check with your airline for their testing requirements or requirements for your destination.
  • Only ticketed passengers will be allowed entry into the airport.
  • All passengers should arrive four hours before check-in time.
• Residents and tourists in Liberia should contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for questions regarding visa extensions. 

Movement Restrictions

• Is a curfew in place?  No
• Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel?  No 

Quarantine Information

• Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine?  No
  • Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Airport Protocol.  Travelers whose entry COVID-19 test result is positive will undergo treatment based on Liberia’s case management guidelines.  Travelers who test negative should self-quarantine for seven days and monitor their symptoms for a period of 14 days, beginning the day after arrival in Liberia.

Transportation Options

• Are commercial flights operating?  Yes
• Is public transportation operating?  Yes
  • Refer to the August 20, 2021, revised National Guidelines for requirements for using public transportation. 

Fines for Non-Compliance

The August 20, 2021, National Guidelines state that any person who violates the guidelines shall be, upon conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $200 USD or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both fine and imprisonment. 

Consular Operations

• Routine services for U.S. citizens have resumed.  Visit the U.S. Citizen Services section of this website for details on services and appointment information.
• Routine non-immigrant visa services are suspended.  A limited number of student visa and emergency appointments are available.
• DNA appointments remain suspended.
• Immigrant visa appointments have resumed.  For complete details of current visa processing, visit our visa page. 

Entering the United States: 

• *** 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.
• While CDC guidelines state you will need to get tested no more than 3 days before you travel by air into the United States, some airlines require a test taken within 72 hours of departure. Check with your airline for their specific requirements for passengers traveling to the United States.
• For information on limited humanitarian exemptions, please review the following page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-testing-required-us-entry.html
• Currently there are several Presidential Proclamations that may restrict your entry into the United States, for example, if you are present in or transiting certain countries (including France and Belgium). For complete details, refer to the Department of State website and also read the proclamation regarding the Schengen Zone that may restrict your ability to enter the United States on common routes from Liberia.
• For information about the rescission of Presidential Proclamation 10014, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/rescission-of-presidential-proclamation-10014.html.
• While many visa classes are subject to restrictions for travelers present in the Schengen area (PP 9993), student travelers with a valid F-1 or M-1 visa who are applying for or have valid visas may travel to the United States even as PP 9993 remains in effect; please refer to the State Department’s website. Students must still meet all Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requirements. 

Getting to Liberia:

• If you plan to transit Europe en route to Liberia, refer to travel.state.gov for information on any restrictions that may apply to you. 

Local Resources:

• Liberian Ministry of Health
• Liberian Ministry of Health Facebook page
• National Public Health Institute of Liberia
• National Public Health Institute of Liberia Facebook page
• Ministry of Health Travel Certificate Request Form
• Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism Facebook page
• Executive Mansion website
• Other links:
  • COVID-19 Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov
  • CDC page on COVID-19
  • Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page

By U.S. Mission Liberia | 17 August, 2020 | Categories: Alert, Notification, U.S. Citizen Services