Screening is performed by federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not by the airport.
Effective Sept. 14, the federal government adjusted COVID-19 entry screenings protocols for international air passengers. Enhanced entry health screening for international passengers has halted. The requirement for directing all flights carrying airline passengers at 1 of 15 designated airports (including SEA) is no longer in effect and all airports can accept international travelers again.
To help prevent the spread of travel-related cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of arrival restrictions outlining the process for American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their immediate families who are returning home after recently visiting high-risk countries. The international arrivals process changes frequently and may be slightly different for every passenger depending upon their itinerary or health status. However, every passenger entering the U.S. at SEA goes through the three steps below.
Screening Process at SEA
- Step 1: CBP Manifest Review and Destination Analysis — CBP officers use a combination of traveler history records, officer questioning and observation, and self-declarations to identify individuals requiring enhanced health screening.
- Step 2: CDC Self-reported Health Screening Questionnaire — Travelers complete the survey on the plane on the plane before arrival rather than in the international facility. If travelers are not coming from areas of concern and are not reporting or displaying symptoms, they will go through passport control as normal and questionnaires may or may not be collected.
- Step 3: CDC Physical Screening — CDC officers monitor passengers as they come into international arrivals, watching for physical symptoms of the disease like coughing, runny nose, and others. Not every passenger receives a physical screening. If passengers do not report or demonstrate any COVID-19 symptoms, they will not be screened.
Some passengers are given a health education flyer upon arrival depending upon the factors above with quarantine instructions at their final destination.
- Learn more about the international arrivals protocols during the COVID-19 response.
- Learn more about airport operations and what SEA is doing to keep you safe.
- Read the CDC frequently asked questions on protecting the health of travelers
- And the DHS fact sheet on notice of arrival restrictions on China, Iran, and Europe
