Vaccinated passengers will be able to enter the US from the European Union - including Ireland - from November onwards, ending almost two years of coronavirus travel restrictions.
The new rules would be part of broader policy changes for international travel and will apply to fully vaccinated people - meaning those who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
All foreign travellers will need to demonstrate proof of vaccination before boarding, as well as proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of the flight.
It will end an 18-month patchwork of travel restrictions imposed by former US President Donald Trump at the start of the pandemic.
However, US President Joe Biden will tighten rules for unvaccinated American citizens, who now need to be tested within a day of their departure from the US as well as on their return.
Those fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine.
Airlines will be required to collect contacting tracing information - including phone numbers and email addresses - from international travellers.
The changes only effect air travel, with the order restricting overland travel from Canada and Mexico still in place and reviewed on a monthly basis.
Announcing the new US policy on travel, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said: "This is based on individuals rather than a country-based approach, so it's a stronger system."
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will decide which vaccines are acceptable under the US system and whether those unapproved in America could be used, he added.
Under the previous policy only American citizens, their immediate families, or green card holders could enter the US from the EU.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney says it is a welcome development.
"This is something that we, along with our EU colleagues, have been advocating for a considerable time and we have alerted the US administration to the high levels of vaccination within Ireland.
"Ensuring ease of travel is vital for protecting our strong connections across the Atlantic, be that in business, academia, tourism or family connections.
"With 90% of Irish adults now fully vaccinated, I know this will come as very good news for many in Ireland, the Irish living in the United States, as well as our American friends with links to Ireland and the rest of Europe."
Earlier this month, renowned economist Irwin Stelzer told Newstalk he believed travel to the US would not return until next year.
He said: "I don't think you're going to see a major return to travel this year.
"I think when we get things under control, which are not at the moment.
"Now remember that the death rate from this Delta [variant] is not anywhere near what the death rate was from the original virus.
"It's bad and the hospitals are full in most states... but it's a pandemic of the unvaccinated".
Additional reporting: Jack Quann
