# Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration — Blood donor deferral criteria compared across national blood services

For Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration, blood service is American Red Cross (US); waiting period is 3 months; condition is after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found; destinations reviewed at time of donation; outcome is temporary deferral, recorded from its source on 2026-08-06.

- **Criterion:** Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Blood service:** American Red Cross (US) _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Waiting period:** 3 months _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Condition:** after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found; destinations reviewed at time of donation _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Outcome:** temporary deferral _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> Tattoo Wait 3 months after a tattoo if the tattoo was applied in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities. Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are: District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. <https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical/eligibility-reference-material.html> Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation. A tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and single-use ink. Cosmetic tattoos (including microblading of eyebrows only) applied in a licensed establishment in a regulated state using sterile needles and single-use ink is acceptable. Discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation. Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration You can be exposed to malaria through travel and travel in some areas can sometimes defer donors.

## Source

- https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html

Last verified: 2026-08-06. Review by: 2027-02-02.
Part of [Blood donor deferral criteria compared across national blood services](https://referencesource.org/blood-donor-deferral-criteria/).