Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced today that DHS will lift the restrictions that have been in place for land and ferry border crossings from Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated travelers.
The restrictions will be lifted in two phases. Beginning in early November 2021, DHS will begin to allow non-essential travel across the land and ferry borders for fully vaccinated travelers. Travelers will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will not be allowed to travel from Canada and Mexico into the United States via land and ferry ports of entry for non-essential purposes. Essential travel, even for those who are unvaccinated, will continue to be permitted during this phase. However, beginning in early January 2022, DHS will require all foreign travelers, both essential and non-essential, to be fully vaccinated. There will be limited exceptions to these requirements.
This announcement only applies to regular land and ferry border crossings. The restrictions for irregular land and ferry border crossings are unchanged at this time.