Department of Homeland Security Announces Plan to Lift Restrictions for Vaccinated Individuals to Enter the U.S. at Land and Ferry Ports of Entry from Canada and Mexico

On October 29, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 may enter the United States from Canada or Mexico for non-essential travel via land ports of entry and ferry terminals beginning November 8, 2021. This replaces the restriction on non-essential travel, which has been suspended at land and ferry ports of entry since March 2020. Beginning November 8, 2021, all foreign nationals entering the U.S. via land or ferry ports of entry for “non-essential” travel must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination consistent with the Centers for Disease Control’s travel guidance.

Beginning in January 2022, DHS will require all foreign nationals entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico via land or ferry ports of entry – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination. This policy diverges from the Presidential Proclamation on air travel released by the White House in October.

Please contact Iandoli, Desai & Cronin (info@iandoli.com) if you have questions about travel to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.