Starting January 22, COVID Vaccination Required for Non-U.S. Travelers Entering by Land or Ferry from Canada or Mexico

Starting January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States from Canada or Mexico by land or ferry for all purposes – including “essential” activities such as work, business or education — to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents and U.S. nationals are not subject to the vaccination requirement. Exceptions from the vaccine requirement exist for children under 18 and individuals with medical contraindications, among others. The vaccine requirement is currently scheduled to expire on April 21, 2022, but is likely to be extended.

A closer look

Effective January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require non-U.S. travelers seeking to enter the United States by land or ferry across the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide proof of vaccination. The new rules will be published in in the Federal Register on January 24, 2022, though they take effect earlier; advance copies are available.

The new requirement will not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or U.S. nationals, as they are considered “U.S. individuals.” For others, the restrictions will remain in place until April 21, 2022, unless extended. Some form of land border restrictions have been continually extended since the start of the COVID emergency in March 2020.