Starting tomorrow, January 22, 2022, people entering the United States from Canada or Mexico by land or ferry for essential or non-essential activities, are required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. This does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and U.S. nationals. Also exempt from the vaccine requirement for land/ ferry entry to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico are:
- Children under 18;
- Foreign nationals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine;
- Foreign nationals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 or B-2 visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified by the CDC;
- Some diplomatic or official foreign government officials;
- Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials;
- Those issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
- Those whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The above exemptions are similar to those in place since early November 2021 for the international air travel vaccine requirement.
The foreign nationals will be required to verbally attest to their vaccination status and provide proof of vaccination at the border. Accepted vaccines, proof of vaccination, and the definition of “fully vaccinated” will follow existing CDC rules for international travel.
This vaccine requirement is scheduled to expire on April 21, 2022, but may be extended.