Skip to Content

U.S. Extends Land Border Restrictions With Canada and Mexico

Share The Article

Last Updated


In an official announcement, the United States extended its ban on non-essential travel across the land borders with Canada and Mexico for another month. These updated restrictions are set to be in place until at least October 21, 2021.

After being limited to essential traffic only since March of 2020, the U.S./Mexico/Canada land border restrictions have been extended on a monthly basis ever since.

These restrictions still don’t ban Canadian passport holders to travel to the U.S. via air for non-essential reasons.

An aerial view of Canada and the United States of semis waiting to cross at The International Border Crossing

U.S. Planning to Ease International Travel Restrictions Starting November

This week’s extension comes alongside a long-awaited update on international air travel restrictions for the United States. In an announcement today, White House Covid response coordinator Jeff Zients said that the U.S. will reopen to fully vaccinated air travelers from 33 countries starting in November. Some of the countries include England, Ireland, Brazil, India, China as well as most of the European nations in the Schengen Zone, as reported by Reuters. However, no official reopening date has been set yet, but November has been set as an estimate.

View of Rocinha slum, one of the biggest in Brazil, with big mountains at the horizon, in Rio de Janeiro.

When asked about the land border restrictions, Zients stated that “We do not have any updates to the land border policies at this point. Title 19 is being extend for another month, as it is done on a monthly bases, through October 21, and as I said, no further updates on that policy at this point.”

cars at the u.s./canada land border crossing

Non-Essential Travel Allowed From the U.S. to Canada

While Canadians still can’t cross the border by land into the U.S., American travelers can cross the border into Canada. Earlier last month, the Canadian government waived restrictions at the land border for vaccinated travelers coming from the U.S. following a 17-month ban on non-essential travel. Visitors from the United States are able to drive into Canada for non-essential purposes and do not have to quarantine upon arrival if they are fully vaccinated since August 9th.

Please note that these land borders restrictions don’t apply to U.S. citizens, as they will be permitted back into the United States if they cross by land after visiting Canada (or Mexico).

Guadalajara Metropolitan Cathedral Mexico - Catedral Metropolitana by night

Update from Health Canada

In a tweet yesterday, Health Canada provided an update for all potential travelers to Canada. The department announced that all current Canadian travel restrictions and entry requirement will remain in place until November 21st. To find out the latest restrictions and if you can travel to travel for non-essential reasons, click here for the official government guidance.

Canada port of entry

Entry Restrictions For U.S. Travelers to Canada

To visit Canada by land or air, travelers from the U.S. must be fully vaccinated, with their last dose adminstered at least two weeks prior to travel. All travelers arriving to Canada must also provide proof of a negative Covid PCR test result taken within 72 hours or valid proof of full recovery from the last 180 days.

After over a year and a half, Canada reopened its air border to international travelers earlier this month. Starting September 7th, other fully vaccinated foreign nationals can travel to Canada for non-essential reasons, permitted they provide a negative Covid test or proof of recovery from the virus.

A Mountain view of Montreal City, Canada in the fall.  The sky is clear and it is a sunny day.  A cluster of gray, multiple-sized buildings are visible in the center of the photo.  Lush, fall foliage lines the front of the image, and a body of water is visible in the back of the photo.

International Travel to Mexico

There are currently no restrictions for travelers from Canada or the U.S. to visit Mexico by land or air. While some reports circulated a few weeks ago that some health and travel restrictions might be imposed on the ground at tourist hot spots across Mexico, nothing is official yet.

Previously suspended flight routes on Canadian airlines at the beginning of this year to the Caribbean and Mexico are up and running again, with travel looking to pick up by the end of this year and into 2022.

papel picado hanging next to a building in Baja California, Mexico

Read More

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19

Top Fall Getaways to Beautiful Beaches in the U.S.

Britain Eases Restrictions For Vaccinated Travelers

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.


Janet Butler

Tuesday 5th of October 2021

I just returned from a trip to Canada. I had to have a PCR molecular test 72 hours prior to boarding. (Canada does not accept the Rapid PCR test). To enter into restaurants to eat, you had to show your Covid vaccination card, along with your driver's license. To return to the states, you have to have a PCR test (United States accepts the rapid). It was beautiful with the fall colors. Thank you Pomelo Travel for posting great flight prices to Canada! :D

David

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

We have been crossing in and out of Mexico since November of 2020 with no problems or questions asked ???