The Department of Homeland Security announced that non-U.S. individuals entering the United States through land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the US-Mexico and US-Canada border must be fully vaccinated. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and nationals are exempt. The new requirements go into effect on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
What to Expect
Non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons must:
- verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status
- provide proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination
- present a valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document
- be prepared to present any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during a border inspection.
- COVID-19 testing is not required for entry via a land port of entry or ferry terminal.
DHS announced this change in October 2021.