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COVID-19: US-Canada joint initiative restricts non-essential border crossings

  1. Original Date Announced

    March 20, 2020

    DHS/CBP announces joint decision of United States and Canada to restrict all tourist and recreational travel across their border pending a 30-day review. The Trump administration renewed restrictions each month after this policy was first adopted in March 2020.

    [ID #829]

    US Canada Temporary Restrictions of Non-Essential Travel Travel Restriction Between the US and Canada
  2. Effective Date

    March 21, 2020
  3.  
  4. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    February 23, 2021

    Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on February 23, 2021, published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until March 21, 2021.

    View Document
  5. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    March 19, 2021

    Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on March 19, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until April 21, 2021.

    View Document
  6. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    April 22, 2021

    Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on April 22, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until May 21, 2021.

    View Document
  7. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    May 24, 2021

    Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on May 24, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until June 21, 2021.

    View Document
  8. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    June 23, 2021

    2021.06.23 Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on June 23, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until July 21, 2021.

    View Document
  9. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    July 22, 2021

    Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on July 22, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until August 21, 2021.

    View Document
  10. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    August 23, 2021

    2021.08.23 Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on August 23, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until September 21, 2021.

    View Document
  11. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    September 22, 2021

    Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on September 22, 2021 published a notice extending the temporary travel restrictions until October 21, 2021.

    Go to article on federalregister.gov
  12. Biden Administration Action: Modified

    October 21, 2021

    2021.10.21 Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on October 21, 2021, published a notice extending temporary travel restrictions until January 22, 2022, but amending the restrictions to allow non-essential travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation to enter the United States via land and ferry ports of entry (POEs) across the U.S. border.

    View Document
  13. Biden Administration Action: Modified

    November 8, 2021

    Federal Register December 23, 2021

    Effective November 8, 2021, the Secretary of Homeland Security officially lifted the temporary restrictions that apply to non-essential travel by certain individuals. Specifically, the Secretary lifted such restrictions for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, can present proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, and are seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals along the U.S.-Canada border.

    View Document
  14. Biden Administration Action: Modified

    January 24, 2022

    2022.01.24 Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions

    Under the Biden administration, DHS on January 24, 2022, published a notice extending temporary travel restrictions until April 21, 2022. The restrictions allow processing for noncitizen and non-LPR entry into the U.S. only with proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 upon request. The restrictions provide for limited exceptions, but unlike past actions, do not contain an exception for essential travel.

    View Document
  15. Biden Administration Action: Modified

    April 22, 2022

    Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada

    DHS will continue "to temporarily restrict travel by certain noncitizens into the United States at land ports of entry, including ferry terminals, (“land POEs”) along the United States-Canada border. These restrictions only apply to noncitizens who are neither U.S. nationals nor lawful permanent residents (“noncitizen non-LPRs”). Under the temporary restrictions, DHS will allow the processing for entry into the United States of only those noncitizen non-LPRs who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and can provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon request at arrival," with some exceptions.

    View Document
  16. Biden Administration Action: Revoked/Replaced

    May 12, 2023

    Notification of Termination of Temporary Travel Restrictions

    This Biden administration action revokes the Trump-era action identified in this entry.

    On May 12, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was ending temporary travel restrictions on certain non-citizens at ports of entry on the U.S.-Canada border. Under these restrictions, non-citizens without LPR status could only enter the U.S. from Canada if they provided proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

    View Document

Current Status

Not in effect

Most Recent Action

May 12, 2023 Action: Revoked/Replaced Notification of Termination of Temporary Travel Restrictions
February 23, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
March 19, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
April 22, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
May 24, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
June 23, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
July 22, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
August 23, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
September 22, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
October 21, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
November 8, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
January 24, 2022
Acted on by Biden Administration
April 22, 2022
Acted on by Biden Administration
May 12, 2023
Acted on by Biden Administration

Documents

Biden Administration Policy Documents

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