US extends land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico through Oct. 21
It's been more than a month since Canada reopened its land borders to travelers from the United States, but the U.S. has no plans to return the favor any time soon.
Border restrictions on nonessential travel have been extended again, this time through Oct. 21, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday. The restrictions were first implemented in March 2020 and have since been extended on a monthly basis.
While the White House announced a new international air travel system that will open travel for all vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, it has not revealed when land border restrictions will ease.
►What travelers need to know: The new COVID rules for international flights to US don't just impact foreign tourist
The land border restrictions, implemented by the Department of Homeland Security and its Canadian and Mexican counterparts, prohibits non-U.S. residents in Mexico and Canada from crossing for nonessential travel.
Travelers from the U.S. can fly into Mexico and Canada and vice versa, although the Canadian government will soon require all air travelers, cruise ship passengers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government, said Monday that the country's current entry requirements would remain in place until at least Nov. 21.
As of Sept. 7, fully vaccinated travelers from any country can enter Canada so long as they provide a negative molecular coronavirus test taken 72 hours before arrival or a positive test taken between 14 and 180 days before arrival.
(1/5) The current Canadian border restrictions and entry requirements will remain in effect until November 21, 2021.
For a full list of entry requirements, visit: https://t.co/C1a7ifayIU pic.twitter.com/LUxxknjrBC— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) September 19, 2021
What else should I know about the U.S. land border travel restrictions?
The mandate does not prevent U.S. citizens from returning home.
The restriction applies to land and ferry travel.
The Department of Homeland Security says it continues to enforce U.S. immigration laws at all U.S. borders, including between ports of entry.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada and US land border restrictions extended through Oct. 21
