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Last updated: March 9, 2021

COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions across the U.S. Borders with Canada and Mexico

• The United States will temporarily limit inbound land border crossings from Canada and Mexico to “essential travel”.

• This action does not prevent U.S. citizens from returning home.

• These restrictions are temporary and went into effect on March 21, 2020. They will remain in effect through 11:59 pm on  March 21, 2021.  This decision has been coordinated with the Governments of Mexico and Canada.

• The following categories do not fall within the definition of “essential travel:”

  • Individuals traveling for tourism purposes, such as sightseeing, recreation, gambling, or attending cultural events in the United States.

• Who is considered an “essential” traveler?

  • Citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States.

  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States).

  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions.

  • Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada or Mexico in furtherance of such work).

  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies).

  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada and Mexico).

  • Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel.

  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.

• The United States is coordinating closely with Canada and Mexico to protect our citizens while minimizing adverse economic impacts.