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Border communities such as Grand Portage and International Falls that depend heavily on Canadian dollars to help sustain their economic communities received some good news this week. Starting in November, the United States will lift the ban on travel restrictions on land borders for Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated travelers.
Officials from the Biden Administration made the announcement on Tuesday, October 13.
While the decision to lift the travel restrictions has been made, the Biden administration hasn’t given an exact date the new policy will take effect.
Both Canada and the U.S. began travel restrictions for nonessential travelers in March 2020. Those traveler restrictions included family members separated by the border and shoppers, tourists, cabin owners, hunters, and anglers that were deemed nonessential.
Canada began allowing nonessential travelers from the U.S. into their country two months ago if those travelers could show proof of vaccination and had a negative test for COVID-19 within a short time to their arrival in Canada.
Border Protection and Customs officials will question folks entering from Canada or Mexico about their vaccination status before they are allowed to enter the country. Documents may be checked for verification, but there will be no requirement to show proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test to enter the United States at the land borders. Those requirements, however, are in place for air travelers coming to the country.
To meet the rules, folks must have received their second shot of Pfizer- BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or one shot of Johnson & Johnson’s covid vaccination.
Those who have not been fully vaccinated will not be allowed to cross the borders from Mexico or Canada.
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