The land borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico have been closed to non-essential travel since March 21, 2020, and remain closed to this day. The land borders between the countries were supposed to reopen several times, but the government has continuously extended the closings. The most recent border restrictions were set to expire on June 21, 2021, but have now been extended to July 21, 2021. People are becoming frustrated and want answers as to why the border closings continue to be in place and when exactly the borders will open back up to non-essential travel.
Why Are the Borders Still Closed?
The borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico remain closed due to concerns of the coronavirus spreading. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently sent out a tweet about the topic that said, “To reduce the spread of #COVID19, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through July 21, while ensuring access for essential trade & travel.”
Canada hasn’t yet hit its vaccination goal of 75% of the population vaccinated with the first dose, and 20% of the population vaccinated with both doses, according to CNN Travel. This is part of the reason why the country isn’t comfortable reopening to non-essential travel quite yet. When it comes to Mexico, the country has recently begun vaccinating its citizens who live near the north to try and get the borders open as soon as possible. The government will continue to work to get its citizens vaccinated in the upcoming months.
Can I Travel to Canada and Mexico by Air?
Mexico is open to Americans who arrive by plane, with no need for proof of a negative COVID test and no need to quarantine. When it comes to visiting Canada by plane, the rules and restrictions for Americans are a whole lot different. Anyone traveling to Canada by plane must quarantine for three nights in a hotel and must follow an extensive list of rules and restrictions, such as showing proof of a negative COVID test and registering to take a COVID test on arrival.
Please remember that you will need to show proof of a negative COVID test before reentering the United States.
What is the Current Coronavirus Situation in These Three Countries?
As of June 27, 2021, here is the current coronavirus situation in the United States, Canada, and Mexico:
United States
- Total Number of Cases: 33.6 million
- Total Number of Deaths: 604,000
- Percent of Population Fully Vaccinated: 46.4%
Canada
- Total Number of Cases: 1.41 million
- Total Number of Deaths: 26,227
- Percent of Population Fully Vaccinated: 25.7%
Mexico
- Total Number of Cases: 2.5 million
- Total Number of Deaths: 233,000
- Percent of Population Fully Vaccinated: 14.6%
Where Can I Go to Stay Updated on the Current Travel Situation?
To stay updated on the current travel situation, please visit the travel.state.gov website. This is where all of the most accurate information for your destination country can be found. If you have any questions about obtaining a passport or visa right now, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’d be happy to help answer any questions or concerns you may have on US passports or travel visas for people who are leaving the US. We look forward to helping you get to your destination!
