Editor’s Note: This blog was last edited on September 24, 2020.
On March 21, 2020, the United States, Canada, and Mexico all came to a mutual agreement to temporarily close all land borders to non-essential travel in order to try and slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Originally, the agreement was only supposed to last for a total of 30 days but it was extended each month after, and is still in effect until at least October 21, 2020. With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to climb in all three countries, there’s no telling when the borders will reopen, which has left many people concerned and with unanswered questions.
If you’re looking for some insight into the situation, here’s what you should know:
Who Are the Borders Closed to?
The land borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico are currently closed to all non-essential travel. That said, the borders are open to American citizens returning to the U.S., to Canadians returning to Canada, and for trade.
Any Americans that are traveling to or from Alaska are allowed to pass through Canada, but they must display a “hang tag” to their rear view mirror for the duration of their trip and can only pass through specific CBSA points of entry, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.
Can American Citizens Currently Visit Canada or Mexico by Plane?
Though the land borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico are closed, American citizens can still travel to Canada and Mexico by plane – but there’s a catch.
Mexico is welcoming American citizens to many of its resort areas like Cozumel, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas, but tourists must present a negative COVID-19 test or stay quarantined for 14 days after arrival. While Mexico is somewhat relaxed on their rules and regulations, Canada isn’t ready to let American tourists in quite yet.
According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has to prove that they’re either visiting an immediate family member that’s a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or that they’re traveling for essential purposes. Furthermore, you must also have a quarantine plan that shows how and where you’ll quarantine once you arrive in Canada.
When Will The Land Borders Be Reopened For Non-Essential Travel?
As of now, the land borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico will remain closed for non-essential travel until at least October 21, 2020. There’s no telling when the borders will reopen as the order has been extended numerous times since it first began on March 21, 2020. The extension of the order is due to the continuous rising number of coronavirus cases throughout the United States.
What’s the Current Status of COVID-19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico?
Here’s some insight into the status of COVID-19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as of September 24, 2020:
- The United States:
- Total number of cases: 6.87 million
- Total number of deaths: 200,000
- Canada:
- Total number of cases: 147,753
- Total number of deaths: 9,243
- Mexico:
- Total number of cases: 705,263
- Total number of deaths: 74,348
How Can I Get Updates on the Current Status of Travel?
At Swift, we have all of the same information that you do, but we will keep you updated as more information becomes available to us in our blogs and in our monthly newsletter. For the most recent updates, you should frequently check the travel.state.gov website.
