U.S.-Canada-Mexico “Non-Essential” Travel Restrictions Extended to 02/21/2021

U.S.-Canada-Mexico “Non-Essential” Travel Restrictions Extended to 02/21/2021

UPDATED 01/22/2021: USCBP USCBP has posted to its Twitter account that the Non-Essential travel restriction between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico has been extended for an additional period (to February 21, 2021).

UPDATED 01/15/2021: Recent media reports, and an announcement from the Canadian Prime Minister, indicate that the Non-Essential travel restriction between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico has been extended to February 21, 2021. There has not yet been any official posting by U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  Once we receive any updates, we will post to this page. 
This travel restriction has been in place since March 21, 2020.

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Reports in the media, including an official announcement from the Canadian Prime Minister, indicate that the restrictions on “Non-Essential” travel between U.S., Canada, and Mexico (land borders) has been extended. While we await additional documentation from USDHS and USCBP, we are assuming that the extension of this travel restriction is for an additional 30 days (to February 21, 2021). 

USCBP has previously posted on its Twitter an infographic listing what is eligible “Essential Travel”.

In the original announcement released by USDHS on March 20, 2020, “Non-Essential” is defined in the notice as including “travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature”.  While this does not reference entering the U.S. as a student, scholar, or worker, it will be important to evaluate travel plans if there is an urgency to return to the U.S. in the event the restrictions are enhanced and include students/scholars.

USDHS, as well as Canadian and Mexican authorities, have reviewed and extended multiple times the travel restrictions in 30-day increments since March 20, 2020.

Please see the USDHS Fact Sheet on the U.S.-Canada-Mexico travel restrictions issued here.