U.S opens borders to vaccinated travellers from Mexico, Canada

The US is opening its borders to Canada and Mexico for vaccinated travellers

The U.S will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November.

The announcement ends historic curbs on non-essential travelers, put in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The border closure will lift in November after a 19 month ban that was enforced at the beginning of the pandemic.

Unvaccinated travellers are excluded from this change and will be unable to cross the borders with Mexico or Canada.

Senator Chuck Schumer says US President Joe Biden has done “the right thing” by opening up the border, and allowing families to re-unite.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement the administration next month “will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings.”

The new rules are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travellers.