Travel to the U.S. By Land. What are the Rules?

Beginning Nov. 8, 2021, all ports of entry into the U.S., including ferries, will allow non-essential travellers, such as tourists, if they are fully vaccinated.
Here's what you need to know to cross the U.S. border and return to Canada.

Entry into the U.S

Vaccines Required:

You can travel to the U.S. 14 days after receiving a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Covishield or one dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. Mixed doses of approved vaccines from different manufacturers are also accepted as long as they were taken at least 17 days apart.

Children under 18 years old will be exempt from the vaccination requirement provided they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult.

Proof of Vaccine:
A digital or print version of a vaccine certificate with a QR code or a vaccination record will be accepted.

Note: COVID-19 Test: U.S. does not require a negative COVID-19 test to cross the border.

Returning to Canada by Land

Use of the ArriveCAN app is mandatory for virtually anyone entering Canada by air, land or marine vessel.

ArriveCAN App for iphone  or  ArriveCAN app for android

Returning to Canada all travellers 5 years of age or older must have paper or electronic proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours of the border crossing to enter the country
(Other molecular tests that will be accepted: nucleic acid test (NAT), nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). A rapid antigen test will not be accepted.

If you have recovered from COVID-19 and continue to test positive you must show proof of a previous accepted positive molecular test result taken between 14 and 180 days before the day of your entry back into Canada.

If you’d like to do a quick day trip to the U.S you can also get your molecular test done in Canada to re-enter, as long as it was done within 72 hours.

Travelling with Children
All unvaccinated children (except those under 5 years old before the day of travel) will have to take three tests: a COVID-19 pre-entry molecular test, on Day-1  and Day-8 of their arrival into Canada. Children under the age of five are exempt from these testing requirements, but parents should still include them as travellers in their submissions through the ArriveCAN app.

Unvaccinated children under 12 years of age who enter Canada with a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent or guardian are not required to quarantine but they cannot go to school, day camp or daycare for 14 days after their return and must avoid contact with people 65 years of age or older or any immune compromised people. They’re still allowed to go to the park or shopping with their parents but must physical distance on public transport. 

Unvaccinated children aged 12 to 17 and dependent children 18-years or older (due to a mental or physical condition) travelling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian are also subject to the 14-day quarantine measure.
Canada Travel Requirements and Exemptions
Government of Canada Border Measures Handout