Following through on its announcement last November, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented the administration’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement at land and ferry ports-of-entry as of Jan. 22. These new restrictions mirror those that have applied to air travel since Oct. 25, with one exception: Travelers entering via a land or ferry port-of-entry are not required to complete any pre-entry COVID-19 testing; they must only present proof of vaccination to be admitted. Air travelers are required to present both proof of vaccination and negative test results from a COVID-19 test taken within one day of travel.

These requirements apply to all non-U.S. persons — anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident — who seek to enter the U.S. by land or ferry. A non-U.S. traveler must qualify for one of the following exceptions to enter the U.S. unvaccinated:

  • Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Order;
  • Children under 18 years of age;
  • Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;
  • Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
  • Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
  • Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.