Do I need a covid test to drive into the U.S.?
August 3, 2021 1:45 PM Subscribe
I'm a dual Canadian/U.S. citizen living in Canada. I am fully vaccinated. I'd like to drive to the States on Monday and come back Thursday.
Do I need a covid test to get into the U.S. by land? I might think so, and yet...
I understand that to enter the U.S. by air, you need a covid test. But my reading is that may not apply to the land crossing. ("The requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US." OK. But might there be another order that applies to land travel?) It's difficult to find info on that since the border is more or less closed.
Have you, a U.S. citizen, recently entered the U.S. by land for nonessential travel? Were you required to present test results?
Thanks!
I understand that to enter the U.S. by air, you need a covid test. But my reading is that may not apply to the land crossing. ("The requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US." OK. But might there be another order that applies to land travel?) It's difficult to find info on that since the border is more or less closed.
Have you, a U.S. citizen, recently entered the U.S. by land for nonessential travel? Were you required to present test results?
Thanks!
It seems clear that the testing requirement only applies to air travel. There’s another page that is a little more explicit about the order NOT applying to land crossings. That would be a perfect place for them to point you to any information about other requirements.
I would double-check to see if the individual states and municipalities you plan on entering have any of their own rules, however.
And you probably know this already, but just in case you overlooked it somehow, you definitely will need a test before coming back (“If you're driving, you must take a test in the United States within 72 hours of your planned entry into Canada.”)
posted by Ryon at 2:20 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I would double-check to see if the individual states and municipalities you plan on entering have any of their own rules, however.
And you probably know this already, but just in case you overlooked it somehow, you definitely will need a test before coming back (“If you're driving, you must take a test in the United States within 72 hours of your planned entry into Canada.”)
posted by Ryon at 2:20 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I haven’t done this since March but I’m fairly certain the rules haven’t changed: no covid test needed when entering the US by land. (Actually one of the quicker land border crossings I’ve done, only difference was that there was a pre-border stop to make sure I wasn’t going to be immediately turned back, and no traffic.)
posted by advil at 2:25 PM on August 3, 2021
posted by advil at 2:25 PM on August 3, 2021
In my mind the requirements are pretty clear that you don’t need a covid test for crossing the land border.
I will be crossing the land border without a covid test on Thursday morning, so I’ll post an update then with my results!
Re: Iris Gambol’s comment — US citizens are allowed to enter the US regardless of their reason for travel.
posted by mekily at 2:40 PM on August 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
I will be crossing the land border without a covid test on Thursday morning, so I’ll post an update then with my results!
Re: Iris Gambol’s comment — US citizens are allowed to enter the US regardless of their reason for travel.
posted by mekily at 2:40 PM on August 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Oh, yes, just to confirm: US citizens returning to the US are and have been considered essential travelers throughout the pandemic. Source: https://ca.usembassy.gov/travel-restrictions-fact-sheet/
posted by advil at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by advil at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Friend of mine just did this.
Used US passport to enter the USA. He had his vaccine proof and negative test but didn't need to show them. As an American citizen he just needed to show the passport. Nothing else required
On his return a few days later he used his Canadian passport but had to show a negative test .
He didn't have one within the required time frame , so he was pulled aside and a test was given.
He was allowed to enter and received test result 2 days later.
I think he had to isolate at home pending results.
posted by yyz at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Used US passport to enter the USA. He had his vaccine proof and negative test but didn't need to show them. As an American citizen he just needed to show the passport. Nothing else required
On his return a few days later he used his Canadian passport but had to show a negative test .
He didn't have one within the required time frame , so he was pulled aside and a test was given.
He was allowed to enter and received test result 2 days later.
I think he had to isolate at home pending results.
posted by yyz at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
My parents didn't have to take a covid test when they drove from Canada into the US about a week and a half ago. They are US citizens and Canadian permanent residents.
posted by abeja bicicleta at 6:19 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by abeja bicicleta at 6:19 PM on August 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Nope. I'm a US citizen married to a Canadian and I drove back to the States in March from Canada and didnt need anything except my passport.
Also, idk where you are, but in BC they wont even let you get tested unless you have symptoms, as I asked about it when I came up here last November. Not cool, imho.
posted by ananci at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2021
Also, idk where you are, but in BC they wont even let you get tested unless you have symptoms, as I asked about it when I came up here last November. Not cool, imho.
posted by ananci at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2021
Update: I crossed the land border into the US this morning, no covid test needed.
posted by mekily at 3:04 PM on August 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by mekily at 3:04 PM on August 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
US Customs and Border Protection: On March 21, 2020, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada temporarily restricted non-essential travel across the US-Canada land borders. These restrictions will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 21, 2021.
Does this apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents?
This order does not apply to individual persons who should be excepted based on considerations of law enforcement, officer and public safety, humanitarian, or public health interests.
Reuters 7/21: "The U.S. government on Wednesday extended the closure of land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel such as tourism through Aug. 21 even as officials debate whether to require visitors to have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The latest 30-day extension by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came after Canada said on Monday it would start allowing in fully vaccinated U.S. visitors on Aug. 9 for non-essential travel. [...] Travelers crossing U.S. land borders on essential business do not need negative COVID-19 tests."
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:17 PM on August 3, 2021