TORONTO — Canadians hoping to cross the border for the sole purpose of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be turned away, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In a statement to CTVNews.ca on Wednesday, a CBP spokesperson said the Canadian-U.S. border remains restricted to “essential travel” only in accordance with the travel restrictions that have been in place since March 2020.
“Travel for the sole purpose of obtaining a vaccination is not permissible under current travel restrictions,” they said. However, the spokesperson added that if the person enters the U.S. for “legitimate travel reasons,” and they receive a vaccine incidental to their trip, “it is not part of the overall admissibility determination.” The U.S. border agency’s position has created confusion for Canadians who thought they would be allowed to cross the border by land to obtain a vaccine after the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said it may be considered an “essential medical service,” under certain conditions, and therefore the traveller would be exempt from quarantining for 14 days upon their return to Canada. Source:.ctvnews.ca
Saturday, April 25, 2026
