The White House confirmed the strict entry requirement will be removed “at the end of the day” on May 11, coinciding with the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency in the country.

Covid vaccine rules will also be lifted for federal employees and contractors, and will apply to non-American travelers entering the United States via ports of entry and land-based ferries. immediately.

The UK Foreign Office said: “As of 12 May 2023, there are no Covid-19 vaccination requirements for travel to the US. Pre-departure Covid-19 testing is also optional.”

It comes after the US House of Representatives voted to lift the rule that requires most foreign air travelers to be vaccinated against Covid. But in a statement last week, the White House said the United States was “now at a different stage” in its response to the pandemic and that these measures were “no longer necessary” after the death toll. and Covid-related hospitalizations decreased.

It said: “Since January 2021, the number of deaths from Covid-19 has decreased by 95% and the number of hospitalizations has decreased by almost 91%. Globally, the number of deaths from Covid-19 is at its lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic.

“After a government-wide effort that resulted in a record 270 million Americans receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are at a different stage of our response to Covid-19 than we have been in the past. among these requests have been made.”

It follows last year’s move to drop the requirement for people arriving in the US by air to present proof of a negative Covid test, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remains in place. vaccination requirements for most foreign visitors.

The move to remove Covid entry requirements in the US means there will be consistency on both sides of the Canada-US border, with Canada previously ending all Covid travel restrictions. for international air travelers last October.

Representative Brian Higgins, who represents Buffalo and Niagara Falls in New York state, said it was good news for Canadians crossing the border into the US.

“While long overdue, this final lifting of pandemic restrictions is certainly welcome news and critically important as we seek opportunities to encourage this,” he said in a statement. encourage strong cross-border exchanges for shared prosperity.”