WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will require essential, nonresident travelers crossing U.S. land borders, such as truck drivers, government and emergency response officials, to be fully vaccinated beginning Jan. 22, the administration planned to announce.

A senior administration official said the requirement, which the White House previewed in October, brings the rules for essential travelers in line with those that took effect earlier this month for leisure travelers, when the U.S. reopened its borders to fully vaccinated individuals.

Essential travelers entering by ferry will also be required to be fully vaccinated by the same date, the official said.

The rules pertain to non-U.S. nationals. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may still enter the U.S. regardless of vaccination status, but face additional testing hurdles.

The administration pushed back the requirement for essential travelers by more than two months from when it went into effect Nov. 8 for non-essential visitors to prevent disruptions, particularly among truck drivers who are vital to North American trade.

While most cross-border traffic was shut down in the earliest days of the pandemic, essential travelers have been able to transit unimpeded.

But Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the trucking group Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, criticized the new requirement, calling it an example of “how unnecessary government mandates can force experienced owner-operators and independent truckers out of business.”

About 47 million adults in the U.S. remain unvaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.