Fully vaccinated individuals looking to enter Canada for non-essential purposes, like tourism and visiting friends or family, will soon be able to cross the border.
Canadian ministers including Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, made the wider border reopening strategy announcements Monday afternoon.
Starting August 9 at 12:01 a.m. ET
Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents may enter Canada with a 14-day quarantine exemption, provided they upload their proof of vaccination in English or French (or certified translation), with two completed doses of a Health Canada-approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to entry. This includes the mixed-dose series.
For unvaccinated Canadians entering on or after August 9, the mandatory hotel stopovers will no longer be required, however, the 14-day quarantine will continue to be required, in addition to an arrival and day-eight PCR test.
For all travellers, a pre-departure PCR test and negative result will still be required 72 hours prior to arrival, however, for fully vaccinated individuals, arrival tests will be scrapped in place of a randomized testing program on August 9. Should you be selected, you will have to complete an arrival test. Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wait for the arrival test results.
All travellers must present an ArriveCAN receipt, by mobile app or printed copy, or they will be denied boarding of their flight.
For unvaccinated children, those under 12 years of age who cannot access a vaccine will no longer complete the 14-day quarantine but must follow all public health measures, including arrival and day-8 PCR tests. This applies to foreign nationals under 12 entering from abroad.
For those who cannot be fully vaccinated due to authorized health conditions, the government will be announcing policies and procedures to ask for a modified quarantine.
For travellers arriving by boat will also have relaxed quarantine and testing requirements if they are fully vaccinated, including a 72-hour test prior to entry.
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents travelling to the U.S. for less than 72 hours, the 72-hour pre-departure test required to enter Canada may be completed in Canada, eliminating the need to complete the test in the U.S. to re-enter Canada.
For those who have recently recovered from COVID-19, rather than presenting a positive test taken within the last 90 days, that period has been expanded to 180 days prior to arrival.
A quarantine plan is still required, should a traveller test positive for COVID-19.
Starting September 7 at 12:01 a.m. ET
Fully vaccinated tourists from all countries will be allowed to enter Canada, provided they complete a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. They will also be required to upload their proof of vaccination in English or French (or certified translation), with two completed doses of a Health Canada-approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to entry. This includes the mixed-dose series.
For unvaccinated children, those under 12 years of age who cannot access a vaccine will no longer complete the 14-day quarantine but must follow all public health measures, including arrival and day-8 PCR tests. This applies to foreign nationals under 12 entering from abroad.
All travellers must present an ArriveCAN receipt, by mobile app or printed copy, or they will be denied boarding of their flight.
Expansion of Canadian airports accepting international flights
Starting August 9, the airports allowed to accept international flights, including the U.S., will expand to the following:
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
This is in addition to the airports presently authorized in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal.
The U.S. has yet to announce reciprocal measures and policy, though that can be expected in the coming weeks.
