Canada Loosens Travel Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Americans

TWA REPORT – The Canadian-U.S. border has closed for over a year to most non-essential travels. Nevertheless, as of today, August 9, the federal government welcomes fully vaccinated Americans into Canada. The followings are what Americans travellers can expect at the Canadian border starting today.

Fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents have enjoyed quarantine exemption for the past month. In continuation of its border reopening agenda, Canada allows fully vaccinated Americans to both enter the country and be exempt from mandatory, 14-days, quarantine. However, according to Denis Vinette, vice-president of the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) COVID-19 border task force, Americans ought to make sure their satisfaction of all entrance requirements before they arrive.

CBSA’s requirements for travellers are as the follows:

1. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are permitted to enter Canada from the United States;
2. To be recognized as fully vaccinated, Americans must complete inoculation of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine 14 days prior to their arrival. Currently, Health Canada have approved the following 4 vaccines:
   • Pfizer;
   • Moderna;
   • Johnson & Johnson; and
   • AstraZeneca
3. Travel information must be submitted on ArriveCAN app or website within 72 hours before their arrival, the information includes:
   • Contact information;
   • Travel information (Flight, ferry, or car plate number);
   • Travel history from the past 14 days;
   • A quarantine plan;
   • Pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test;
   • COVID-19 self assessment; and
   • Proof of vaccination (if applicable)

Note: the Government of Canada launched the latest version of ArriveCAN app today. Travellers should update their application accordingly to avoid any inconvenience at the border.

Further specifications have been made regarding the pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test. All travellers, whether fully vaccinated or not, must provide a negative test result taken within 72 hours of arrival. The tests of passengers arriving by air need to be taken 72 hours before departure. Previously, a government-paid, upon-arrival COVID-19 was performed on all travellers. Nevertheless, starting today, the test will be conducted on a random basis.

Additionally, travel measures on children are also adjusted. Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 can skip quarantine if their parents are fully vaccinated. Older children will have to abide to quarantine requirements if unvaccinated. A COVID-19 test will be performed on these children upon arrival, and another one 8 days later. Moreover, unvaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 17 travelling with American families must quarantine for 14 days.

A tentative agenda to welcome fully vaccinated travellers from the rest of the world will take effect on September 7. However, the reopening will be postponed if a fourth wave of the pandemic hits Canada. Canadian travellers should also keep in mind that entering U.S. via land border is not allowed until August 21. Meanwhile, Canadians are still allowed to enter the country by air.

In terms of unvaccinated travellers entering Canada by air, a 3-days stay at a government-appointed hotel is no longer required. Nevertheless, a 14-days quarantine and COVID-19 tests still remain mandatory.

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