Waiting for it: Canada eases restrictions on travellers
The first phase goes into effect in the coming weeks, with the government already planning further easing.
Canada removes certain restrictions on international travel for citizens and permanent residents, as well as certain foreign nationals. The condition is that the traveller must be fully vaccinated.
The changes will take effect July 5 at 11:59 p.m. Ottawa time and are due to the fact that 75% of Canadians have been vaccinated at least once and 20% have received both doses. This is the first phase of the removal of border measures.
Vaccinated travelers in July will have the following benefits: no hotel quarantine, 14 days of self-exclusion, and testing for COVID-19 on the eighth day of quarantine. However, if a person has been vaccinated once, the new rules do not apply.
Travelers who have been vaccinated with a Health Canada-approved drug: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, or Johnson & Johnson are considered fully vaccinated. Vaccination in Canada is optional, but both doses must be received at least 14 days before entering the country. Officials have said that the list of acceptable vaccines may change over time.
You will also need proof of vaccination, either electronically or on paper. Information also needs to be entered into the government's ArriveCAN application, which is required for anyone crossing the Canadian border. It will be important to download the latest update, which will be released on July 5. Knowingly entering false information could result in a fine of up to $750,000 CAD or up to 6 months in jail.
Officials do not rule out that vaccination passports will also be introduced in the future, because not everyone has the opportunity to use the app.
There is another innovation: now when crossing any border (air, sea, land) a traveler must report his vaccination status. If a person has been vaccinated, he or she will be required to name the time of vaccination and the brand of the drug.
The requirement to be tested for COVID-19 before you leave for Canada and upon arrival remains for all travelers, regardless of vaccination. You will also need to have a quarantine plan in place in case border authorities decide that self-isolation is still necessary. People who have been vaccinated but have tested positive upon arrival will also need to self-isolate.
If a vaccinated traveler arrives in Canada with an unvaccinated child, the child will have to be on self-exclusion. No hotel quarantine will be required and the parent will be able to leave the home unhindered.
It is important to note that the ban on entry of foreign nationals without a valid reason remains in force minimum until 21 July. It is still possible to cross the border only in exceptional cases, for example on a work or student visa. Security Minister Bill Blair said the federal government is currently negotiating with provincial governments and other countries to allow vaccinated foreign nationals to enter in the coming months.
