Opening Canada's borders to vaccinated tourists

Full-vaccinated tourists will be able to travel to Canada again very soon, but as long as the epidemiological situation in the country remains under control (if the number of vaccinated Canadians continues to increase and the number of those infected with the coronavirus decreases). Canada will start accepting US citizens and residents as early as August 9 and, from September 7, tourists from all other countries will be able to enter the country.

Public Health Canada reminds you that fully vaccinated travellers include only those who have had 2 vaccinations with products approved in Canada: Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Travellers must provide proof of their vaccination in French or English, or a certified translation thereof. The last injection must be given at least 14 days before entry into the country.

Here's what the rules will be for these changes:

1. Quarantine hotels are cancelled on 9 August.

2. Fully vaccinated travellers no longer have to be tested on arrival on day 8, but they may be subjected to random testing at the border.

3. Before arriving in Canada, travellers are required to record their vaccination details on the application or ArriveCan website. They must also carry paper or digital receipts from ArriveCan to provide to border officers when they enter the country.

4. All travellers still need to have their own quarantine plan for 14 days in case the border service determines they are not covered by Canada's entry rules for fully vaccinated travellers.

5. Travellers are also required to follow accepted public health measures, such as: monitoring signs and symptoms of COVID-19, wearing masks in public places. They must keep copies of their vaccination and covid test results, have a list of close contacts and places visited within 14 days of entering Canada.

Measures for unvaccinated children

Canada has updated its entry rules for children under the age of 12 who are ineligible for vaccination: as of August 9, all unvaccinated dependents of fully vaccinated travelers from the United States will no longer be required to undergo a full 14-day quarantine. Instead, they will have to comply with public health measures, including testing on arrival and testing on day 8. In addition, they are not allowed to attend schools or daycare centers for 2 weeks after arrival and should avoid contact with other groups of children.

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Public Health Canada also says that in September, when tourists from all countries will be allowed into the country, these measures will also apply to their unvaccinated children.

Provinces and territories may have their own rules for people who have recently arrived in Canada, so the government says more information will be available in the coming days.

Testing requirements

As of August 9, Canadian citizens and residents travelling to the U.S. for less than 72 hours can take a pre-test upon arrival in Canada. This means they do not have to take a second test in the U.S. to be released back.

Those who have had COVID-19 and have recovered but still show a positive result can present their test taken 14-180 days prior to arrival in the country.

Fully vaccinated travelers are not required to take the test upon arrival unless they have been randomly selected for testing upon arrival.

There is no change to the mandatory testing requirements for non-vaccinated travelers: they will still be required to be tested on arrival and on day 8.

Proof of vaccination

Starting Aug. 9, all air carriers will be required to verify that travelers who want to arrive in Canada have sent their personal information to ArriveCAN before boarding. Tourists who do not show a receipt from ArriveCAN will not be allowed to fly.

Airlines will accept the receipt from ArriveCAN either on a mobile digital device or as a printed copy. In addition to the ArriveCAN receipt, travellers are expected to carry a valid certificate of their vaccination to show to officials at the Canadian border.

Travelers permitted to come to Canada beginning August 9 include only fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and residents. Temporary U.S. residents do not qualify for this exemption, nor do U.S. residents arriving from third countries.

Canadians and other travelers exempt from border restrictions will be required to provide information about their vaccination status through ArriveCAN, but will not be denied boarding if this requirement is not met.

Facilitated quarantine depending on vaccination status

Those who cannot be fully vaccinated for health reasons qualify for a relaxed quarantine requirement, but they may still be asked to follow a modified quarantine plan. The federal government of Canada says more information on this will be released soon.

Arriving in Canada by sea

Travellers arriving in Canada by sea will be eligible for simplified quarantine and testing if they qualify as fully vaccinated travellers. They must also register their details with ArriveCAN, but they can do so when they enter Canada as there is no internet connection on the water.

Which airports will receive international flights

As of August 9, five more Canadian airports began accepting international flights: Halifax, Quebec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. During the pandemic, the only airports accepting international flights were Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

Due to the improved epidemiological situation in Canada, as of August 9, Transport Canada is cancelling passenger temperature screening on all domestic and international flights (including cross-border flights), as well as screening of airport workers. However, passengers will be required to adhere to all public health measures (wearing masks at airports and on domestic and international flights).

The ban on flights to India has been extended till August 21.

Border measures are subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves, so the Government of Canada will continue to provide updated travel advisories.