Here are the answers to some of your questions about coming to Canada as the border begins to open.
Source: CIC News
Canada is finally opening up to tourists after keeping the border tightly-zipped for the past 17 months, but things are still not totally back to normal.
In early July, the gradual reopening of the Canadian border began with fully vaccinated exempt travelers. Then on July 19, Health Canada announced that restrictions would be even less strict come August 9.
By September 7, we’re expecting the border to reopen to fully vaccinated tourists from all countries. Of course, we are still in a pandemic, and these measures are subject to change.
But with what we do know for now, we answered some of the internet’s most popular questions on coming to Canada this summer and fall.
When will travel to Canada resume?
The border is opening to fully vaccinated tourists from the U.S. one minute after midnight on August 9. They have to be U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Temporary U.S. residents like international students will have to wait until September 7 when Canada is scheduled to open to fully vaccinated tourists from the rest of the world.
Travel will resume to fully vaccinated travelers from all countries on September 7. Of course, this date is subject to the ever-changing nature of the pandemic. The government is always monitoring the coronavirus situation in Canada and abroad.
As for un-vaccinated tourists, the prime minister of Canada has said it will be “quite a while” before these travelers can come.
How does Canada define “fully” vaccinated travelers?
Currently, Canada only considers you “fully” vaccinated if you have received the full recommended dose of a vaccine from a manufacturer approved by Health Canada. There are four: Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnston & Johnson).
Also, two weeks need to have elapsed between your final injection and your attempt to cross the border. Otherwise you risk being deemed “not fully vaccinated,” which could result in being turned away at the border or having to quarantine.
What if I want to travel to Canada from India?
Canada extended the direct flight ban between Canada and India until August 21. For now, travelers from India will need to take an indirect route and supply a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departure in a third country.
Do I need to quarantine?
It depends. Everyone who comes to Canada still needs to arrive with a quarantine plan in case the officer determines they must isolate for 14 days. The final decision on who has to quarantine rests with the officers at the border.
Since July 5, fully vaccinated travelers who are exempt from travel restrictions do not need to quarantine. Exempt travelers include Canadians, family members, workers, and international students. Provided they produce a negative COVID-19 test at the border, they also are exempt from day-eight testing, which is normally required of people in quarantine.
The rules will change again starting August 9. Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer have to take the COVID-19 test at the border, unless they are subject to random testing.
Also starting August 9, the mandatory hotel quarantine will no longer be in effect. Until then, however, un-vaccinated travelers will still have to stay in a government-approved hotel to wait on the results of their on-arrival test.
Will travel to Canada require COVID-19 vaccine?
It depends on the purpose of your travel and whether or not your are exempt from travel restrictions. If you are coming for an essential reason, but you are not fully vaccinated in the government’s eyes, you will probably have to undergo quarantine and testing measures.
If you are coming for a non-essential reason — like tourism or shopping — you will need to be fully vaccinated, for now.
What if I am partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated with a vaccine not approved in Canada?
At this time, you will still be subject to the same measures as un-vaccinated travelers. In order to come to Canada, you will have to be exempt from travel restrictions, and undergo all testing and quarantine requirements.
What if I am not vaccinated?
Exempt travelers, such as Canadian citizens, permanent residents, family members, workers, most international students, and other essential travelers may still cross the border if they are not vaccinated.
They will have to do pre-arrival testing, on arrival testing, and day-eight testing while in quarantine. However, after August 9, they no longer have to stay in a government-approved hotel at their own expense while waiting on the results of their on-arrival test.
Until further notice, un-vaccinated tourists are not allowed to come to Canada.
What if I can’t get vaccinated because of a health condition?
Health Canada said if you have a condition that, according to the vaccine’s label, makes it unsafe for you to be vaccinated, you may also qualify for eased quarantine.
Instead, you may have to follow a modified quarantine. More details on this are forthcoming.
What is “essential travel” to Canada?
“Essential travel” covers people who are traveling to Canada for work, emergency services, family reunification, or if you are a Canadian citizens or permanent resident. International students going to approved institutions also fall under this umbrella.
These people have generally been exempt from travel restrictions throughout the pandemic, starting at different times for some. In the fall of 2020, Canada expanded the definition to include international students, extended family members, and those traveling for compassionate reasons such as a funeral.
What is acceptable proof of vaccination status?
Whatever official proof of vaccination your healthcare providers gave you will likely do, as long as it is in English or French. If it is in any other language, you have to upload a certified translation to ArriveCAN, but not the original. However, you will have to keep both the original proof of vaccination and certified translation with you while you travel.
Before arriving at the border, you will need to upload your documents using ArriveCAN. You will have to provide the documents listed on the government webpage, which include:
- details of your first dose such as the date, country, and vaccine manufacturer;
- details of your second dose if it was required; and
- a photo or PDF file of the record of each dose, such as receipts, cards, or confirmations.
More specific details are available on Canada’s travel website. For example, it will tell you they generally want the PDF version if it is available, since it is clearer. There is also a section on troubleshooting proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN.
Also, the government asks you bring the original proof of vaccination with you while you travel.
If your proof of vaccinated does not meet all of the government’s requirements, officials may consider it invalid and ask you to complete the regular quarantine and testing requirements for un-vaccinated travelers.
I’m traveling with my kids who cannot be vaccinated. Do they have to quarantine?
For now, un-vaccinated kids will have to quarantine and complete testing requirements, even though their fully vaccinated parents or guardians do not.
But starting August 9, kids coming with fully vaccinated adults do not have to quarantine. Instead, they are asked to avoid group settings for 14 days.
What do I need to do before traveling to Canada?
For now, the requirements are different depending on your vaccination status and mode of transportation. For example, until August 9, non-vaccinated travelers will still have to do the hotel quarantine requirement if they are coming by air. However, land border-crossers do not.
The official checklist for travelers is on the government website. But in a nutshell:
All travelers age five and older need a pre-arrival test taken within 72 hours of your planned entry. In the case of air travelers, within 72 hours before the departure of your last direct flight to Canada.
You also need to use ArriveCAN to submit your documents within 72 hours before arriving to Canada. It is available as a mobile app, or online. All of the information is available on the government website. Generally speaking, you need your contact information, purpose of travel, date of arrival, port of entry, travel history, quarantine plan, and others. You will get a receipt once you have submitted all your information that you will show to the border officer when you arrive. If any of your travel details change after you submit your information, you will have to start over.
These COVID measures are in addition to the regular measures on incoming travelers to Canada. Unless you are from a visa-exempt country, you will need a Temporary Resident Visa in order to come to Canada. Those who are from visa-exempt countries will need an Electronic Travel Authorization. U.S. travelers do not need either.
