Canada Easing Border Measures for Fully Vaccinated Travellers

Starting August 9, 2021, Canada plans to begin allowing entry to American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States, and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before entering Canada for non-essential travel. This will allow for the Government of Canada to fully operationalize the adjusted border measures ahead of the anticipated plan for September 7, 2021: Provided that the domestic epidemiologic situation remains favourable, the Government intends to open Canada's borders on September 7, 2021, to any fully vaccinated travellers who have completed the full course of vaccination with a Government of Canada-accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada, and who meet specific entry requirements.

Unless you are subjected to the limited exceptions, all travellers must use ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. If they are eligible to enter Canada and meet specific criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival in Canada.

• In efforts to further support these new measures, Transport Canada is expanding the scope of the existing Notice to Airmen that directs scheduled international commercial passenger flights into four Canadian Airports: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. The Government of Canada will be moving forward with adjusted border measures to allow for international flights carrying passengers to land at five additional Canadian airports, including:
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport;
• Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport;
• Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport;
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport; and
• Edmonton International Airport.

All listed airports, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada, are working to implement the measures necessary to safely welcome international passengers as soon as possible after August 9, as conditions dictate.

Regardless of vaccination status, all travellers will still require a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result. However, effective August 9, 2021, the Government is adjusting its post-arrival testing procedures for fully vaccinated travellers. A new border testing surveillance program at airports and land border crossings will be implemented and fully vaccinated travellers will not need a post-arrival test unless randomly selected to complete a Day 1 COVID-19 molecular test. This strategy will allow the Government of Canada to continue monitoring variants of concern in Canada and vaccine effectiveness.

Finally, with the emergence of increased vaccination rates in Canada, declining COVID-19 cases, and reduced pressure on health care capacity, the three night government authorized hotel requirement will be eliminated for all travellers arriving by air as of 12:01AM EDT on August 9. Although fully vaccinated travellers who meet the requirements will be exempt from quarantine, all travellers must still provide a quarantine plan and be prepared to do so in case it is determined at the border that they do not meet the necessary requirements.

As Canada looks forward to welcoming fully vaccinated travellers from the U.S., the federal government will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated travel advice. 

For more information concerning border restrictions, contact us at AKM Law.