Canada Eases Travel Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated U.S. Visitors

Canada lifted its travel restrictions for U.S. visitors on Monday, allowing travelers who are fully vaccinated with a negative COVID-19 test to cross the border.

Visitors are required to submit travel information and proof of vaccination on the ArriveCAN app before entering Canada. Travelers should plan for the possibility of additional processing time at the border, The Associated Press reported.

The Canada Border Services Agency “will not compromise the health and safety of Canadians for the sake of border wait times,” Rebecca Purdy, a spokeswoman for the agency, told the outlet.

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020. The U.S. has extended its border closures for Canadian and Mexican visitors until at least Aug. 21, the AP reported.

The Biden administration is making plans for a phased reopening for foreign visitors, though White House officials haven’t said when that will begin. Travelers will be required to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

For the return trip from Canada, U.S. travelers don’t have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers “have been processing essential travel throughout the pandemic and remain ready and able to process American citizens and permanent residents returning from Canada,” Jason Givens, a spokesman for the agency, told the AP.

Canada accepts the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca vaccines, according to USA Today. Travelers are encouraged to carry their vaccine documents with them, as well as negative COVID-19 test results and a list of their close contacts and locations visited in case public health officials need to conduct contact tracing.

Fully vaccinated travelers don’t need to quarantine upon arrival, but those who have COVID-19 symptoms during travel will need to self-isolate, USA Today reported. Visitors must provide a quarantine plan as well.

Children under age 12 and unvaccinated children under age 18 can enter Canada with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian. People with health conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated can qualify for entry but must follow a modified quarantine plan.

Travelers without documents won’t be able to enter Canada, and those who present fake documents could be fined. Two travelers who tried to enter Canada last month were fined nearly $16,000 after showing false information related to their proof of vaccination, USA Today reported.

“We’ve seen quite a few instances with individuals who’ve attempted to make use of fraudulent documents. It’s just not worth it,” Denis Vinette, vice president of the Canada Border Services Agency’s Travellers Branch, told the news outlet.

He said the agency expected to see a 10% to 25% increase in vehicles crossing the border after travel restrictions were lifted Monday. That would be about 20% of pre-pandemic travel levels, USA Today reported.

“We ask travelers to be patient but also to arrive prepared and knowledgeable of the requirements at the border,” Vinette said. “It’ll help increase passage and throughput and make the experience much more positive.”