Fully vaccinated travelers from the United States “who meet specific entry requirements” may enter Canada starting Aug. 9, the Public Health Agency of Canada said Monday.
Canada and the U.S. agreed to ban nonessential crossings at the border since the implementation of the policy on March 21, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The order was extended on multiple occasions as a matter of precaution, but the PHAC now says “rising vaccination rates and declining COVID-19 cases” will allow the measure to be lifted.
“As a first step, 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 prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel,” the PHAC wrote in a statement.
People from the U.S. will need to present “proof” of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine before arrival in Canada, which includes meeting “pre-entry testing requirements; be asymptomatic upon arrival; and have a paper or digital copy of their vaccination documentation in English or French (or certified translation) ready to show a government official on request as evidence,” the agency added. Children under 12, for whom the COVID-19 vaccines have not received approval, are allowed to enter the country with their fully vaccinated parents, officials said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Canada plans to open its borders to any vaccinated travelers from outside countries who have completed its required steps on Sept. 7, “provided that the domestic epidemiologic situation remains favourable,” the PHAC wrote.
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Travelers will be limited to five Canadian international airports designated for people arriving outside the country.
Additionally, all travelers must use the app or web portal ArriveCAN to submit travel information. The government said “limited exceptions” apply to this step.
Fully vaccinated visitors will not be required to quarantine upon arrival but must provide a quarantine plan and be prepared to do so if travelers “do not meet the necessary requirements,” the PHAC wrote.
The U.S. border will remain closed to Canadians for nonessential travel, as President Joe Biden’s administration has not signaled plans to reciprocate the measure announced by the PHAC on Monday.
In Canada, the government says 68% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 56% of the U.S. population has received at least one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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“Thanks to the incredible progress that Canadians have made in our fight against the pandemic, we are now able to take the next step in Canada’s gradual reopening of the border,” said Marco Mendicino, minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada.
