The travel restrictions of countries like Canada are changing and updating with time. As the country is battling the fourth wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the government is taking all necessary precautions to ensure that people with COVID-19 symptoms don’t enter the country or unknowingly spread the virus. Here’s everything you need to know about Canadian travel restrictions. From border changes to testing requirements and quarantine to exceptions offered to fully vaccinated travelers, you can find everything you need below!
From August 9, 2021, vaccinated American
citizens and permanent residents of the United States who qualify for the fully
vaccinated traveler exemption can enter Canada for discretionary travel. The
decision on whether all other foreign nationals can enter the country if they qualify
for the fully vaccinated traveler exemption will be taken on September 7. To
check if you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveler exemption or not, click here.
Driving to or from Alaska Through Canada
People who don’t qualify for the fully
vaccinated traveler exemption cannot transit through Canada from Alaska or to
Alaska by land for discretionary purposes, like leisure or vacation.
What are the Exemptions Offered to Fully Vaccinated
Travelers?
People who qualify for fully vaccinated traveler
exemption get an exemption from the Day-8 testing requirement and quarantine.
Which are the Accepted COVID-19 vaccines in
Canada?
Only 4 COVID-19 vaccines are accepted in
Canada. They are Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2), AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD
(ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222), Moderna (mRNA-1273), and Janssen/Johnson &
Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S).
What is ArriveCAN and How to Use It?
All travelers who are entering Canada by land,
air, or marine vessels need to use ArriveCAN (with a few exceptions). You can
download it as a mobile app or create an account to sign in online. The
information must be submitted 72 hours before you enter Canada.
Need for the Pre-Entry Test Result
If you want to fly to Canada, you need to take
a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the departure time of your flight to Canada.
If you don’t do that, the airline will stop you from boarding your flight.
In case you have a connecting flight, you might
have to schedule the test in the transit city. The test needs to be conducted
within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of the last direct flight to
Canada.
People who are driving to Canada need to take
the test within 72 hours of their entry into Canada.
Assess Your Quarantine Plan
If you are planning to quarantine after
reaching Canada, you need to make sure you have a place where you can stay for
at least 14 days, you have access to all necessities (like food, water,
medication, heat, etc.) to ensure you don’t need to step out. It would help if
you avoided contact with people who didn’t travel with you and ensured that you
have no visitors during the quarantine period.
Is Travel Within Canada Allowed?
Yes, travel within Canada is allowed to some
extent. However, you need to check the province or territory website of the
final destination to ensure that you know about all quarantine requirements and
border restrictions. To look at province/territory-wise travel restrictions,
click here.
Can I Travel Outside Canada?
Yes, you can travel outside Canada if your
visit is essential. However, all non-essential travel should be avoided. To
know more, click here.
Source- https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid