Canada easing border restrictions effective Aug. 9

Press release

The government of Canada announced Monday the details of its approach to easing border measures for some travellers entering Canada.

These measures will come into force Aug. 9 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time.

It is important to note that, in the meantime, travel restrictions remain in place for all foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens. Seeking entry to Canada for discretionary — non-essential — travel such as tourism and recreation continues to be prohibited until then.

Examples of discretionary travel include, but are not limited to: hikes across the border, social events, such as birthday parties or weddings, camping, picking up a pet, visiting or checking on a seasonal residence, etc.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents without a right of entry to Canada or who are not otherwise eligible to enter Canada under the current travel restrictions, and who attempt to visit Canada for discretionary reasons will be turned away at the border, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Starting Aug. 9, 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. This preliminary step allows for the government of Canada to fully operationalize the adjusted border measures ahead of Sept. 7, and recognizes the many close ties between Canadians and Americans.

Subject to 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 travelers will not have to quarantine upon arrival in Canada.

To further support these new measures, Transport Canada is expanding the scope of the existing Notice to Airmen — NOTAM — that currently 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.

Effective Aug. 9, international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at the following five additional Canadian airports:

• 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.

These airports, in cooperation with 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 Aug. 9, as conditions dictate.

All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, will still require a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result. However effective Aug. 9, the government of Canada is adjusting its post-arrival testing strategy for fully vaccinated travelers. Using a new border testing surveillance program at airports and land border crossings, fully vaccinated travelers will not need a post-arrival test unless they have been randomly selected to complete a Day 1 COVID-19 molecular test. There are no changes to the mandatory testing requirements for unvaccinated travelers.

This strategy allows the government of Canada to continue monitoring variants of concern in Canada and vaccine effectiveness. Using these layers of protection, the government of Canada can monitor the COVID-19 situation in Canada, respond quickly to threats, and guide decisions on restricting international travel.

Finally, with the advent of increased vaccination rates in Canada, declining COVID-19 cases and reduced pressure on health care capacity, the three-night government authorized hotel stay requirement will be eliminated for all travelers arriving by air as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time Aug. 9. Fully vaccinated travelers who meet the requirements will be exempt from quarantine; however, all travelers must still provide a quarantine plan and be prepared to quarantine, in case it is determined at the border that they do not meet the necessary requirements.

Before heading to the border, U.S travellers should be informed and know their obligations. The government of Canada has a website to assist travellers in finding out if they can enter Canada and, if able to enter, what their public health obligations are: Find out if you can enter Canada.

Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Canadians. As vaccination, case counts and hospitalization rates evolve, the government of Canada will continue to consider further targeted measures at the borders — and when to lift or adjust them — to keep Canadians safe and the economy running.