Mohanad Moetaz - 19 July, 2021
Canada intends to begin welcoming any fully vaccinated travellers starting on September 7, 2021, as long as COVID-19 remains under control.
The Government of Canada made the announcement on July 19. Travellers will have to have been vaccinated with a Canada-approved vaccine. These include Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca. They must have also received the vaccine at least 14 days prior to coming to Canada.
The first step is for Canada to start accepting U.S. citizens and permanent residents travelling from the U.S. starting on August 9.
On the same day, Canada will remove the hotel quarantine requirement.
Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to take an on arrival or day eight COVID-19 test. Some travellers may be asked at random to take a test at the border.
Travellers must submit their proof of vaccination documents and certified translations if applicable, to the ArriveCAN mobile application before arriving in Canada. They will need to show their ArriveCAN receipt when they arrive in Canada. Those who do not show their ArriveCAN receipt may not be allowed to fly.
They must also carry their vaccine certificate to show at the border.
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Eased quarantine requirements
Travellers to Canada who cannot be fully vaccinated due to health conditions may be asked to follow a modified quarantine. More details are forthcoming according to the government.
In addition, those arriving by boat will be eligible for eased quarantine and testing if they are fully vaccinated.
All travellers coming to Canada need to have a quarantine plan prepared in case a border official determines that they need to quarantine.
Unvaccinated children no longer need to quarantine
Children who were not vaccinated will no longer have to complete the 14-day quarantine, starting August 9. They will instead be required to follow public health measures.
They may still be required to take an on-arrival and day eight COVID-19 test, however.
This will apply to those travelling from the U.S., as well as those travellers from all countries when they are allowed to do so.
Children should avoid group settings such as school and daycare during the 14-day period after they arrive in Canada.
It is worth noting that provinces and territories may have their own rules around people who have recently returned from travel.
More airports will now accept international flights
Five more airports will now begin welcoming international travellers on August 9. These are: Halifax, Quebec City, Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Only four airports have been open throughout the pandemic: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.
Canada extends India travel ban again
Canada has extended the travel ban for all direct passenger and business flights from India until at least August 21, 2021.
The travel ban was introduced in April 22, 2021 amid rising COVID-19 cases in India, particularly of the delta variant.
The ban was set to last for 30 days, until May 22, and was extended three times since.
Only cargo flights carrying vaccines and protective equipment will be allowed into Canada.
Those who wish to travel to Canada from India may still be able to do so. However, they will need to travel via an indirect route with a long layover in a third country. Travellers will need to get a COVID-19 test from their last point of departure.
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