Canada is a neighboring country to the United States, and often receives a great deal of tourist and travel interest because of its unique atmosphere and sights as well as being an easier to get to destination for those in the U.S. However, with the current pandemic raging on many countries, Canada included, have shut down their borders or heavily altered the normal travel allowances for non-residents of the country.
This is consistently shifting as the atmosphere changes from heavy pandemic restrictions to more lifted requirements and differing regulations. Canada’s official government website does give a good run-down of their current travel requirements as well as what to expect when traveling due to COVID-19, so we’re here to give you the best update we can on what Canada’s travel restrictions are in case you are interested in traveling to this country in the near future or just want to know what countries are doing about COVID-19.
Currently, most non-essential travel to Canada has been shut down for safety reasons and to best prepare the country for future tourism openings as well as help reduce the spread of the pandemic while the world is still figuring out how to get cases down across multiple countries. However, there are some changes in the coming times that are outlined by the Canadian government that may allow more people to come for pleasure (or any non-essential reason) in the coming months. Here’s what we know.
If you are a Canadian citizen, have dual-citizenship with Canada, a protected person, Canadian native, permanent Canadian resident, or otherwise qualified Canadian national you can already travel to or stay within Canada’s borders. Outsiders that are immediate family members of the previously mentioned folk are allowed if you plan to quarantine properly for 14 days and are staying within Canada for 15 days or more. If you are not staying that long and are still an immediate family member of a Canadian resident, you can possibly get in if it’s for an essential visit not for just pleasure (referred to as non-discretionary).
If you need to travel to Canada for a reason like an ill family member or person, someone very sick, a funeral, etc., you can get authorization from Canada’s Public Health Agency to visit for compassion reasons.
August 9
August 9 is the date set where American citizens and permanent residents will be allowed more openly into Canada for non-essential reasons, providing they meet the country’s set requirements for travel which will probably include regulations regarding quarantine upon arrival as well as some sort of proof of vaccination or negative COVID test before travel.
September 7
This will be when all other foreigners will be allowed into Canada for whatever reason of travel as long as providing proof of full vaccination. September 7 is the planned time that Canada will be able to get used to the idea of travel and tourist allowance again and see where that plan goes as far as the cases and safety of the country.
To travel and check your requirements as well as submit necessary information you can use ArriveCAN in its updated version. Canada also has a lot of other specific exemptions or requirements depending on your reason for travel or status regarding Canada and the United States. It’s a pretty strict regimen to ensure that Canadians can stay safer from the pandemic and reduce another major outbreak of COVID in their country.
Since the nature of our world and of the current sickness is always changing over time, there are definitely going to be more and more alterations made to Canada’s travel rules and who is exactly allowed tourist or other travel access (and other countries as well). This is the best that we could find for answers to anyone wondering what the United States’ neighboring country was up to as far as COVID-related travel restrictions or allowance.
Canada can be a really nice place to visit for tourism, learning something new, great sights and nature breaks, learning, or other interests you may have for visiting somewhere new if you’re allowed to with these restrictions. As always, be sure to check up on Canada’s updated regulations if you’re planning a visit just to be sure you’re fully prepared. But this does give you a good idea of what to expect in the near future or at the current moment if you wish to or are curious about traveling to Canada.