This week, the Government of Canada announced details of the first phase in their approach to ease border measures for all travellers entering Canada.
Starting July 5, 2021 at 11:59 EDT, all travellers who have been fully vaccinated will not need to fulfill the federal requirement of quarantining for 14 days or take a COVID-19 test on day 8. Fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air will also not need to quarantine at a government-authorized hotel.
To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Currently, those vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must provide documentation supporting their vaccination in English, French or with a certified translation.
Fully vaccinated travellers must also be asymptomatic, have paper or digital copies of vaccination documentation, and provide relevant COVID-19 information prior to arrival, through ArriveCAN. They must also meet mandatory requirements such as pre- and on-arrival testing, which contributes to the continuous monitoring of positivity rates, variants of concerns, and to address further adjustments to border measures as needed. Travellers must continue to wear a mask, follow public health measures, and carry proof of vaccination.
All travellers must have a suitable quarantine plan and be prepared to quarantine in the event it is determined at the border that they do not meet all the conditions required to be exempt from quarantine. With the intent to take a responsible and precautionary approach at the border through constant monitoring of data and scientific evidence, these adjustments have been made possible with conscientious citizens that have followed public health measures, and successful vaccine rollouts in Canada that have put the nation in the lead globally in terms of vaccination rates.
All unvaccinated travellers must continue to adhere to the current testing and federal quarantine requirements and provide COVID-19-related information electronically through ArriveCAN before arriving in Canada. Unvaccinated air travellers must also book a three-night stay at a government-authorized hotel before their departure to Canada.
“The safety and security of Canadians remains our top priority as we look to support the careful and safe arrival of new permanent residents to Canada over the next year. These new permanent residents will finally be able to start their new life in Canada and Canada will benefit from their skills when we pivot to post-pandemic economic recovery. At the same time, we’ll continue to offer protection to those who need it most and keep our place as a global leader in providing a safe haven for refugees.” – Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
For more information, please visit the Government of Canada website here.
