Fully vaccinated travellers from the United States can enter Canada for non-essential reasons without self-isolating.
The new public health measures mark a milestone in the fight against COVID-19.
The last time Canada permitted non-essential travellers to enter the country was March 2020.
Despite the step forward, a series of requirements are in effect to avoid taking two steps back.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada. The final dose must have been administered at least 14 days before arrival.
So far, the vaccines approved by Canada are those made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Personal information and proof of vaccination must be uploaded to the ArriveCAN app.
For children under 12, the 14-day isolation period will not apply as long as their parents or guardians are fully vaccinated.
U.S. travellers will also need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken prior to arriving in Canada, but also no more than 72 hours before arriving.
A complete list of the new health measures is available here.
While Canada is ready to welcome back U.S. travellers, the welcoming was not reciprocated. Canadians hoping to finish their summer down south are likely out of luck, as the United States continues to keep non-essential travellers out of the country.
Canada could open its welcoming party to the rest of the world if COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are low. Public Health is eyeing September 7th for the reopening, however, travellers would be subject to the same rules that U.S. travellers face.
