CANADA REOPENING TO THE WORLD

Canada is to reopen its borders for “non-essential travel” for international visitors as early as August 9.

Thanks to rising vaccination rates and declining COVID-19 cases, the Canadian government has announced it is ready to move forward with the progressive reopening of its borders. Travellers will be entitled to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated. Potential visitors need to have completed the full course of vaccination with a Canada-accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to departure.

A pre-departure PCR test will still be required while quarantine, while further testing will be abolished. The government, however, advises all travellers to still provide a quarantine plan and be prepared to quarantine, in case they do not meet the necessary requirements. Foreign visitors will also need to download the ArriveCAN app to submit their travel information.

As a first step, US citizens will again be entitled to enter Canada starting August 9. If the measure proves safe with regards to the country’s sanitary situation, border openings will then be extended to the rest of the world from September 7. To provide more flexibility, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Quebec City and Winnipeg airports will again be allowed to welcome international flights, joining Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.