Border Measures Set to Ease for Fully Vaccinated Travelers
Due to the global pandemic, health measures and travel restrictions took place as the Canadian government prioritizes the safety and health of everyone in the country. Recently, the Canadian government has taken small steps on re-opening the borders by taking a risk-based and measured approach. The continuous rise of vaccination rates and declining number of COVID-19 cases; which results in the Canadian government’s steady steps in moving forward towards adjusting border measures.
Given the current situations that we all are facing, the Canadian government plans to re-open its borders to any full-vaccinated travelers on September 7, 2021. Provided that the said travelers have completed their vaccines with the Canadian government’s approved vaccines, namely, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Astra Zeneca, and Moderna. In addition to this, travelers must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their entry to Canada.
In connection to Canada’s border re-opening, their first step is set to begin on August 9, 2021, allowing American citizens and permanent residents who are currently residing in the United States to enter the country as long as they have already been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior their entry.
All travelers are obliged to use ArriveCAN to submit their travel information; which can be done either via app or web. Fully vaccinated travelers no longer need to undergo quarantine upon their arrival to Canada as long as they are eligible to travel in the country.
Transport Canada started to expand the scope of Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to help and support the new measures. NOTAM caters to four Canadian Airports (Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport) and directs scheduled international commercial passenger flights.
With Canada’s border re-opening, five additional Canadian airports have been added on where international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land:
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport;
• Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport;
• Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport;
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport; and
• Edmonton International Airport.
With the use of a new border testing, surveillance program placed in the airports, as well as land border crossings travelers, no longer need to have post-arrival tests unless they are randomly selected to complete a Day 1 COVID-19 molecular test. With this new strategy, the Canadian government will be able to monitor variances of concern in Canada as well as vaccine effectiveness. This also helps monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country and the government will be able to quickly respond to possible threats.
Given that Canada is continuously moving forward in the right direction, the government still advises their fellow Canadians to refrain from non-essential travels outside Canada as it increases the risk of exposure to the different COVID-19 variants that may affect to spread to others. With the unpredicted situation we have, border measures are still subject to change.
