On July 19. 2021, the Government of Canada announced the permit of fully vaccinated foreign travelers to enter Canada for discretionary purposes from September 7, 2021. The verdict was based on the latest Canadian and global data, scientific documentation, and epidemiological circumstances.
At every phase of Canada’s approach, to ease border measures, the government is constantly monitoring the public health indicators, case importation at borders, and concerning variants amongst foreign travelers.
Despite the increased rate of incoming travelers, the border test positivity rate has been lower in recent months. From August 9 to August 26, the positivity rate of randomly selected foreign travelers tested at the border was found to be 0,19%.
Notwithstanding the current increase in positive cases in Canada, the hospitalization and illness severity rates remain at bay due to their increased vaccination drive. Alongside this, a continuous cohesion to public health measures indicates that Canada can prevent infection outbreaks very well. Now more foreign travelers can be allowed to enter Canada without causing any health risk to fellow Canadians.
Criteria Fulfillment to Enter Canada
Apply to travel, study, work, do business, or immigrate to Canada. Foreign travelers can travel to Canada from September 7, 2021, from 12:01 a.m. EDT for tourism purposes. They must, however, fulfill the following criteria.
- The foreign nationals must be completely vaccinated. The travelers must provide relevant proofs of all the vaccines or their combination in advance, acceptable by the Canadian government at least 14 days before entering Canada.
- The traveler must be asymptomatic.
- They must be permissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Any information regarding vaccination proof and quarantine plan must be submitted via the Arrive CAN app or website in English or French.
- At present, the vaccines are being manufactured by Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and fizer-BioNTech.
- The foreign visitors must have a valid pre-arrival molecular test result, taken at a maximum of 72 hours before their scheduled flight or border crossing arrival.
The positive test result must be taken at least 14 days to 180 days before departing from Canada. The rapid tests, also known as antigen tests, are not acceptable by the Government of Canada.
- If selected, the traveler may have to take a test upon arriving in Canada.
What Non-Canadian Travelers Need to Know?
1. Compulsory pre-arrival COVID molecular test result
Travelers allowed to enter Canada include fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents, and foreign nationals.
Those travelers must hold a negative pre-arrival molecular test result taken within 72 hours from the scheduled flight departure or 72 hours before arriving in Canada through land or water.
Previously covid optimistic nationals must carry proof of positive test result at least 14 to 180 days before their departure by land, air, or water. The results must be shown to the Government of Canada officials at the border.
2. Submission of necessary information via Arrive CAN – digital vaccination proof
The fully vaccinated travelers must submit all relevant information, including the digital proof of vaccination, via the ArriveCAN website or app. It must be submitted in English or French within 72 hours before arriving in Canada.
The individuals arriving in Canada on September 7, 2021, or after it must submit the information after this time. When using the app, make sure to use its updated versions available, Google Play Store for Android users, or the App Store for iPhone users. Users who cannot show their ArriveCAN receipt through print, email, or mobile device, won’t be allowed to board the flight to Canada.
3. Monitoring border testing program
As per the rules from August 9, 2021, foreign nationals who are completely vaccinated may not be tested upon arrival if not randomly selected for a one-day molecular test. All the randomly selected travelers are bound to complete the mandatory border surveillance program.
The selected individuals do not need to be quarantined while awaiting results. Any failure to adhere to the random testing may result in being fined. Regardless of their vaccination status, visitors must retain a pre-arrival Covid-19 molecular test result.
4. Vaccinated parents with non-vaccinated children
From August 9, the non-vaccinated children below 12 years of age of fully vaccinated parents are exempted from quarantine. They must, however, follow the advanced health care measures. This may include not attending school or daycare for at least 14 days.
If the non-vaccinated children are between the ages of 12 to 17 years or are dependent children aged 18 years and above, they are permitted to enter Canada with their vaccinated parents. They may, however, have to follow the 14-day quarantine plan before resuming everyday life.
All non-vaccinated children aged five years and above are subject to first-day or eighth-day testing requirements. Certain provinces and territories may follow strict rules for people who return from travel. The travelers must have an updated version of ArriveCAN and include non-vaccinated children below 18 years and dependent children in their ArriveCAN submission.
5. Test and quarantine essentials for non-vaccinated foreign nationals
No immediate changes are available for non-vaccinated individuals entering Canada by rights like foreign nationals, permanent Canadian residents or citizens, or registered under the Indian Act. All of them are subject to quarantine, all testing requirements, and compulsory submission of travel, quarantine, and contact information through ArriveCAN.
6. Temporary suspension of direct and private passenger flights from Morocco and India
Canada has suspended all direct and private passenger flights from India until September 21, 2021, and until September 29, 2021, from Morocco. When traveling through an indirect route to Canada from India or Morocco, the travelers must secure a pre-departure Covid-19 molecular test from a third country before arriving in Canada.
7. Be informed and prepared beforehand.
A traveler must ensure they completely understand all the rules and their responsibilities guaranteeing their eligibility criteria and reviewing the web page meant for covid-19 vaccinated nationals entering Canada.
At the border, delays may be noticed due to advanced public health measures being taken. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would not take any health or safety risk of Canadians for the waiting time at the border. The patience and cooperation of visitors at the border are highly appreciated. For more details and immigration consultation, contact Overseas Haven Immigration.