Published On: July 23rd, 2021 / Last Updated: August 1st, 2021 / 2.6 min read /

Canada announces re opening of border to fully vaccinated tourists

On July 19, 2021, Government of Canada announced that Canada will re open its borders for fully vaccinated tourists.

Starting August 09, 2021

  • American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States
  • Have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel

Starting September 07, 2021, provided that the conditions remain favourable, the Government intends to open Canada’s borders to any fully vaccinated travellers who have completed the full course of vaccination with a Government of Canada-accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada and who meet specific entry requirements.

Fully vaccinated means:

  • have received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or a combination of accepted vaccines
    • Accepted Vaccines are :
      • Pfizer (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
      • Moderna (mRNA-1273)
      • AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, AZD1222, Covishield)
      • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) – single dose
  • have received your last dose at least 14 days prior to entering Canada
  • upload your proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN

If you received your vaccines outside Canada, it’s still accepted but proof of vaccination must be uploaded digitally in ArriveCAN and must only be in French or English, or certified translation into French or English.

Subject to limited exceptions, all travellers must use ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. If they are eligible to enter Canada and meet specific criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival in Canada.

International flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at five additional Canadian airports

Effective August 9, 2021, international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at the following five additional Canadian airports:

  • 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.

These airports, in cooperation with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada, are working to implement the measures necessary to safely welcome international passengers as soon as possible after August 9, as conditions dictate.

All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, will still require a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result. However effective August 9, 2021, the Government of Canada is adjusting its post-arrival testing strategy for fully vaccinated travellers. Using a new border testing surveillance program at airports and land border crossings, fully vaccinated travellers will not need a post-arrival test unless they have been randomly selected to complete a Day 1 COVID-19 molecular test. There are no changes to the mandatory testing requirements for unvaccinated travellers.

No exceptions for partially vaccinated travellers

At this time, there are no exemptions from testing, hotel stopover or quarantine for travellers who haven’t received the full series of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada.

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