Changes Being Made to Travel Restrictions
With the gradual re-opening of various businesses, restaurants, and in some cases entire provinces, Canada is now working towards lifting travel restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated. Starting on July 5th 2021 at 11:59 PM (EST), those travelling to or within Canada may now be exempt from hotel stopovers, day-8 testing requirements, and quarantine as a whole. To be eligible for these exemptions, the Government of Canada has outlined a list of criteria you must meet. The exemption criteria is as follows:• You are eligible to enter Canada• You are asymptomatic• You meet the Government of Canada Requirements of fully vaccinated travellers [1]• You meet all other entry requirements [2], including entering your information in ArriveCAN before arrival
Of course, travel restrictions on who can enter Canada remain in place. Those who can enter include: (i) foreign nationals reuniting with family, visitors, foreign workers and students, individuals caring for Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents, funerals and support.
Note: Foreign nationals (including U.S. citizens) entering Canada for non-essential reasons will be denied access at the border regardless of vaccination status.
Am I Eligible for COVID-19 Travel Exemptions?
To be considered a fully vaccinated person and thus eligible for quarantine exemption, you must meet the vaccination requirements outlined by the Government of Canada. This mean that you must have received the full series of a vaccine- or a combination of vaccines- accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada.
Starting July 5th 2021 at 11:59 PM (EST), vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada include:• Pfizer (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)• Moderna (mRNA-1273)• AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, AZD1222, Covishield)• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) – single dose
If you have received any other vaccine, you will not be recognized as having “full vaccination status” by the Government of Canada, and will in turn not be exempt from anytravel restrictions.
Note: The list of accepted vaccines is subject to change.
Preparing to Enter Canada
If you are eligible for the travel exemption, there are a few steps you must take in order to ensure you are granted (or at least considered for) the exemption. 72 hours before entering Canada, you must enter your proof of your vaccination status through the ArriveCAN [3] app or website. Failure to do so will mean you will not be granted travel exemption. On ArriveCAN, you will be asked to provide:• the details of your first dose (date, country and vaccine you received)• the details of your second dose if one was required• a photo(s) or PDF file(s) of the record of your vaccination(s). This must be in English, French, or a certified translation into English or French.
What If I’m Traveling Within Canada?
Rules for travelling within Canada will vary from Province to Territory. At this point in time, Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only Provinces with no travel restrictions. Information on travel restrictions for each individual province or territory can be found on the Government of Canada website [4], and as always, are subject to change.
Further Information on Travelling To/Within Canada
If you have any general inquiries about travelling to/within Canada during COVID-19, you can visit the Government of Canada’s COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine, and borders page [5].
Are you interested in further understanding Canada’s Border Restrictions and how to navigate them? We at AP Lawyers are always happy to help our clients with these applications.
If you need any help with family law matters, contact AP Family Law Firm in Scarborough, Pickering, Markham, and Toronto. You can call us at (905) 492-7662 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
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