As of August 9, 2021 citizens and permanent residents of the United States can travel to Canada. This article outlines who can enter Canada, who cannot come here and how to enter Canada by land from the States.
Who can enter Canada?
1. Fully vaccinated US citizens or US permanent residents.
2. Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 who enter with their fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor currently residing in the US.
3. Unvaccinated person over 18 who is a dependent and who enters Canada with their fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor currently residing in the US.
4. International students who will attend an institution that has approved COVID-19 readiness plan and who:
- have a valid study permit;
- can apply for a study permit at the land border crossing or
- have their study permit application approved.
5. Immediate family members of Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act who are coming to Canada to reunite with their Canadian family member(s) and who plan on staying in Canada for at least 15 days.
6. Extended family members of Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act who are coming to Canada to reunite with their Canadian family member(s) and who plan on staying in Canada for at least 15 days and who:
- have a statutory declaration confirming their relationship with the Canadian family member and
- have a written authorization to enter Canada.
7. Family members of Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act who are coming to Canada:
- to provide support or care to an ill Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, temporary resident, protected person or person registered the Indian Act or
- to attend a funeral or end-of-life ceremony.
8. Habitual residents of Hyder, Alaska, Northwest Angle, Minnesota or Point Roberts, Washington under certain circumstances.
Who cannot enter Canada?
Non-Canadians who do not seek refugee protection from Canada cannot enter Canada if they:
1. have COVID-19;
2. show COVID-19 symptoms and signs;
3. have reasonable grounds to believe that they have COVID-19;
4. are above the age of 5 and do not show a negative COVID-19 test that was taken 72 hours prior to the arrival at the land border crossing or
5. cannot comply with the quarantine requirements unless they wish to enter Canada:
- to provide support or care to an ill Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, temporary resident, protected person or person registered the Indian Act or
- to attend a funeral or end-of-life ceremony.
How to enter Canada?
When entering Canada, travelers need to:
1. Show that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their arrival at the land border crossing. If the vaccination record is not in English or French, it must be translated by a certified translator. The vaccination record must include the following:
- the entity that administered the vaccine;
- the name of the person who received the vaccine;
- the brand name of the vaccine;
- the dates on which the vaccine was administered, and
- the number of doses received.
Canada accepts the following vaccines only:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2);
- Moderna (mRNA-1273);
- AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222) and
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S).
2. Show a negative COVID-19 molecular test that was taken 72 hours prior to the arrival at the land border crossing or a positive COVID-19 molecular test that was taken 14-180 days prior to the arrival. Certain categories, such as: emergency service providers, children under the age of 5, etc. are exempt from this requirement.
3. Have a quarantine plan. Some travelers are exempt from this requirement.
4. Get a written authorization if the unvaccinated foreign national falls in the extended member category.
5. Submit all relevant information and documents before arrival at the border:
- through ArriveCAN app or
- online (in Internet browser).