Canada Eases Border Restrictions

Good news for the citizens and permanent residents of Canada. As per the officials, fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents who test negative for the coronavirus will be exempted from two weeks of quarantine when returning to the country. In addition, the government is eliminating the need for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents who are air travelers to spend three days quarantining in an authorized hotel upon arriving in the country. It is likely that these exemptions could also apply for temporary residents and students who travel to Canada for essential purposes as well.

The government said fully vaccinated Canadian travelers who want to be exempted from quarantine and subject to reduced testing requirements must provide evidence of their vaccination status by uploading supporting documentation into the ArriveCAN app or by registering their vaccination on a government website. Citizens and permanent residents must have two doses of a vaccine approved by Canada and provide a negative coronavirus test result, which is received 72 hours before arrival. Travelers must take a second test upon arrival and have a quarantine plan if they are tested positive. Canadians returning home through the land border must quarantine at home or elsewhere for 14 days if they are not vaccinated.

According to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, border measures will continue to restrict entry to Canada for foreign nationals who want to enter for nonessential reasons. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also said a flight ban between Canada and India will remain in place until July 21, but a flight ban with Pakistan will be removed, allowing flights from Pakistan to Canada to resume. The government also added that the border restrictions on nonessential travel to the United States have been extended until July 21.