Travelore Tips: Canada To Drop Its Entry Requirements By The End Of The Month — What You Need To Know

After days of speculation and rumor, it now appears Canada is poised to change its entry requirements.

Two senior government sources, who remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak officially, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to let a cabinet order requiring travelers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before they enter Canada to lapse, according to CPC24. The order, known as COVID-19 Emergency Order-in-Council relating to border measures, expires on September 30.

To enter the country, the Canadian government currently requires a traveler to have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose — or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — at least 14 days before entry.

Other Changes May Be Imminent

Although Canada requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the country, exceptions are made for various reasons, including compassionate exceptions, such as “to be present during the final moments of a loved one’s life.” Those travelers currently must take mandatory COVID-19 tests at arrival and then complete a 14-day quarantine.

Even fully vaccinated international travelers are subject to random COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Canada.

However, when the cabinet order expires, it will also end the COVID-19 border testing requirement.

While Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault would not confirm or deny Trudeau’s decision to let the order expire, he did say that if the order expires, it will eliminate the only mandatory requirement used in the ArriveCan app, according to CPC24.

ArriveCan was originally introduced by the Government of Canada as a way for all travelers to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status as well as proof of negative pre-departure test results to the Canada Border Services Agency. Since then, it has become a tool for travelers to digitally complete customs and immigration forms, so it’s unlikely the app or web portal will be discontinued.

Finally, the Government of Canada’s mandatory requirement for travelers to wear face masks while on planes and trains must still be discussed by the cabinet.

For more details, please visit: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

Source: https://www.travelawaits.com/