Canada border expected to open, with caveats

Hungry Horse News

The Department of Homeland Security last week announced it would open the border with Canada to fully vaccinated people on nonessential travel at ferry and land crossings starting early next month.

The border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Getting back into Canada, however, is a bit trickier.

In addition to being fully vaccinated, the Canadian government will require a person to pass a Covid-19 test.

Fully vaccinated travelers coming to Canada must complete the mandatory pre-arrival molecular COVID-19 test and submit their mandatory information including their digital proof of vaccination in English or French using the free ArriveCAN (app or website) within 72 hours before arriving in Canada, the Canada Border Service Agency announced last week.

Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests,” are not accepted. Fully vaccinated travelers who are eligible to enter Canada continue to be subject to mandatory random testing on arrival.

For short trips, that are less than 72 hours, Canadian citizens, people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents and protected persons traveling to the United States are allowed to take their pre-arrival molecular test before they leave Canada. If the test is more than 72 hours old when they re-enter Canada, they will be required to get a new pre-arrival molecular test in the United States.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers who are eligible to enter Canada must continue to follow pre-arrival, arrival and Day-8 molecular Covid-19 testing requirements, and quarantine for 14 days, the agency noted.