Maple News reports that Canada will begin the first phase of its border reopening plan on July 5, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, with significant changes for fully vaccinated travellers who meet current entry exemptions. Eligible travellers, including newly approved permanent residents, will no longer be required to undergo a mandatory quarantine or complete a day-eight COVID-19 test.
Under the updated policy, travellers entering by air can also skip the mandatory hotel stay previously required upon arrival. However, the relaxed rules apply only to those who meet exemption criteria and are considered fully vaccinated under Government of Canada standards.
To qualify, travellers must have received the full series—or a combination—of Health Canada-approved vaccines, which include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson, at least 14 days prior to their entry. Vaccine documentation must be in English or French, or accompanied by a certified translation.
Travellers are still required to take a COVID-19 test before departure and upon arrival. Entry will only be permitted if they are asymptomatic, receive a negative result on arrival, and present a credible quarantine plan in case it’s needed.
All travellers, whether vaccinated or not, must upload their information via the ArriveCAN app or online portal prior to arriving in Canada. This includes proof of vaccination, personal information, and travel details. Full instructions and required documentation guidelines will be available online by July 5.
Importantly, only travellers that meet all criteria for being “fully vaccinated” will be exempt from quarantine measures. Partial vaccinations or recovery from COVID-19 with a single vaccine dose does not qualify. Those not fully vaccinated will remain subject to the existing quarantine and testing protocols.
This policy shift also extends travel exemptions to the roughly 23,000 individuals with a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) issued after March 18, 2020. These individuals are once again eligible to enter Canada under the loosened guidelines.
According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, this marks the beginning of a gradual plan to reopen borders safely while discussions continue with provincial governments to introduce a unified national vaccination certification system.
Maple News will continue to provide up-to-date coverage as Canada refines its travel measures in response to evolving public health data.