Maple News reports that after nearly a year and a half of stringent border closures, Canada is gradually reopening its doors to international tourists. While not yet fully back to pre-pandemic norms, the government has announced a phased approach to resume travel, starting with fully vaccinated visitors.
As of August 9, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents can enter Canada for non-essential travel. This marks the first step in Canada’s broader reopening strategy. International students, temporary residents, and tourists from other countries will need to wait until September 7, the date set for further easing of travel restrictions — provided the public health situation remains stable.
Crucially, only those considered ‘fully vaccinated’ by Canadian standards will be eligible. This means travelers must have completed the full dosage of a Health Canada-approved vaccine — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, or Johnson & Johnson — at least 14 days prior to entering the country.
Unvaccinated foreign tourists, however, remain barred entry. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that Canada is not ready to welcome unvaccinated travelers and that it may be “quite a while” before such access is granted.
In terms of air travel from high-impact regions, Canada continues to impose targeted restrictions. Direct flights from India, for instance, remain suspended until at least August 21. Indian travelers must take a connecting flight through another country and show negative COVID-19 test results taken within 72 hours before departure from that third nation.
Canada’s phased border reopening reflects a careful balance between economic recovery and public health. The federal government has emphasized that all measures are contingent on evolving COVID-19 case trends and vaccination rates, both domestically and abroad.
International visitors are advised to stay updated on travel advisories and public health requirements, including arrival testing or quarantine mandates, should new variants or surges alter the current plan.
As the country navigates this cautious reopening, Maple News will continue to provide accurate, up-to-date guidance for anyone planning to travel to or immigrate to Canada.