canadian travel limits

Canada is easing its travel restrictions. Here's what you need to know

Vaccinated travellers will soon be able to skip the 14-day quarantine requirement.

Social Sharing

After more than a year of travel restrictions that have impacted most Canadians, the federal government has finally begun to ease the rules.

Ottawa has embarked on Phase 1 of a multiphase approach to lift its travel restrictions. However, the government warns that the process will be gradual — based on scientific data and not people's pleas to reopen the borders.

Here's what changes are happening soon and what to expect as more Canadians get vaccinated.

Phase 1: Vaccinated travellers can skip quarantine

Since the start of the pandemic, Canada has kept its borders closed to most non-essential traffic and required a 14-day quarantine for travellers allowed to enter. 

The government upped the ante in late February, mandating that travellers take a COVID-19 test upon arrival and that air passengers spend part of their quarantine at a designated hotel until they receive test results.

However, Ottawa announced on Wednesday that fully vaccinated travellers currently allowed to enter Canada will soon be able to skip the federal 14-day quarantine requirement, including the mandated hotel stay. Instead, they'll have to show proof of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test and test negative for the virus upon arrival. 

The government has not yet set a date for the rule change but says it "hopes" to implement it by early July.

"These changes will only be made if the [COVID-19] case count continues to drop and if the vaccination campaign continues to go well," said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc in French at a news conference on Wednesday. 

Even with the changes, fully vaccinated travellers may still have to quarantine for 14 days if they enter a province that has a provincial quarantine requirement. Currently, the Atlantic provinces and the Northwest Territories require travellers — including those fully vaccinated — to quarantine. However,  New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador each aim to lift the requirement for vaccinated travellers at some point this summer. 

The pending federal quarantine rule change is welcome news for many vaccinated travellers — but not for those set to fly to Canada before it takes effect. 

"I feel like it's a little bit of a punishment and a slap in the face," said Fay Wallenberg, who grew up in Regina and now lives in Tuscany, Italy. 

Wallenberg, who's flying home on June 25 to visit her parents, has received both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

She can't change her travel plans, she said, and will now arrive with the knowledge that vaccinated travellers will get to skip the quarantine hotel, potentially only a week later.

"I think it's horribly unfair," said Wallenberg. "I'm fully vaccinated."

On Wednesday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said various government departments are still finalizing plans for the rule-change to ensure they will be "operationally ready" in July. 

Is my vaccine OK? What about my kids?

At this point, only travellers who received a vaccine approved by Health Canada — Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson — will be allowed to bypass the 14-day quarantine. The government said it will assess and consider approving other COVID-19 vaccines at a later date.

Ottawa said it's also working on a vaccine passport for travellers, and that if it's not ready by the time the rules change, Canadian border officers will determine a traveller's status based on their documentation.

• Analysis Canada still lacks national guidance for fully vaccinated Canadians as travel restrictions ease

Hajdu couldn't yet say if unvaccinated children will get to skip the hotel requirement when travelling with fully vaccinated parents. Health Canada has so far only approved the COVID-19 vaccine for those  aged 12 and up . 

"We will not separate families who are travelling together," Hajdu said Wednesday on Power & Politics . But she provided no further details, saying they have yet to be worked out. 

What's next?

The government said it doesn't have a set timeline for when further travel restrictions will be eased.

"The metrics we're looking at are less date oriented and more disease-activity oriented," said Hajdu. Case counts, hospitalizations and vaccination rates will all play a part in dictating Ottawa's next moves, she said.

The government's next vaccination "goalpost" for easing border restrictions is to have 75 per cent of all eligible Canadians fully inoculated, said Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. Currently, only seven per cent of Canadians aged 18 and older have received two doses.  

What about the Canada-U.S. border?

Canada's gradual approach to lifting travel restrictions has frustrated some U.S. politicians who want to see a plan for reopening the Canada-U.S. land border put into action now.

Recently, there's been speculation that the U.S. plans to go it alone and reopen its side of the border to non-essential traffic on June 22 — when the current agreement expires.

WATCH | A look at how Canada plans to ease its travel restrictions

Fully vaccinated Canadians can soon skip hotel quarantine

U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders says he's spoken to nearly a dozen U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who say they've been told the U.S. land border is reopening on that date.

"If you call me two weeks today, I'll be shocked if the border is not reopened into the U.S.," said Saunders, whose office sits close to the Canadian border in Blaine, Wash. 

However, the U.S. government has denied the rumours. 

• Canada eyeing multi-stage approach to reopening the border to travellers
• Unlike NHLers, other athletes not getting border exemption from Canadian government

Further, Hajdu said she met with U.S.   Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra last week and they agreed it would be beneficial for the two countries to come up with shared health protocols to ease travel restrictions. 

Either way, eager cross-border travellers may get more information soon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden are set to discuss the issue at the current G7 summit in the U.K., according to New York congressman Brian Higgins.

"In the end, these are the only two decision makers that matter," Higgins said Thursday during  a panel discussion hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. "They can make a game-changing decision."

Corrections

• A previous version of this story mistakenly identified Alex Azar as the U.S. health secretary. In fact, the current U.S. secretary of health and human services is Xavier Becerra. Jun 11, 2021 10:21 AM ET

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Business Reporter

Based in Toronto, Sophia Harris covers consumer and business for CBC News web, radio and TV. She previously worked as a CBC videojournalist in the Maritimes, where she won an Atlantic Journalism Award for her work. Got a story idea? Contact: [email protected]

• @sophiaharrisCBC

Related Stories

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About this site"
• Departments

Language selection

• Search and menus

Current COVID-19 Border Measures for Travellers Entering Canada (CBSA)

The Government has announced travel restrictions due to concerns over the Omicron variant and is re-instating COVID-19 testing on all air travellers entering the country with the exception of the United States.

• The Government of Canada continues to make cautious adjustments to its border approach using scientific evidence and data.
• In response to the emergence of the Omicron variant, the Government of Canada issued an entry prohibition for the following countries: Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Foreign Nationals who have been in these countries for the 14 days will not be permitted entry to Canada.
• People with a right of entry to Canada who have been to these countries in the previous 14 days will be subject to enhanced pre-entry and arrival testing, screening and quarantine measures.
• Regardless of vaccination status, travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing at the airport and will be required to quarantine while they await the test results.
• Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be tested on arrival and day 8, and be required to quarantine for 14 days, and to stay at a designated quarantine facility if they do not possess a suitable and robust quarantine plan.
• All travellers arriving by air are now required to stay in a designated quarantine facility or other suitable location while they await the result of their on arrival test.

The Government of Canada’s phased approach to easing border measures was developed to meet specific public health criteria and is based on scientific evidence and the public health situation in Canada and around the world.

Pandemic border changes since summer 2021

In August and September 2021, the Government continued to reopen Canada’s borders, allowing fully vaccinated travellers from the U.S. to enter Canada for discretionary purposes on August 9, followed by fully vaccinated discretionary travellers from all other countries on September 7.

The Government also eliminated the requirement to stay in government-authorized accommodation upon arrival.

Before arriving in Canada, travellers have had to:

• electronically submit information related to COVID-19 into ArriveCAN,
• meet the pre- and on-arrival test requirements,
• be asymptomatic, and
• have a suitable quarantine plan.

Final determination regarding exemptions is always made by a government representative at the border based on the information presented at the time of entry into Canada, which is why a quarantine plan is still required. Acceptable supporting proof of vaccination, as outlined below, is also required.

“Fully vaccinated” definition:

• The traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine — or a combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days before entering Canada.
• Accepted vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). As of November 30th, Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN will also be accepted. This list may continue to expand as evidence becomes available.
• Proof of vaccination must be in English or French (or a certified translation).
• The traveller can receive their vaccine in any country.

Exemptions:

Exemptions are also in place until January 15, 2022, for certain individuals, including essential workers entering for non-discretionary purposes, as well as habitual residents of cross-border communities.

Quarantine and testing:

• Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from countries other than those 10 identified as a concern for Omicron will not have to undertake a full 14 day quarantine or complete a Day-8 test. However, travellers arriving by air from locations other than the US will be required to take a test upon arrival. Those travellers from the US may be subject to mandatory random testing in the 14-day period after arriving.
• Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to have a suitable quarantine plan (and be prepared carry it out) in case it is determined at the border that they don’t meet the necessary requirements.
• At any time after entering Canada, if a fully vaccinated traveller tests positive or is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must follow all local public health requirements, including quarantine or isolation.

Declaring vaccination status:

• All travellers (not just fully vaccinated travellers) are required to electronically disclose their COVID-19 vaccination information, including:
•  whether they received a COVID-19 vaccine,
• its brand name (or any other information that identifies the vaccine that was administered),
• the dates they received the vaccine, and
• the number of doses received.
• This information will help identify “vaccine-escape” variants — variants that make vaccines less effective — when on-arrival tests are analyzed. This information will help shape appropriate public health measures across the country.
• Fully vaccinated travellers who want to be considered for exemption from quarantine and reduced testing requirements will have to provide evidence of their vaccination status by uploading supporting English or French documentation (or a certified translation) into the ArriveCAN app or by signing in online at Canada.ca/ArriveCAN before arriving in Canada.
• Travellers must present a copy (paper or electronic) of their vaccination documentation and originals of any certified translation for verification at the border and retain it for 14 days following their entry to Canada.
• Only travellers whose vaccination status meets the criteria of “fully vaccinated” will be exempt from quarantine if certain conditions are met. 

72-hour trip testing exemption:

Beginning November 30, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals with right of entry to Canada, who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada are exempt from taking a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test. This exemption is only for trips originating in Canada that are taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the  Indian Act , who depart and re-enter by land or by air.

The exemption will also apply to:

• people with medical contraindications as defined in the Orders in Council (OIC); and
• unvaccinated children under 12 who are accompanying their parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor. The accompanying adult must be fully vaccinated (or have a contraindication) and have the right of entry into Canada.

For fully vaccinated travellers with the right of entry into Canada who are travelling by air, the 72-hour period runs from the initially scheduled departure time for their flight leaving Canada to the scheduled departure time for their return flight to Canada. Travellers will be responsible for maintaining proof of the 72-hour period to show airline/rail companies and border officials as required (such as a boarding pass or travel itinerary).

Accepted vaccines:

Also on November 30, 2021, the Government of Canada will expand its list of accepted vaccines needed to enter Canada and exemption criteria from some testing and quarantine requirements. The list will include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization ‘s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

Changes scheduled for Jan 15, 2022:

As of January 15, 2022, certain groups of travellers, who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

• Individuals travelling to reunite with family (unless they are under 18 years of age if travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is either fully vaccinated or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the  Indian Act .)
• International students (18 years of age and over)
• Fully vaccinated students will be allowed to attend any provincially or territorially designated learning institution in Canada.
• Unvaccinated students under the age of 18 must attend a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory where the school is located.
• Professional athletes and their support staff, and amateur athletes.
• Individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers, outside of agricultural and food processing.
• Most essential service providers (including truck drivers, emergency service providers and marine researchers).

Omicron measures:

On November 26, the Government of Canada announced additional measures in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant in southern Africa, including prohibition on travel from certain countries. On November 30, that list was expanded. Foreign nationals who have travelled to any of these countries in the previous 14 days will not be allowed entry to Canada. The full list of prohibited countries is:

• Mozambique;
• South Africa; and

Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with status under the  Indian Act,  regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19, who have been in any of these 10 countries in the previous 14 days, will be subject to enhanced pre-entry and arrival testing, screening, and quarantine measures.

Unvaccinated travellers, with right of entry to Canada, will continue to be tested on arrival and day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. However, those arriving by air will now be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility or other suitable location while they await the result of their on arrival test.

Canada travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Canada travel in 2024 with official Canada travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

As restrictions vary based on the traveler’s citizenship, we will focus primarily on rules affecting U.S. citizens.

Last update: January 28, 2024. Originally published: September 2021.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Photo credit: Kelly January 2024: “Canada is an extremely diverse and safe Country to visit at all times of the year. Travel and daily life is back to normal, however, many employees continue to work remotely and employers continue to have a difficult time finding staff If travellers fall ill while visiting Canada, there are plenty of walk-in clinics and emergency rooms in every Canadian city, making healthcare easily accessible. However, it is still wise for travellers to purchase health insurance prior to visiting.” – Kelly of Just One Passport , resident of Canada

At the end of the post, we share more on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to Canada so you can get a true sense of what to expect.

Table of Contents

Is Canada open for travel? Can I travel to Canada right now?

As of October 2022, Canada travel restrictions for all travelers entering Canada by air, land or sea include:

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required
• COVID-19 pre-entry and arrival tests are not required
• Quarantine is not required
• ArriveCAN is not required
• Pre-boarding tests for cruise passengers are not required
• Health checks to board planes and trains are not required
• Wearing masks on planes and trains is not required but strongly recommended

Quarantine rules in Canada: What happens if I get Covid?

Foreign tourists who  test positive for Covid while in Canada should self-isolate immediately. Travelers may be required to cover costs of quarantine accommodations.

Those with severe symptoms are advised to call 911 or the local emergency number in Canada.

Canada Proof of Vaccination Requirements for Dining, Travel, and other services

You might be wondering: Do I need a vaccine certificate or Covid test to enter restaurants, public transit, and other services in Canada?

As of June 2022, proof of vaccination is no longer required to board a plane, train or cruise ship when traveling within Canada. Generally it is not required to enter businesses or restaurants.

Each province or territory has the authority to require a proof of vaccination each situation.

Can I travel to Canada in September 2024? Can I travel to Canada this Fall?

Travel to Canada in September is possible for foreign travelers. Read on for details and check back for updates.

What is it like to fly to Canada right now? YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport? YVR Vancouver International Airport? Masks are no longer required but still strongly recommended. The airports are using enhanced cleaning procedures and hand sanitizer is available throughout the terminals.

As of October 2022 , all persons arriving in Canada will no longer be subject to randomized testing at airports . 

Using ArriveCAN is now optional for travelers flying into international airports to submit an Advance CBSA Declaration to save time upon arrival in airports like Toronto, Vancouver or Montréal.

What is it like to drive into Canada right now? Travelers can enter Canada during open hours at land borders . Required documents must be shown at the border.

Check Canada-US border wait times here.

Do I have to quarantine when traveling to Canada? No. Quarantine upon arrival is no longer required in Canada. Persons who test positive for Covid in Canada are asked to quarantine. See above for details.

Does Canada check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? No. Health screening procedures are no longer required to enter Canada.

Does Canada require a negative Covid 19 test for travelers? No. Covid pre-entry tests and arrival tests are no longer required.

Does Canada require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for travelers? No . Proof of vaccination is no longer required in Canada.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? No. Travelers are no longer required to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine to enter Canada.

Is a booster shot required for travel to Canada? At this time, booster shots are not required in Canada. There is currently no expiration period set for the validity of vaccinations.

What Covid testing options are available for travelers in Canada? U.S. citizens can obtain a COVID-19 test from provincial health authorities or private facilities in Canada.

The cost for private testing varies depending on the location and can exceed $300. Rapid tests for $60 with results in 30 minutes are available by appointment near Toronto Airport .

What healthcare options are available to travelers in Canada who get the virus? Canada hospitals and clinics are open. Canada’s universal healthcare does not pay for visitors.

Testing centers are also available for foreign visitors in some provinces and territories in Canada.

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in Canada? Essential services, restaurants, bars, and retail shops are open in Canada. Some limitations, such as proof of vaccination requirement, may still be implemented in some provinces. 

Check here for restrictions in each province.

Are face masks required in Canada? Wearing of face masks is no longer required in Canada but still recommended.

Are buses running in Canada? Public transportation is available throughout Canada. 

Will Canada impose new Covid restrictions? What’s next is difficult to predict. Historically, most countries impose COVID-19 restrictions when strains on the health care system might become unsustainable. Canada has been relatively proactive and “strict” on preventive Covid measures.

How has the Coronavirus impacted Canada?

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a recession and increased unemployment in Canada. Tourism was hit especially hard.

Canada experienced a surge in cases with the Omicron variant. Many provinces reintroduced restrictions. As the situation came under control, Canada started easing travel restrictions.

As of October 2022, Canada ended all travel, testing, and border requirements and restrictions related to COVID-19.

Canada initially started reopening for tourism in summer 2021. As of September 2021, fully vaccinated foreign travelers have been allowed to visit the country without undergoing quarantine.

Canada began COVID-19 vaccination in December 2020. Currently, more than 3/4 of the total population has been fully vaccinated.

For the current situation in Canada, including: total COVID-19 positive cases; total cases in Canada; and COVID-19 testing in Canada, please see the Government of Canada website .

What should you pack for safely traveling in Canada?

😷 Face Masks – Face coverings are recommended in crowded public places. Find N95 masks at Bona Fide > or designer options at Vida >

💊 Medicine – Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication for your entire trip to avoid trips to the clinic.

💳 Vaccine Card Holder – Protect that paper CDC card when traveling abroad (if your country doesn’t offer a digital version). Get a simple plastic protector > or Vegan leather clippable > or Leather passport + card combo holder >

👃 Covid self-test – The most studied rapid antigen self-test with FDA emergency authorization.  NOT valid to enter countries. Use for your own peace of mind. Order from CVS > or Walmart >

💧 Sealed water bottle – Make sure your reusable water bottle has a lid that’s not exposed to the air. We use one of each of the following: Shop insulated water bottles with protective lid > Shop water bottles with purification filter and protective lid >

✈️ Travel insurance that covers Covid – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

TIP : Traveling abroad is much easier when our smartphone stays connected.

If you have our WorldWide Connectivity course (also available inside our Membership ), review the modules on eSIM Best Practices and Managing Data Usage to get the most out of your eSIM!

What do Canada locals and recent travelers say about visiting Canada now?

What is it like to visit Canada right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect.

The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

September 2023 – Ryan of WaylessTravelers , Canadian: “The current state of tourism is back to normal, like during pre-Covid times. The multiple summer and fall festivals have returned to Montreal, including F1 weekend, Just for Laughs, Jazz festival etc… Restaurants are also very lively and full. 

All the local attractions, restaurants, concerts, malls are back to normal operations. No restrictions (masks/gloves/testing) are imposed.

We do recommend to reserve activities and restaurants ahead of time as we have noticed that they do book up usually a few days in advance. We believe this is because a lot of Canadians are preferring to travel more locally due to still some hesitancy of traveling abroad.”

May 2023 – Nick Rosen of The World Overload , American visitor:  “I flew to Quebec City and Montreal for a one week vacation in May 2023. There are currently no travel restrictions but some locals and visitors continue to follow Covid guidelines including masks and safe distances. There is easy access to healthcare and testing.

All attractions and food services continue to operate for tourism. Hours may vary depending on day/weekend. Please check ahead when scheduling. Be aware that summer is the time when most construction and repairs are done by the cities you will be visiting.”

January 2023 – Melissa from My Beautiful Passport , Canadian: “Tourism in Ontario is picking up overall, with most events & festivals resuming in 2023, if they didn’t already resume in 2022. 

Canada appears ready to welcome tourists back into the country. Niagara Falls and other popular Canadian destinations are lively, restaurants and attractions are open, and people are ready to explore again, wearing masks indoors as encouraged. Hospitals are not currently overwhelmed.”

September 2022 – Michelle, Intentional Travelers, US citizen: “We flew from the US to Canada for a conference in Montreal, Quebec. I submitted our ArriveCAN information a couple days before the flight using the website. It was pretty simple to input our passport number, vaccine dates, and upload a photo of our CDC vaccine cards. Then there was a form for trip details. There was a quick Covid self-assessment form asking about fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Confirmation included a six-digit code and QR code that we printed and brought to the airport.

After all that, we had more online processes to complete for both airlines on our itinerary (United and Air Canada), including uploading our CDC vaccine cards again. Air Canada’s site did not accept our vaccine card image, but it wasn’t a problem, I guess because we had ArriveCAN done.

To board the flight from US to Canada, we only had to show our passport and ticket. On arrival in Montreal, we only ‘flashed’ our ArriveCAN confirmation to an agent on our way to the machines where we scanned our passports and completed immigration questionnaires, which included just one question about having any Covid symptoms, and took a picture. Arriving around midnight, the process took less than 15 minutes.

We were fortunate all our bags arrived. The baggage claim looked like a luggage graveyard with hundreds of unclaimed suitcases everywhere!”

May 2022 – Mayuri of Canada Crossroads , Canadian resident: “In my province (Alberta, home to the Canadian Rockies) domestic tourism has been flourishing. All the sightseeing spots are open, but some have restricted hours. 

Since February (in Alberta, and from April nationwide) things are open, no restrictions in terms of social distancing, masking, access to medical care, restaurants, stores and hotels. In fact many airports are busier than usual (including the country’s busiest Toronto airport – just flew last week). I feel we need to be a little more prepared for summer tourism as many international visitors are wanting to explore Canada.”

March 9, 2022 – Samantha of Continuous Roamer , Canadian resident: “Domestic travel in Canada is straightforward since there are no extra requirements once you have entered the country. However, mask wearing is necessary and some provinces still require a vaccine passport.

The vaccine passport has been removed in Ontario in March. Capacity in Ontario restaurants is now at 100% so it is easier to get a table. Although, free antigen covid tests are extremely difficult to access at pharmacies in Ontario. British Columbia still requires the vaccine passport, therefore lines are longer to enter some establishments while your pass and ID are checked.”

January 20, 2022 – Haley Blackall Travel , Digital Nomad:  “My partner and I visited family and worked online in Kelowna BC for 2.5 months from mid-November 2022 to end of January 2022. Tourism in this region of Canada is low, due to winter conditions especially for international visitors. Make sure you have all the required documentation upon arrival, because airline personnel are doing proper checks. If you arrive in Canada from an international destination and are unvaccinated, there is a smooth running process for a mandatory Covid-19 test at the airport upon arrival, and the ArriveCAN app is easy to navigate in which the government keeps a close eye on contact tracing and quarantine requirements. Canadians have quick access to healthcare, including testing for antigen and PCR. After restaurants offering takeout and delivery services only at the beginning of the pandemic, dining in is becoming more popular. Besides the use of masks, life is getting back to normal in Canada.”

January 2022 – Mary from Brbymary, French traveler: “I flew to Vancouver for a week [from Ireland] to visit my partner’s family. Everything was well organised through ArriveCan app. Testing at the airport was easy although a bit behind and people respected rules in general. Plan some additional time to do tests at the airport and to do tests on arrival even if you have an appointment.”

December 2021 – Federica of Globetrottoise , Canadian nomad:  “I would say Canada is a pretty safe destination at the moment, especially outside the big cities. I’ve been road tripping around the Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta in the past few months and always felt safe and able to enjoy most attractions, from museums to national parks.  Canada is open to vaccinated travellers only and health regulations are in place in most public places. Masks are mandatory inside almost everywhere and in some provinces the access to cafes restaurants, movie theaters, libraries, etc is possible only with a valid proof of vaccination. Attractions are mostly open everywhere and access to covid testing is pretty easy (but quite pricey).”

November 12, 2021 – Nicole of Traveling BC , Canadian citizen: “While businesses are still operating under restrictions, in general, many rules have lifted and now it’s ‘full steam ahead’ in the tourism industry. Some touristy areas (the coasts and the Rockies) even became quite busy over the summer, since everyone wanted to go on a much-needed vacation. If you visit, you’ll have to show a negative COVID test and be required to wear a mask, socially distance, and show your vaccination passport!

Most people and businesses follow the restrictions and around 75% of people are fully vaccinated, although compliance with restrictions and vaccinations varies between provinces and cities. Accessing COVID testing is easy and quick, although you’ll have to pay for the test if you’re traveling. A lot of healthcare has moved to online appointments, and some hospitals are still overwhelmed in areas with lots of COVID cases. Businesses are open to tourists, but many operate under reduced hours, lower capacities and may have halted certain services/activities due to COVID. You will often have to book activities online or by phone, and make sure to wear a mask and bring proof of vaccination, or businesses will deny you entry.”

November 2021 – Chris, American digital nomad: “I flew to Newfoundland for one month in October and November of 2021. Everything seems to be open again, though every place where you would take off a mask (such as a restaurant) requires you to show proof of vaccination. People seem very respectful and friendly, happy to show you around. There is voluntary contact tracing check-ins at a lot of locations. There don’t seem to be long lines anywhere. Testing is free and readily available.”

October 9, 2021 – Nicole, Go Far Grow Close , Vancouver BC, Canadian resident:  “Visitors are very much welcome. There are strict regulations for visitors to enter Canada (fully vaccinated) so we know that they are as safe or safer than the locals. So long as they follow the rules – wear masks indoors – no one cares. I feel that we are very travel ready in Canada. If you feel ill, there are free drive through covid testing sites. Hospitals are available. Local attractions, food services, and all amenities are open so long as you wear masks indoors (or when you get up in a restaurant), social distance and follow whatever other rules might be in place. Restaurants are still not at full capacity but getting there. Movie theatres are open. We eat out regularly, go to movies, and do not feel restricted.”

September 2021 – Kathy, American traveler: “We planned to spend two months in British Columbia, Canada. We had to show proof of vaccination and have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of crossing. We managed to get a test at a local CVS pharmacy (for free) and got our results in about 36 hours. Whew! There is another place to get a test in Seattle with guaranteed results but they cost $165 each. We also had to go to the website ArrivCan.com and answer questions and download our vaccine cards. Finally, in the early morning hours of August 9th we arrived at the Canadian Border just south of Vancouver, BC at around 4:30 a.m. There were approximately 20 cars/trucks in two lines. Unfortunately, the line we picked took forever so when it finally turned 6:00 a.m. another agent opened a new gate and we were there and across the border in about 10 minutes. We have now been in BC Canada for over a month. There are very few U.S. citizens here but lots of traveling Canadians. In fact, their COVID numbers have spiked so it is now a requirement to wear masks in stores/grocery stores and entering and leaving restaurants. No problem. We feel safe doing that and know that even though there is some resistance, most Canadians are fully vaccinated. In fact, as of August 13th restaurants and bars and other certain businesses now require that people show proof of vaccination to enter. I am in complete support. We feel grateful we were able to spend some of our summer in this beautiful country.”

Planning a trip to Canada?

Check out our other Canada travel resources: – The Scenic Route: Kelowna to Banff – The Best of Banff on a Budget – Kelowna: British Columbia’s Hidden Gem – Montreal, Quebec Summer Trip Guide

– 5 Awesome Things to Do in Vancouver, BC in Summer

If you have questions or updates about travel to Canada during the Coronavirus crisis or post-pandemic, please let us know in the comments below.

~ Pin this post for later or share with friends ~

Disclaimer: Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.

Similar Posts

Croatia travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Croatia travel in 2024 with official Croatia travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours. We lived and worked from Croatia in winter…

Cat Ba Island – Lan Ha – HaLong Bay Cruise Review + Tips

What is the best value for your money and time on a HaLong Bay cruise? These are our tips and full HaLong Bay cruise review to help you make the best choice. In this post, we share what we learned from our experience on Venezia Cruises 3-day 2-night Lan Ha Bay itinerary and from extensive research…

Italy in September: Best Activities, Destinations, Weather, & Packing Guide

Personally, I think September in Italy is one of the best times for visitors. In fact, I’m writing this from Italy now, in September, as we typically come here in Autumn. Italy in September and early October usually means good weather and beautiful sunsets. While there are still crowds in Italy’s top destinations and main…

10+ Items We Take With Us on Every Trip

We pack and re-pack our bags a lot as Digital Nomads. Typically, we travel with a backpack and laptop bag each; or a rolling carry-on suitcase and a laptop bag. Our trips can be a house-sitting gig just a few miles away, to visiting our Peace Corps community in Jamaica, or country hopping around Europe…

Things to Know About Visiting Cuba

Cuba is a beautiful country with warm-hearted people. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, there are a few things you need to know to make the most out of your trip to Cuba.  In this post, we’ve researched the important things to know – especially for U.S. travelers in 2024 – and received a…

How to Use Apple AirTags For Tracking Luggage When Traveling

With growing concerns over lost luggage and delays at airports, we decided it was time to try Apple AirTags as a luggage locator or tracking device on our trips. In this Apple AirTag review for travel, we go over our personal experience with Apple AirTag luggage tracking on various flights. We also share important things…

Canada is still requiring a negative covid test 72 hours before embarkation when on a cruise ship entering any Canadian ports. This has not been changed. The change is for land ,and air and sea other than a cruise ship

Thank you for this clarification. We have updated our post to better reflect requirements for cruise ships.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Cross Border Shopping

• Restaurants
• Deals & Coupons

Massachusetts

North dakota, new hampshire, pennsylvania.

Snowbird Advisor members receive an exclusive 5% discount!

Duty Free Limits for Canada

Our personal exemptions section provides you with duty free limit and personal exemption information for bringing goods into Canada from the United States.

Planning on exceeding your duty free allowance? Use our  Canada Customs Duty Rates, Tariffs and Taxes   Chart to see how much duty you will have to pay to bring goods back to Canada from the U.S. that exceed your duty free allowance. You can also use our Canadian Duty Calculator to calculate duty and tax payable on 1,000's of other items.

Personal exemptions allow you to bring goods of a certain value into Canada from the United States without having to pay the regular duties that apply to those goods (except for minimum duties that may apply to certain tobacco products). In other words, these items are Duty Free.

Even if you do not qualify for a personal exemption, you may bring goods of any value back to Canada as long as you pay the applicable duties and any provincial or territorial assessments that apply, with the exception of  Restricted Items  and certain  Food, Plant and Animal Items . See our  Duty & Tax Tips  section for more information.

What are your personal exemption amounts?

NOTE: Canadian Duty free allowances increased to the following amounts on June 1, 2012 .

Less than 24 Hours - $0 CAD

There is no duty free allowance for absences of less than than 24 hours.

24 Hour Exemption – $200 CAD

If you are absent from Canada for more than 24 hours, you may claim up to $200 CAD worth of goods duty free as your personal exemption and all goods must be with you when you arrive.

If the total value of goods you bring back to Canada exceeds $200 CAD in total, you cannot claim this exemption and you will have to pay duties and taxes on the value of  all goods you bring in to Canada, not just the amount that exceeds your allowance. 

You can NOT include tobacco or alcoholic under this exemption.

48 Hour Exemption – $800 CAD

If you are absent from Canada for more than 48 hours, you may claim up to $800 CAD worth of goods duty free, and must have the goods with you when you arrive at the border.

If the total value of goods you bring back to Canada exceeds $800 CAD in total, you can still claim this exemption and you will only have to pay duties and taxes on the value of goods that exceeds $800 CAD. 

You may include some tobacco and alcohol products under this exemption, and should review the section below called “Alcohol and Tobacco” for more details.

7 Day Exemption – $800 CAD

If you are absent from Canada for more than 7 days, you may claim up to $800 CAD worth of goods duty free.  With the exception of tobacco and alcohol products, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive at the border.  

You may include some tobacco and alcohol products under this exemption, and should review the section below called “Alcohol and Tobacco” for more details. 

To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you left Canada but include the date you returned. Dates matter, not times. For example, you are considered to have been absent for seven days if you left Friday the 7th and returned Friday the 14th.

What are Duties?

The term “duties” includes excise taxes and GST/HST. It does not include provincial or territorial sales tax. However, the CBSA has working agreements with some provinces and territories that allows them to collect provincial and territorial taxes, levies and fees on goods that have a value higher than your personal exemption.

Are personal exemptions subject to any terms or conditions?

You should be aware that the following terms and conditions apply to personal exemptions:

• You are not allowed to combine your personal exemptions with another person’s or transfer them to someone else.
• You are not allowed to combine your 48-hour exemption ($800 CAD) with your 7-day exemption ($800 CAD) for a total exemption of $1600 CAD.
• Children are entitled to a personal exemption as long as the goods they are declaring are for the child’s use.
• Personal exemption claims must be made in Canadian dollars, which requires you to convert the amount you paid for goods in the U.S. (including sales tax) into Canadian dollars at the applicable rate of exchange.
• Generally, the goods you include in your personal exemption must be for your personal or household use. This includes souvenirs, prizes and gifts.
• Goods brought in for commercial use or for another person do not qualify as a personal exemption and are subject to full duties.
• Goods you include in your 24-hour exemption or 48-hour exemption have to be with you on your arrival in Canada. Goods you claim in your 7-day exemption may be shipped to your home by mail, courier or other means of transportation, except for tobacco and alcohol.

Alcohol and Tobacco

You can include limited quantities of alcoholic beverages in your personal exemption. These items must accompany you on your arrival. Please note that alcohol and tobacco exemptions are not available unless you have been outside Canada for more than 48 hours .

The provincial or territorial minimum ages for the importation of alcohol are:

• 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec; and
• 19 years for Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:

• 1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
• 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor;
• a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of wine and liquor; or
• 24 x 355 millilitre (12 ounces) cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5 litres) of beer or ale.

You may be able to bring in more than the free allowance of alcohol, as long as the quantities are within the limit set by the province or territory where you will enter Canada. If the value of the goods is more than the free allowance, you will have to pay both customs and provincial/territorial assessments. For more information, check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority before you arrival back in Canada.

You are allowed to bring in all of the following amounts of tobacco into Canada without paying duty:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 50 cigars or cigarillos;
• 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco; and
• 200 tobacco sticks.

If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks or manufactured tobacco in your personal allowance, a partial exemption may apply. You will have to pay a special duty on these products unless they are marked“CANADA – DUTY PAID ? DROIT ACQUITTÉ.” You will find Canadian-made products sold at a duty-free shop marked this way.

If you bring in more than your personal allowance, you will have to pay regular duties and assessments on the excess amount, which can be very substantial.

While you are outside Canada, you can send gifts free of duty and taxes to friends in Canada under certain conditions. To qualify, each gift must not be worth more than $60 CAD and cannot be a tobacco product, an alcoholic beverage or advertising matter.

If the gift is worth more than $60 CAD, the recipient will have to pay regular duties on the excess amount. It is always a good idea to include a gift card to avoid any misunderstanding. While gifts you send from outside Canada do not count as part of your personal exemption, gifts you bring in your personal baggage do.

Helpful Numbers:

For more information, call Border Information Services (BIS) at one of the following telephone numbers.:

Toll-free in Canada: 1-800-461-9999 Outside Canada: 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064 (long-distance charges will apply)

Amazon.com vs. Amazon.ca

Compare amazon prices and selection in the u.s. vs. canada:.

• Exclusive deals, sales, coupons & tips
• Local offers across the border from your city
• Save on clothing, electronics, groceries, hotels & more…

Your Closest U.S. Shopping Destination is: Buffalo & Niagara Falls, NY

Not the shopping destination your were looking for? Choose from over 35 shopping destinations on our website.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

We keep your e-mail safe. Privacy policy.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About this site"
• Departments

Language selection

• Search and menus

Travellers Bring Goods Across the Border

When you return to Canada, you have to declare all of the goods you acquired while outside Canada, such as purchases, gifts, prizes or awards that you are bringing with you or are having shipped to you. Include goods that are still in your possession that you bought at a Canadian or foreign duty-free shop. As well, make sure you declare any repairs or alterations you made to your vehicle, vessel or aircraft while you were out of the country.

If you aren't sure if an article is admissible or should be declared, always declare it first and then ask the border services officer. Remember that officers are there to help you and will work out your personal exemption and any duty and taxes you owe in the way that benefits you most.

Personal exemptions

You may qualify for a personal exemption when returning to Canada. This allows you to bring goods up to a certain value into the country without paying regular duty and taxes.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible for a personal exemption if you are one of the following:

• a Canadian resident returning from a trip outside Canada;
• a former resident of Canada returning to live in this country; or
• a temporary resident of Canada returning from a trip outside Canada.

Children are also entitled to a personal exemption as long as the goods are for the child's use. Parents or guardians can make a declaration to the CBSA on behalf of the child.

What are your personal exemptions?

The length of your absence from Canada determines your eligibility for an exemption and the amount of goods you can bring back, without paying any duty and taxes. (The exception is a special excise duty that may apply to certain tobacco products. Refer to Tobacco Products section .)

Absence of less than 24 hours

• Personal exemptions do not apply to same-day cross-border shoppers.

Absence of more than 24 hours

• You can claim goods worth up to CAN$200.
• Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are not included in this exemption.
• If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$200, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead, duty and taxes are applicable on the entire amount of the imported goods.
• Goods must be in your possession and reported at time of entry to Canada.
• A minimum absence of 24 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Saturday the 16th to claim the exemption.

Absence of more than 48 hours

• You can claim goods worth up to CAN$800 .
• You may include alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, within the prescribed limits. Refer to sections Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Beverages.
• If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$800, duties and taxes are applicable only on amount of the imported goods that exceeds CAN$800 .
• A minimum absence of 48 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Sunday the 17th to claim the exemption.

Absence of more than 7 days

• You must have tobacco products and alcoholic beverages in your possession when you enter Canada, but other goods may follow you by other means (such as courier or by post). However, all of the goods you are bringing back must be reported to the CBSA when you arrive. See Unaccompanied Goods section.
• A minimum absence of seven days is required. When calculating the number of days you have been absent, exclude the day you left Canada but include the day you returned. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Canada on Friday the 7th and return no earlier than Friday the 14th to claim the exemption.

What conditions apply?

• You cannot combine your personal exemptions with another person's or transfer them to someone else.
• You cannot combine your personal exemptions. For example, if you are absent from Canada for 9 days total, you cannot combine your 48-hour exemption (CAN$800) with your 7-day exemption (CAN$800) for a total exemption of CAN$1,600.
• In general, the goods you include in your personal exemption must be for your personal or household use. Such goods include souvenirs that you purchased, gifts that you received from friends or relatives living outside Canada or prizes that you won.
• Goods you bring in for commercial use or for another person do not qualify for the exemption and are subject to applicable duties and taxes. In all cases, goods you include in your 24-hour exemption (CAN$200) or 48-hour exemption (CAN$800) must be with you upon your arrival in Canada.
• Except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, goods you claim in your 7-day exemption (CAN$800) may be shipped to your home by mail, courier or other means of transportation.
• You must always report the value of the goods you are importing in Canadian funds. Foreign currency amounts including any foreign taxes must be converted to Canadian dollars at the applicable exchange rate recognized by the CBSA.

For more information on personal exemptions, consult I Declare .

Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages are products that exceed 0.5% alcohol by volume. Certain alcoholic and wine products that do not exceed 0.5% by volume are not considered alcoholic beverages.

If you have been away from Canada for 48 hours or more , you are allowed to import one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:

You must meet the minimum age of the province or territory where you enter Canada. Minimum ages are established by provincial or territorial authorities: 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and 19 years for the remaining provinces and territories.

The CBSA classifies "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer and wine coolers are considered to be wine.

The quantities of alcoholic beverages you can import must be within the limit set by provincial and territorial liquor control authorities that apply where you will enter Canada. If the amount of alcohol you want to import exceeds your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply. Contact the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority for more information before you return to Canada.

Tobacco products

You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.

Whether they are stamped or unstamped, if you bring in tobacco products that exceed your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the regular duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply on the excess amount.

Note: You must be 18 years of age to bring tobacco products into Canada under your personal exemption.

Stamped Tobacco Products – Personal exemption amounts

If you wish to import cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks duty free as part of your personal exemption, the packages must be stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté ". You will find tobacco products sold at duty-free stores marked this way.

If you have been away from Canada for 48 hours or more, you may import all of the following amounts of cigars and stamped tobacco into Canada free of duty and taxes.

Unstamped Tobacco Products – Special duties rate

A special duty rate applies to cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks that are not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté".

For example, if you claim a carton of 200 cigarettes as part of your personal exemption and it is not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté", you will be assessed at a special duty rate.

Unstamped Tobacco Products – Import limits

In addition to your personal exemption amounts, there are limits on the quantity of tobacco products that may be imported if it is not packaged and not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté ". The limit is currently five units of tobacco products. One  unit of tobacco products consists of one of the following:

• Import and Export a Firearm or Weapon into Canada
• Explosives, fireworks, and ammunition
• Food, plants, animals and related products
• Used or second-hand mattresses
• Health products and prescription drugs
• Cultural property
• Cannabis (marijuana) legalization
• Gifts, prizes and awards
• Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more
• Import by mail
• Import vehicles
• Import boats

Language selection

• Français fr

Bringing food into Canada for personal use

If you bring food into Canada for personal use, be aware of federal import requirements. They apply whether you are a traveller or are buying food online. So be sure to pack and shop wisely.

Before bringing food into Canada

Items from the united states, items from outside the united states, be aware of the product risks, declare the product, find out if the item is allowed and under what conditions.

There may be restrictions on the items you bring into Canada for your own personal use. These restrictions vary depending on the item, the country it originates from and the Canadian province you're bringing it to.

Restrictions and requirements

To determine if the product is admissible to Canada, the restrictions that apply to the product and if you need to obtain documents prior to bringing the product into Canada, refer to:

• Table 1. Food products allowed into Canada originating from United States
• Table 2. Food products allowed into Canada originating from a foreign country other than United States

If your food is not listed in these tables, refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

If you need a document, such as a permit, the item won't be allowed into Canada without it. Use AIRS to find out what documents you need or contact the National Centre of Permissions .

Travellers coming into Canada can carry food with them for their own personal use, provided the food is imported within the specified personal exemption limits of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations and there are no restrictions in place under other federal legislation, such as the Health of Animals Act or the Plant Protection Act .

When bringing food into Canada, whether as a traveller or through an online purchase, you are eligible for the personal use exemption if :

• the food is solely for personal use, not for commercial use, and
• the quantity of food you are bringing into Canada does not exceed the limits set out in the document Maximum Quantity Limits for Personal Use Exemption prepared by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and listed in table 1 and table 2

Other duties and taxes may apply to imported foods. Find out more about the laws around bringing personal goods into Canada .

Didn't find what you're looking for? Check out the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)

Food can be contaminated with hazards that present a risk to human health, plants can carry invasive species that harm the environment and animal products can carry diseases that affect animals and humans.

When bringing food into Canada under the personal use exemptions, you may be bringing products that don't comply with the Canadian requirements. These requirements help safeguard the well-being of Canadians and the health of our environment and economy.

If you are buying food items online, visit the CFIA e-commerce page for more information on making safe purchases.

When travelling, you must declare all food products you bring with you into Canada.

• For more information, check the document I Declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or the Visitors to Canada web page.
• Be prepared, your product may need to be inspected by the CBSA at the point of entry (such as border crossings and airports).
• Additional duties and taxes may apply on the importation of foods and beverages in excess of Global Affairs Canada's personal exemption limits, as outlined in CBSA's Memorandum D19-10-2 – Administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (Importations)

Language selection

• Français fr

Latest border and travel measures

This news release may not reflect the current border and travel measures. Check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for the latest requirements to enter Canada.

Important notice

Note that information and resources on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are available on Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Government of Canada's first phase to easing border measures for travellers entering Canada

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

News release

Today, the Government of Canada is announcing the details of the first phase of its approach to easing border measures for travellers entering Canada. These cautious adjustments are now possible because of the successes of the vaccine roll out in Canada and Canadians following public health measures.

June 21, 2021  |   Ottawa  |  Public Health Agency of Canada

The Government of Canada is taking a responsible, precautionary approach at the border by continually monitoring available data and scientific evidence to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

Beginning July 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada will not be subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on day-8. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air will not be required to stay at a government-authorized hotel.

To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Currently, those vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must provide documentation supporting their vaccination in English, French or with a certified translation.

For these new measures to apply to them, fully vaccinated travellers must still meet all other mandatory requirements, including pre- and on-arrival testing. Continued testing will allow public health experts to keep monitoring positivity rates at the border, monitor for variants of concern, and make further adjustments to border measures as needed.

Fully vaccinated travellers must also be asymptomatic, have a paper or digital copy of their vaccination documentation, and provide COVID-19-related information electronically through ArriveCAN prior to arrival in Canada. They must still present a suitable quarantine plan, and be prepared to quarantine, in case it is determined at the border that they do not meet all of the conditions required to be exempt from quarantine. As with all other exempt travellers, they will be required to follow public health measures in place, such as wearing a mask when in public, keep a copy of their vaccine and test results, as well as a list of close contacts for 14 days after entry to Canada.

For travellers who are not fully vaccinated, there are no changes to Canada’s current border measures. They must continue to adhere to the current testing and federal quarantine requirements, which have been effective in reducing importation and transmission of COVID-19 and variants in Canada, and provide COVID-19-related information electronically through ArriveCAN before arriving in Canada. Unvaccinated air travellers must also book a three-night stay at a government-authorized hotel before their departure to Canada.

The Government of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Canadians. As vaccination, case counts and hospitalization rates evolve, the Government of Canada will continue to consider further targeted measures at the borders—and when to lift or adjust them—to keep Canadians safe and the economy running. 

“The cautious adjustments announced today are only possible because of the tremendous efforts of Canadians, and additional ones will only happen if we continue to protect each other. Thank you to all those who have stepped up to get their first and second dose. If you haven’t, get vaccinated when it’s your turn, follow up for your second dose, and continue to follow public health measures.” The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health

“This is the first phase of our precautionary approach to easing Canada’s border measures. At this time we are not opening up our borders any further. The Government of Canada continues to work globally through the World Health Organization as well as closely with the provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and American authorities on moving forward toward reopening in a way that is safe for both countries.” The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

“At this time, the Government of Canada continues to strongly advise Canadians to avoid non-essential travel. Although the future is looking brighter than it has for a long time with COVID-19 cases on a downward trend and vaccination efforts going well across the country, we can’t let our guard down. Our phased approach to easing border measures is guided by facts, scientific evidence, and the advice of our public health experts. In all that we’re doing in response to this pandemic, our top priority continues to be the health, safety and security of all Canadians.” The Honourable Bill Blair Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"Our government continues to closely monitor traveller positivity rates upon entry to Canada, to help protect Canadians. Today, we announced that we will be eliminating pre-departure temperature screening for international travellers coming to Canada. Also, given the number of COVID-19 cases continue to be very high in India, we have extended our flight restrictions for this country. We will continue to assess the evolving situation and determine appropriate action going forward.” The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport Canada

“The safety and security of Canadians remains our top priority as we look to support the careful and safe arrival of new permanent residents to Canada over the next year. These new permanent residents will finally be able to start their new life in Canada and Canada will benefit from their skills when we pivot to post-pandemic economic recovery. At the same time, we’ll continue to offer protection to those who need it most, and keep our place as a global leader in providing a safe haven for refugees.” The Honourable Marco Mendicino Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Quick facts

For all travellers coming to Canada, planning in advance to ensure all mandatory requirements are met is crucial. In addition, some provinces and territories may have their own entry restrictions in place. Check and follow both the federal and any provincial or territorial restrictions and requirements before travelling.

Fully vaccinated travellers who wish to be considered for the eased quarantine and testing requirements must meet all criteria, including the electronic submission of their vaccination documentation, in English or French, into ArriveCAN prior to arrival at the port of entry.

A person who submits false information on vaccination status could be liable to a fine of up to $750,000 or six months imprisonment or both, under the Quarantine Act , or prosecution under the Criminal Code for forgery. Violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to travellers by a screening officer or quarantine officer when entering Canada is also an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to a $5,000 fine for each day of non-compliance or for each offence committed, or more serious penalties, including six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. Non-compliant air travellers may also be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for each offence committed under the Aeronautics Act.

The Government of Canada is extending, until July 21, 2021,11:59 p.m. EDT, the temporary travel restrictions on discretionary (non-essential) international travel and with the US.  Travellers who are currently  eligible to enter Canada include Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act , as well as some foreign nationals who are allowed to enter Canada under the current entry prohibitions ( Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States; Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country other than the United States ).

The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India will be extended until July 21, 2021, as well as the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19 requiring air passengers who depart India to Canada via an indirect route to obtain a COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada. The NOTAM and Interim Order will not be extended for Pakistan at this time. 

The existing international flight restrictions that funnel scheduled international commercial passenger flights into four Canadian airports (Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport) will be maintained in this first phase of re-opening.

Currently, foreign nationals who hold a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence approved on or before March 18, 2020 are allowed to enter Canada. As of June 21, 2021, any foreign national who holds a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence will be allowed to travel to Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will work with applicants who have a Confirmation of Permanent Residence that is expiring or has expired.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Phase I of easing border measures for travellers entering Canada
• Backgrounder: Individuals approved for permanent residence may travel to Canada as of June 21
• Infographic - Fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada during COVID-19

Associated links

• COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders
• COVID-19: Summary data about travellers, testing and compliance
• COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance for aviation

Thierry Bélair Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health 613-957-0200

Media Relations Public Health Agency of Canada 613-957-2983 [email protected]

Public Inquiries: 1-833-784-4397

Page details

• Skip to main content
• Skip to site information

Language selection

Help us to improve our website. Take our survey !

Travel outside Canada

It is important to be prepared and to expect the unexpected wherever in the world you may be. Here is helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, Canada-U.S border wait times, travelling with children and more.

New rules for dogs entering the U.S

New entry requirements for dogs entering the United States from Canada will take effect on August 1, 2024:

• Dogs travelling to the U.S

Services and information

Travel advice and advisories.

Official Government of Canada travel information

Travel Advice and Advisories archives

Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories archives from November 16, 2012 to the present

Health and safety outside Canada

Essential information on travel health and safety risks and how to prevent them

Travel documents

Passports, visas, international driving permits and other documents you will need when you travel abroad

Types of travellers

Find travel information specific to dual citizens, women, older people, 2SLGBTQI+ people and other types of travellers

Canada to U.S. border wait times

Regularly updated list of wait times at border crossing points for drivers going to the U.S. from Canada

• Registration of Canadians Abroad

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home

Children and travel

Everything you need to know to travel safely with children abroad

Living abroad

Be informed and prepared for the benefits and challenges of working, studying, retiring, volunteering or travelling on business abroad before you leave Canada

Resources for educators, students and travel counsellors

Online training and web-based resources for educators, students and travel counsellors

Publications

Ordering and reading our wide range of publications is a good first step to a safe and healthy trip abroad

Cannabis and international travel

Understand and avoid the risks related to cannabis and international travel

Travelling and money

Information about using cash, credit cards and debit cards abroad, taxation and travelling with $10,000 or more

Schengen Area

Important information for travellers to Europe

What we are doing

Policies, acts and regulations.

• Citizenship Act
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act
• Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act
• Public Health Agency of Canada Act
• Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
• Travelling with children
• Well on Your Way - A Canadian's Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad

All related publications

• CATSA claims forms
• Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad

Before travelling, talk to a health care provider about your travel plans and how you can reduce your risk of getting viruses like mpox.

A quick searchable guide to what you can and cannot bring on a plane.

A free service provided by Global Affairs Canada that keeps you connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad or at home.