Fully Vaccinated U.S. Citizens Return to Canada After 17-Month Ban

Strategic Insights -

Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens were finally allowed back into Canada on Monday, ending a 17-month ban. As of 12:01 a.m., American citizens and permanent residents could enter the country as long as they had received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada and had waited at least 14 days. Travelers must also use Canada's ArriveCAN app to upload their vaccination details and show proof of a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours. The eased restrictions allowed many to reunite with family and friends, but delays and long wait times were experienced at various land crossings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents were allowed back into Canada on Monday, ending a 17-month ban.
  • To be eligible, travelers must have received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada and have waited at least 14 days.
  • Travelers must also use Canada's ArriveCAN app to upload their vaccination details and show proof of a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours.
  • Long wait times were experienced at various land crossings, with some delays lasting up to seven hours. CBSA monitors traveler volumes and wait times to allocate resources and adjust staffing levels during peak travel periods.
  • Fully vaccinated travelers who have recovered from the disease and are otherwise eligible to enter Canada can show proof of a positive molecular test taken between 14 and 90 days before crossing the border.
  • Canada has approved four vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot (also known as Covishield), and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson option.
  • The U.S. has so far resisted easing restrictions on non-essential travel at land crossings, and won't say when that might change.

A pilot project last month found that setting up separate queues for vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors had a negligible impact on wait times. However, border agents won't be setting up separate queues for now.

Statistics:

  • 17 months: the length of the ban on U.S. citizens entering Canada
  • 14 days: the minimum amount of time that must have passed since receiving a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada before entering Canada
  • 72 hours: the maximum amount of time that a molecular test must have been taken before entering Canada
  • 4 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca (also known as Covishield), and Johnson & Johnson (approved by Health Canada)
  • 1 hour: the maximum wait time at land crossings (according to CBSA)
  • 7 hours: the longest wait time at the Fort Frances bridge between Northern Ontario and Minnesota

Sources:

  • The Canadian Press
  • The Globe and Mail
  • CBSA
  • Health Canada