Canada Allows Fully Vaccinated U.S. Citizens To Cross Border Starting Aug. 9

Canada announced Monday that fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will finally be able to cross the common border starting Aug. 9.

Non-essential travel to Canada has been banned since March 2020, after the country determined it needed to close its border in order to contain its Covid-19 outbreak.

This long-awaited easing of pandemic restriction will apply to travelers from other countries beginning Sept. 7, “provided that Canada’s Covid-19 epidemiology remains favorable,” officials said.

To be eligible for entry, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of flight departure or arrival day. They will also be required to upload proof that they have received a full series of an authorized coronavirus vaccine at least 14 days before departure.

Currently-approved vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD and Johnson & Johnson.

“With rising vaccination rates and fewer cases in Canada, we can begin to safely ease border measures,” Minister of Health Patty Hajdu said in a statement.

The U.S. has not said whether it will allow Canadians to enter across the land border for nonessential travel. Almost 69% of the Canadian population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while about 44% are fully vaccinated. In the U.S, the numbers are 56% and 48% respectively.