Canada will ease some of the restrictions on the coronavirus vaccine for travelers this June – but the new rules will not apply to everyone entering the country – nor to any type of travel in the country. From June 20, the Canadian government will “suspend” COVID-19 vaccination orders for domestic and outbound international travelers and federally employed workers. The decision was based on current epidemiological trends, as well as economic reasons for troubled industries, ministers said on Tuesday (June 14th). In a press conference, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Canadians would no longer need to be “vaccinated to board a plane or train in Canada”, but stressed that the same rule would not apply to cruises. And while unvaccinated Canadians traveling by plane or train will not have to worry about vaccine status at home, they will not enjoy the same ease of travel as their vaccinated counterparts. Coverage and other public health protection measures will continue to apply and be imposed on airplanes, trains and ships.
Vaccine mandate in Canada: Domestic vs. international travel
As of midnight on June 20, Canadians can enjoy travel to Canada, regardless of their vaccination status. In addition, travelers boarding international flights will no longer need to show proof of vaccination. But the rules have not changed for returning travelers who are only partially vaccinated (one dose of vaccine) or unvaccinated. Canadian citizens, registered persons Indian law and permanent residents are allowed to enter the country, regardless of the vaccination regime. In most cases, however, they will have to be quarantined after international travel. They must also continue to provide evidence of an acceptable type of COVID-19 test result prior to entry. Health Canada continues to stress that these individuals are more likely to become infected and have more series of outcomes than fully vaccinated individuals. The vaccination requirement has not changed for foreigners.
Do I still have to get vaccinated to go on a cruise?
Alghabra said the federal announcement would not apply to the cruise. All crew and passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to board a cruise ship. And while children under the age of 12 may be allowed on board without showing proof of vaccination, some cruise lines may require the vaccination of children 5 years and older. Passengers must also undergo a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before boarding a cruise ship or undergoing an antigen test within one day of the scheduled departure. Passengers and crew must also wear masks when boarding the ship.
The ArriveCAN application remains in place
You may not need to be vaccinated to travel inland, but Canada is not removing ArriveCAN (a free mobile app or website). You must enter your personal information, vaccination details, travel documents and other relevant information on the platform. Failure to submit your travel details and vaccination receipt using ArriveCAN may result in a $ 5,000 fine. Be wary of third-party, fraudulent websites and applications that may present themselves as ArriveCAN and charge you. If you suspect a site is reporting ArriveCAN, please report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Office. Note: There is an update to the app that was released on May 15th. If you have not clicked on the update or downloaded the latest version, you may be prompted to submit specific information that is no longer required. Learn how to use the app with the Vancouver Is Awesome Wizard.
