There were cheers on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border when Canada announced on July 19th that it planned to begin opening its borders to non-essential travel in the coming weeks.
From the Canadian government’s website:
On September 7, 2021, provided that the domestic epidemiologic situation remains favourable, the Government intends to open Canada’s borders to any fully vaccinated travellers who have completed the full course of vaccination with a Government of Canada-accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada and who meet specific entry requirements.
As a first step, starting August 9, 2021, Canada plans to begin allowing entry to American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States, and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel. This preliminary step allows for the Government of Canada to fully operationalize the adjusted border measures ahead of September 7, 2021, and recognizes the many close ties between Canadians and Americans.
All potential arrivals must still use the Canada’s ArriveCAN app or web portal. This will allow the Canadian government to determine if a potential traveler will be allowed into the country (as always, there will always be limited exceptions). Fully vaccinated travelers will be required to provide COVID-19-related information electronically through ArriveCAN, including proof of vaccination, before arrival in Canada.
However travelers landing at Canada’s two largest airports will have another step to take: they will be required to separated into different lines upon arrival, based on vaccination status.
Officials from both Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) report that arrivals will be split into “fully vaccinated” and “non/partially-vaccinated” queues before they get to Canadian Customs.
“This is a measure to help streamline the border clearance process,” Beverly MacDonald, Senior Advisor of Communications at Toronto Pearson, told the CBC. “There are different entry requirements for vaccinated and non/partially vaccinated travelers, which have been broadly communicated by the Government of Canada.”
UPDATE: We’ve just been informed that Toronto Pearson officials have decided they’ve abandoned separating lines for vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers.
Say Pearson officials: “Toronto Pearson, in collaboration with government and other partners, has determined that separation of vaccinated and non/partially-vaccinated travellers in customs lines results in minimal operational efficiencies.
“”The volume of passengers identifying as fully vaccinated is high enough that using all resources in the customs hall has been determined to be more efficient than separating passengers according to vaccination status.”
That’ll teach us to write posts ahead of time and not double check before they go “live,” huh? Sorry about that, y’all – our bad. However as far as we know, Vancouver, as of this writing, will still be separating the two groups.
“For vaccinated passengers, if they meet the criteria of having had a Canadian-approved vaccine, at least 14 days prior to travel, then they don’t have to do the two weeks of quarantine upon arrival into Canada,” said Robyn McVicker, Vice President of Passenger Journey at Vancouver International, told News 1130 Vancouver.
Arriving passengers who aren’t fully vaccinated (read: those who have not been vaccinated, have only had 1 dose of an approved 2-dose vaccine, or those who are not yet 14 days past their second dose of same) must still set up 14-day quarantine plans upon arrival in Canada.
The U.S. has yet to lift its ban on non-essential travel to the States by Canadians.
Go to this page of the Canadian government’s website for more information about traveling to Canada.
Feature Photo: Maxpixel
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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