Travel Restrictions to Canada Just Got Tighter – Here’s How Much More Your Next Trip Will Cost
If you were planning a last-minute summer getaway to the Great White North, you might want to sit down. Canada has quietly tightened its travel restrictions, and the new rules are hitting your wallet where it hurts. Starting immediately, Americans and other foreign nationals face stricter entry criteria, including mandatory proof of health insurance covering potential COVID-19 treatment—a policy that could add hundreds of dollars to your trip costs overnight. Most standard U.S. health plans don't cover international medical expenses, so you're looking at $50 to $100 per day for a private policy. And that's just the start: with revised border procedures, expect longer wait times at busy crossings like Detroit-Windsor or Buffalo-Niagara, which could cost you lost wages or missed connecting flights. For snowbirds and business travelers, the real kicker is that Canadian officials are now scrutinizing "non-essential" travel more aggressively, threatening to turn away anyone who can't prove a compelling reason. Translation? Your summer cabin rental or hockey tournament cash is at risk unless you pack the right paperwork. Before you book, check your policy—and your passport's expiry date—because this new hurdle might just drive the price of your trip through the roof.