5 things you need to know about the new travel restrictions to Canada
- The government has introduced updated travel restrictions to Canada, requiring all international visitors to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure, effective immediately.
- Unvaccinated travelers face the strictest rules, with mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and they must submit a detailed quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN app or face a fine of up to $5,000.
- Fully vaccinated travelers are exempt from quarantine but must still upload their vaccination documentation to the ArriveCAN app before boarding, or risk being denied entry.
- The list of approved vaccines for entry remains narrow, with only Health Canada-authorized shots (like Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson) accepted, leaving many travelers with mixed doses or unapproved vaccines in a bind.
- These travel restrictions to Canada are expected to impact summer tourism significantly, with airlines already reporting a 20% drop in bookings from the United States, the country's largest source of international visitors.