According to unofficial reports, by the end of September, Canada may drop its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for travelers entering Canada from the United States via the Detroit-Windsor border. That border crossing handles more than 40,000 travelers each day, including commuters, truck drivers, and tourists. Canada may also end COVID-19 vaccine requirements for airport arrivals and no longer require filling out the ArriveCan app. Currently, all travelers in Canada must be fully vaccinated to travel by most air, rail, or passenger vessels. In addition, some provinces or individual businesses may continue to limit discretionary activities, such as visits to restaurants, bars, gyms, and retail shops, to individuals who can provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
It is unclear whether the United States will also drop similar land-border vaccine requirements. At present, all nonimmigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status before boarding an airplane to the United States. Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may enter the United States at land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals. Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter the United States by air, land, or sea. Fully vaccinated foreign travelers can travel to the United States across the Northern and Southwest borders with Canada (and Mexico). U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents do not need to provide proof of vaccination status at land POEs and ferry terminals.
A group of Canadian legislators and border-area mayors from both countries published a letter on September 20, 2022, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden asking them to remove the border restrictions.
Details:
- "Canada to Lift COVID Vaccine Requirement for Travelers At Border," Detroit News, Sept. 21, 2022, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/21/canada-lift-covid-vaccine-requirement/8070492001/
- "Open Letter: President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau," Sept. 20, 2022, https://twitter.com/jimdiodati/status/1572253493968408576/photo/1
- Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19 Vaccinated Travellers, https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada
- COVID-19 Information – Canada, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada, Sept. 9, 2022, https://ca.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-canada-3/
- COVID-19: Travel, Testing and Borders, https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid
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